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Meet our staff
Rick Chrisman
Case Center 226
518-580-8340
rchrisma@skidmore.edu
“One part of my ministry is being a cheerleader for the arts, but I have no art myself.” So says Rick Chrisman, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and now Interim Director of Religious and Spiritual Life at Skidmore. The arts are so important to religious life, he feels, because they give rise to the expression of our spirits in a way that traditional liturgy and prayer often do not. He identifies strongly with performers and artists in all genres, admiring their commitment to honesty and beauty. In fact, Rick regards artists as the ideal spiritual role model—dedicated to their discipline, committed to articulating the truth of their vision, sailing ever into the unknown where we are sure to meet God. In his ministry, creativeness is next to godliness.
But one test of art is whether the arts ultimately bring people together, because we are created for community. Rick is dedicated to building communities that are inclusive, diverse, and committed to social justice and actively supports Skidmore’s efforts to see and know itself more deeply as this kind of community. In his eyes, it is only appropriate that the Director of Religious and Spiritual Life is also Co-Director of the Intercultural Center with Mariel Martin.
Rick has served as University Chaplain at Princeton and at Tufts universities. He has taught in the ministry program at the University of Chicago Divinity School, his graduate alma mater where he earned a Ph.D. in Religion and Literature, and published articles on worship, preaching and religious architecture. He has held urban pastorates in Los Angeles and Boston where he was also involved in reproductive rights (as a volunteer for Planned Parenthood and the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice) and in affordable housing (with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization).
The emphasis during his time here at Skidmore will be on creating a dialogue about religious life and faith among those of great faith, little faith and no faith. His goal for today’s collegians is that they take religion seriously for, while the history of religion is highly ambiguous, nevertheless it is also the bearer of ultimate wisdoms and inspiration.
So this Office is here to support and address the needs of students of all faith traditions, e.g., Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist, as well as promoting and coordinating interfaith activities in conjunction with the Jewish and Roman Catholic and Protestant campus ministries. Just as importantly, whether or not students have any prior background or interest in faith, as Interim Director of Religious and Spiritual Life Rick actively encourages all students to explore traditional religious paths or discover new spiritualities. To this end, he will be the primary advisor to Protestant students wanting to develop a worship community.
Finally, the Wilson Chapel is an invaluable spiritual resource for the College, and, having responsibility for the oversight of the Chapel, Rick wants to see this sanctuary fulfill its founding purpose as a safe harbor, a place of meditation, worship, and reflection.
Rick is available to all students for conversation around faith and spiritual identity issues; for personal counseling due to crisis, grief, and vocational matters; and for prayer.
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Rabbi Linda Motzkin was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1986. She has a BA in Hebrew Language from the University of California at Berkeley and an MA