COVID-19 Update

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Memorial Church is currently closed for tours and visits. The Church is open for scheduled religious observances, weddings, memorials, concerts, and events. For more information, please see our listing of events.

Stanford
Office for Religious & Spiritual Life

Stanford Associated Religions (SAR) Student Groups

Stanford Associated Religions (SAR) Student Groups

The Office for Religious & Spiritual Life oversees and provides support for Stanford Associated Religions (SAR), some 30 religious organizations invited to offer their spiritual services to the campus. All SAR organizations, individual members and advisors pledge:

·        (a) to promote the moral and spiritual growth of the Stanford University community;

·        (b) to support Stanford’s steady exercise of free inquiry and its pursuit of the highest standards of intellectual and moral excellence;

·        (c) to represent that group and its purposes forthrightly, while at the same time treating with respect the religious traditions and activities of others; and

·        (d) to safeguard the religious freedom, human dignity, conscience and personal spiritual welfare of all members of the university.

New to the Office for Religious & Spiritual Life? Check out our Graduate and Undergraduate Welcome and Multi-faith panels and our 2020 Multi-faith Welcome Celebration to learn more! Feel free to reach out to our Director of Student Engagement, Colleen Hallagan Preuninger (cpreunin@stanford.edu) with any questions!

Baha’i

Baha’i Association

Baha’i

Affiliation: None

  • Description: The purpose of the Baha’i Association at Stanford is to promote the unity of mankind; to foster love and fellowship; to invite those interested to meaningfully discuss and explore both the teachings of the Baha’i Faith and their application to their lives; to organize activities that nurture collective and individual spiritual growth; and to be of service to the Stanford community and beyond.
  • Meetings: Musical devotional every Saturday from 3-4:30pm PDT starting September 12th during NSO -- please contact Keona for details (kjblanks@stanford.edu)
  • Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/stanfordbahai/
  • Contact: sabae@stanford.edu

Buddhist

Buddhist Community at Stanford (BCAS)

Buddhist: Non-denominational

Affiliation: None

  • Description: The Buddhist Community At Stanford was founded to support members of the Stanford community who are interested in learning about Buddhism and deepening their engagement with Buddhist practices. BCAS provides a space for everyone, regardless of religious affiliation and prior experience or knowledge, to engage with and learn more about what the many Buddhist traditions have to offer, and to develop spiritually nourishing friendships.

BCAS is not affiliated with any particular lineage or school of Buddhism and welcomes all students, staff, faculty and friends who are interested in or just curious about any aspect of Buddhism. All our events are open to everyone, and require no prior meditation experience or knowledge of Buddhism. BCAS is committed to ceasing prejudice and injustice in our wider communities, and strives to put Buddhist principles of compassion and wisdom into practice in both our own programming and beyond.

  • Meetings: We will be hosting regular morning meditation sessions via Zoom as well as a weekly reading and discussion group (in collaboration with the Office of Religious Life), focusing on the book "Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation" by Jasmine Syedullah, Lama Rod Owens, and angel Kyodo Williams. We also hope to program special meditation and discussion-based events with distinguished Buddhist practitioners later in the quarter.
  • Social Media: https://bcas.stanford.edu/ (somewhat outdated). Subscribe to our mailing list by sending an email to bcas-meditation-subscribe@lists.stanford.edu (blank subject and email body). Also visit Stanford's Ho Centre for Buddhist Studies at https://buddhiststudies.stanford.edu/.

Stanford Zen Society

Buddhist: Zen

Affiliation: None

  • Description: The Stanford Zen Society is a student community devoted to the creation and cultivation of a platform to support meditation practice. We host group meditation sessions with professional teachers once a week in addition to other special programs such as guest lecturers and retreats. In the past, we have met in the Sanctuary Room on the third floor of Stanford Old Union. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic our in-person meetings and sessions are on-hold. Instead we will host zoom sessions weekly led by our group's advisor Rebecca Nie. Members of all religious backgrounds are welcome.
  • Meetings: Fall virtual sessions will be held every Thursday at 6 pm starting September 17th and ending November 19th. Please contact us for more details or visit our website at www.stanfordzensociety.com.
  • Social Media: www.stanfordzensociety.com
  • Contact: jsgood@stanford.edu

World Peace Buddhists

Buddhist: Sokka Gakkai

Affiliation: None

  • Description: World Peace Buddhists (WPB)  is a group of Stanford students practicing Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. WPB members are interested in promoting peace, culture and education on campus and in the community based on Buddhist principles. Most members are a part of Soka Gakkai International. 
  • Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/StanfordWorldPeaceBuddhists/

Christian

Acts 2 Christian Fellowship 

Christian: Baptist

Affiliation: Bridgeway Church of Silicon Valley

  • Description: Acts 2 Christian Fellowship is a fellowship at Stanford of both graduates and undergraduates that take the Bible seriously. We meet every week to study the Bible, have fun, talk about life, and build lasting friendships. Whether you're a Christian who wants to grow in your faith, or someone simply curious about what Christianity is all about, we invite you to come check us out!
  • Meetings: 

Weekly Small Group Meetings

Bi-Weekly Large Group Meetings

Sunday Worship Service

All will be available at a2cf.stanford.edu

Adventist Christian Fellowship

Christian: Seventh-Day Adventist

Affiliation: The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists

Black Campus Ministry

Christian: Non-denominational

Affiliation: InterVarsity USA

  • Description: Black Campus Ministries, is a focus ministry in InterVarsity geared to support and uplift the faith journeys of African and African American students on campus. Our vision is to create and embody life-giving community together as we cultivate faith spirituality within the African Diaspora at Stanford University. For more information please feel free to reach out the the InterVarsity staff, Rashad Mays at Rashad.mays@intervarsity.org. And follow our IG page @bcm_stanford. God Bless!
  • Social Media: IG page @bcm_stanford
  • Contact: Rashad.mays@intervarsity.org

Bridges International

Christian: Evangelical

Affiliation: Bridges International

  • Description: Bridges International is a ministry focused on helping international students and their families to thrive at Stanford by providing supportive relationships, activities, classes, cultural experiences, Bible studies, Christian mentoring, and the Good News of Jesus Christ. 
  • Social Media:http://stanfordisco.wixsite.com/home 

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship (XA)

Christian: Evangelical

Affiliation: Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, USA - Assemblies of God

  • Description: Chi Alpha (XA) is a community of students earnestly following Jesus. Our gatherings are informal, charged with music, given to humor and deal with everything from relationships to the nature of truth. We are sponsored by the Assemblies of God, and we welcome people from all backgrounds. We're not a fraternity or a sorority, but we're a great place to find brothers and sisters!
  • Meetings: https://live.xastanford.org/ main service is Wednesdays at 7:30pm (there are additional, identical services)
  • Social Media: 

https://xastanford.org/ https://instagram.com/xastanford/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFvxYF8L8OZr7MkMTvP4afQ

Chinese Campus Evangelistic Fellowship

Christian: Evangelical

Affiliation: None

Catholic Student Association (Graduate)

Christian: Catholic

Affiliation: Catholic Community at Stanford

  • Description: Your fellow grad students and young adults in the Catholic community absolutely can’t wait to meet you—whether over Zoom or socially distanced at our next outdoor Mass. In this weird and unsettling moment in history, we hope that you are able to find friends and community here to ground you in your work and in your faith. Your CC@S student leaders are working hard to create new and ongoing opportunities to provide space for just that, in a safe and thoughtful way.
  • Meetings:

Online Sunday Mass: 4:30pm live online https://www.youtube.com/CatholicCommunityAtStanford

Outdoor Sunday Mass: 6:00pm on the school field at St. Raymond’s in Menlo Park.Online Weekday Mass: 12:20pm daily https://stanford.zoom.us/j/262778603

Drive-Thru Confessions: Saturdays, 3:30pm–4:30pm at St. Raymond parking lot.

Community Night (aka Dinner and Discussion): This weekly virtual meeting every Monday at 7:30PM PST is a chance to meet, relax and reflect with fellow Catholic young adults. Zoom link:https://stanford.zoom.us/j/92709424008?pwd=K1I0M2NCdDR2dWowK0hWWlJOenBadz09#success 

  • Social Media: 

Website: https://web.stanfordcatholic.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Catholic-Community-at-Stanford-108454495881267

Instagram: @cc_at_stanford

Catholic Student Association (Undergraduate) 

Christian: Catholic

Affiliation: Catholic Community at Stanford

  • Description: Serving Catholic undergraduate students.
  • Meetings:

Thursday Thirty (30 minutes weekly for prayer, community, or service), beginning Sept 17, 6:30pm:https://stanford.zoom.us/j/8413643419?pwd=Z1VaWG85c29kTTBJazRQeW8rdkVKUT09#success, password: 050379

Small faith sharing groups: https://web.stanfordcatholic.org/connect/small-group-faith-sharing

Sunday and Weekday Online Masses: https://web.stanfordcatholic.org/mass-times

  • Social Media:

Instagram: @cc_at_stanford

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Catholic-Community-at-Stanford-108454495881267/

Catholic Community at Stanford Website: https://web.stanfordcatholic.org

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVQeiZARyPpk3c0CNQMD_4w

Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry (ELCM)

Christian: Mainline Protestant

Affiliation: University Lutheran Church

  • Description: We are a grace-filled, Christ-centered community, welcoming ALL Stanford students: Lutherans, Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Catholics, people of any or no faith, seekers, skeptics, devotees, sinners, saints, LGBTQ2SIA folks, cisgender and straight folks, poets, scientists – everyone. Bring your doubts, your hopes, your questions, your longing for community and authenticity, your search for worship and connection. Bring your real self, however you are and whomever you want to become.
  • Meetings: Fall 2020: Please join us for Bread & Belonging every Wednesday at 6 pm PDT via Zoom for dinner/conversation or dinner/evening prayer.  Subscribe to our mailing list with your Stanford email to join us, and we will send you the zoom link. Please also visit our website elcm.stanford.edu for more info, photos and videos about our group. Hope to see you soon! 
  • Social Media: elcm.stanford.edu
  • Contact: emmaac@stanford.edu; Emma Armstrong-Carter

Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Action (FCAIA) 

Christian: Protestant 

Affiliation: Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Action

  • Description: We are a Christian faith community open to all athletes (varsity, club, or anyone passionate about sports!) We hope to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes! Join us as we continue learning what it means to be an apprentice of Jesus, to receive His free gift of grace, and to experience God in our sports!
  • Social Media:  @fcaia_stanford
  • Meetings: Big group meetings every other Monday, weekly small group meetings
  • Contact: Allie Raab (W. Swimming; araab25@stanford.edu), Donjae Logan (Football; birddie5@stanford.edu), Matthew Decker (FCA Staff; Stanford Baseball ’18; mdecker@fca.org)

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship 

Christian: Evangelical (protestant/non-denominational)

Affiliation: InterVarsity USA

  • Description: We are a community of people from diverse cultural and spiritual backgrounds who are all about Growing the Family of God. We are passionate about engaging God’s Word, embodying our faith, and learning to live more justly. So whether you’re down for Jesus, wrestling with doubts and questions, or exploring spirituality, you are welcome with us!
  • Meetings: 

Family Group Bible Studies meet weekly to engage deeply with scripture and learn how to walk in the Way of Jesus together. Check out our website www.ivstanford.org for more info and Zoom links!

Large Group - Wednesdays, 7-8:30 pm PT: our weekly community gathering where we explore the relevance of Jesus to our lives, families, and communities. Each week we have prayer, teaching, worship, and spiritual practices to help us embody our faith. This fall, we’ll look at the life of Jesus in the book of Mark! Zoom link: tiny.cc/SVLARGEGROUP

InterVarsity Graduate Chrsitian Fellowship 

Christian: Evangelical (protestant/non-denominational)

Affiliation: InterVarsity USA

  • Description: InterVarsity Graduate Christian Fellowship (IVGrad) is a non-denominational community of graduate students who seek to grow spiritually, cultivate true Christian community, integrate faith and academic learning, and dedicate ourselves to witness and service. We are not just a group “for Christians,” but also for those who have little to no Christian background and wish to explore and discuss issues with us or simply participate in our social events.
  • Meetings: During the academic year, we usually hold weekly small group Bible studies, biweekly large group events, and other group activities and retreats. We haven’t finalized plans for fall 2020 events yet, but if you’d like to be kept in the loop, you can join our mailing list at https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/ivgrad-announce or check out our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ivgradstanford/. For more information about our group, you can visit our website at http://web.stanford.edu/group/ivgrad/cgi-bin/wordpress/.
  • Social Media: 

Website: http://web.stanford.edu/group/ivgrad/cgi-bin/wordpress/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ivgradstanford/

Mailing list: https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/ivgrad-announce

Korean Bible Study and Koinonia (KBSK)

Christian

Affiliation: Bridgeway Church of Silicon Valley

  • Description: Korean Bible Study and Koinonia (KBSK) gathers weekly to study the Bible in Korean. We begin each meeting by sharing food and having praise time. We then have a discussion on a specific topic or passages from the Bible.

Latter-Day Saint Student Association (LDSSA)

Christian: Latter-Day Saint/Mormon

Affiliation: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

  • Description: The Latter-day Saint Student Association (LDSSA) is the official student group for LDS (Mormon) students at Stanford. We welcome undergraduates, graduates, and students in professional schools (law, GSB, medical training at all stages), as well as their spouses and families. We come together for lunch and religious classes on weekdays, Family Home Evening on Monday evenings, church on Sundays, and other activities throughout the year.  While we are affiliated with the Menlo Park Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we welcome people of all backgrounds and perspectives to our activities and worship services.
  • Meetings: Check our website and social media for updates. If you are interested in joining our listserv, please email Alejandra Aldridge at agimenez@stanford.edu 
  • Social Media: http://ldssa.stanford.edu/
  • Contact: agimenez@stanford.edu Alejandra Aldridge, president

Oasis Campus Ministry

Christian: Evangelical 

Affiliation: Peninsula Bible Church, Palo Alto

  • Description: Oasis is an evangelical Christian student group that focus on Bible study and Christian community. Through our affiliation with Peninsula Bible Church, we are a part of a multi-generational community of Christ-followers who are excited to welcome us into their lives and homes as we worship God together.  
  • Meetings: We are still formulating our plans for weekly virtually gatherings this fall. Please contact us if you would like more information.
  • Contact: Dan Westman (dan_westman@pbc.org)

Orthodox Christian Fellowship at Stanford (OCF)

Christian: Pan-Orthodox

Affiliation: Orthodox Christian Fellowship

  • Description: Orthodox Christian Fellowship at Stanford (OCF) is a pan-Orthodox organization dedicated to exploring the Orthodox Christian faith, fostering spiritual growth for Orthodox Christians, and exposing the campus to the faith, cultures, and customs that are uniquely Orthodox. OCF is a dynamic group of students from many different backgrounds who share a common desire to learn more about the 2000-year traditions of the Orthodox Church. All those interested in learning about Orthodoxy, including non-Orthodox, are welcome!

For updates on events and meetings this year, please subscribe to our email list: orthodox-community@lists.stanford.edu. You subscribe to a list by signing into mailman.stanford.edu.

Services we provide (in typical years):

  1. On campus activities such as study groups, Christian service, and lectures by specialists on topics of interest to the group.
  2. Organized carpools to at least one Orthodox Church on Sundays so that club members can celebrate Divine Liturgy
  3. Opportunities to engage in charitable and social work

Parakaleo Christian Ministries

Christian: Ecumenical 

Affiliation: None

  • Description: Parakaleo Christian Ministries is a student group focused on teaching the foundations of Biblical counseling. Parakaleo offers courses and seminars on Biblical counseling with the goal of teaching students to apply God's written word to their own daily life issues and relationships, and equipping them to counsel others from the Bible under the guidance and empowering of the Holy Spirit. Led by advisors Steve and Erica Lawry.
  • Meetings: Students can access our Zoom meetings by visiting the link: http://parakaleo.stanford.edu/zoom/ Tentatively Monday nights from 7-9pm PT, may change week night depending on student availability.
  • Social Media: https://parakaleo.stanford.edu
  • Contact: Steve and Erica Lawry <parakaleo.lawry@stanford.edu>, Jesse Doan <jdoan21@stanford.edu>, Gloria Yi <gloria.j.yi@stanford.edu>, Allan Jiang <jiangts@stanford.edu>

Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)

Christian: PCA

Affiliation: Reformed University Fellowship 

  • Description: RUF is a student organization that seeks to share the light and life of Jesus with the larger campus community. It is a place for any student, regardless of background, belief, or lifestyle to come and discuss the claims of the Bible within a diverse community of people. College is a time in which many people are processing questions of purpose, life, and faith. We open the Bible weekly and sort through how scripture speaks into those questions.

RUF seeks to be a rest stop for tired Christians and a safe place for skeptics. We welcome and assume that in all of our meetings and events there are both Christians and non-Christians present. Come as you are. Be honest. Bring your doubts, hurts, shame, and sin- we want everyone to experience God’s rich grace, love, and compassion.

  • Meetings: Weekly meeting Tuesdays at 6 pm Pacific Time. Send us a DM on Instagram for the link. Student-led community groups will gather virtually at various times.
  • Social Media: 

http://www.rufstanford.org/home

https://www.instagram.com/ruf_stanford/

Stanford Christian Students

Christian: Non-Denominational/Evangelical

Affiliation: “Church in Palo Alto”

  • Description: Stanford Christian Students is a community that welcomes all students to read the word of God, to grow in Christ, and to pursue fellowship with us on campus. For our events, we hold weekly Bible studies, host on-campus worship services, and enjoy group gatherings together.
  • Meetings: 

Weekly Events:

Ministry Series: Sun 9/20 5-6pm

Tuesday Bible Study: Tue 09/22 12-1pm

Thursday Bible Study: Thur 9/24 5-6pm 

  • Social Media: 

Website: christianstudents.stanford.edu

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stanfordchristianstudents/?hl=en

Stanford Young Life

Christian: Ecumenical 

Affiliation: Young Life

Veritas at Stanford

Christian: Ecumenical

Affiliation: Veritas Forum

  • Description: Our Mission is to foster conversations about the biggest questions we as individuals and as a society can ask. We achieve this by hosting public events where the Christian worldview is put in dialogue with other perspectives in a context of mutual respect and shared pursuit of wisdom. This group is affiliated with the Veritas Forum.
  • Social Media: http://www.veritas.org/location/stanford, IG: @stanfordveritas

Hindu

Hindu Students Association 

Hinduism

Affiliation: None

  • Description: Hindu Students Association is envisioned as a platform for people inquisitive about Hinduism to collectively understand its rich culture and philosophy.
  • Meetings:

Gita Wisdom (Every Wednesday 7:20 - 8:50 PM) - https://stanford.zoom.us/j/96691106630?pwd=M1JIQTBReEtJSTY1MER0dXpwc0Q4Zz09

Vedanta Discussion (Every Sunday 3:30 - 5 PM) - https://stanford.zoom.us/j/93464715830?pwd=R1pTNXVGbXpKZ2VKTDhZQU1hSVc2UT09

Monthly Bhajan Sessions (Usually on a Friday or on a festival, around once every month) 

Puzzle Time (Usually on a Friday or on a festival, once in around 2 months)

Subscribe to our mailing list - hindustudentsassoc@lists.stanford.edu - for updates on the same.

Jewish

Jewish Student Association

Jewish

Affiliation: Hillel at Stanford

  • Description: JSA strives to create a welcoming, inclusive community for Jewish students at Stanford where they can cultivate their Jewish identity and create lasting friendships.
  • Meetings: Gatherings will be posted on our Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/stanfordjsa) and/or Hillel at Stanford’s calendar (https://www.stanfordhillel.org/events)
  • Social Media: 

Website: http://jewish.stanford.edu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stanfordjsa/

L'chaim Club

Jewish

Affiliation: Chabad at Stanford

  • Description: L'chaim Club - Chabad at Stanford is a vibrant Jewish student organization that is dedicated to sharing the warmth, wisdom and depth of Judaism in an exciting, non-judgmental fashion. 
  • Social Media: www.chabadstanford.org and follow us on Instagram @StanfordChabad
  • Contact: Dov Greenberg - rabbigreenberg@stanford.edu

Stanford Etz Chaim

Jewish

Affiliation: None

  • Description: Stanford Etz Chaim fills a unique niche on campus, enriching students’ Jewish education by providing authentic, immersive textual study of the classic Jewish religious sources and applied ethics in the modern world. Stanford Etz Chaim offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a traditional Jewish learning environment, where they can grapple maturely with the deepest questions and explore ancient Jewish wisdom’s surprising relevance to modern leaders.

Multifaith

Queerness, Spirituality, and Religion

Multi-faith

Affiliation: Queer Student Resources and Office for Religious & Spiritual Life 

Description: Queerness, Spirituality, and Religion is a joint project based out of Queer Student Resources and partnering with the Office for Religious Life. This group is open to members from any and all spiritual, faith-based, and religious traditions, practices, or any other affiliation. 

 

The purpose of the group is to facilitate multi-faith dialogue for LGBTQIA people who are on a spiritual and/or religious path. There are many components, including a discussion group, queer and religious textual study group, and social gatherings. We invite anybody who is exploring questions of their LGBTQIA identity and spiritual paths. 

Muslim

Muslim Student Union (MSU)

Islam

Affiliation: None

Sikh

Sikh Students Association (SSA)

Sikh

Affiliation: none

  • Description: The purpose of this organization shall be to broaden the understanding and awareness of the Sikh religion and heritage in the Stanford community through cultural, cross-cultural, social, religious, and political activities.
  • Meetings: Weekly Sikh Student Association meetings over the summer to discuss ongoing religious festivals & how to incorporate Sikhi into our daily lives Open to Stanford students, faculty, and staff.
  • Contact: Please contact SSA President Sehajleen Kaur sehajk@stanford.edu for more information.

Unitarian Universalist

Unitarian Universalists of Stanford

Unitarian Universalist

Affiliation: None

  • Description: Although Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion, we have no required set of beliefs. UU members can be of any religious background or none at all. We are a community not defined by our shared ideas but by our continual search for truth and meaning in our lives. We get together regularly to discuss our experiences and diverse thoughts on topics that matter to us. In doing so we aim to create a close, welcoming, and supportive community.
  • Social Media: https://stanforduu.weebly.com/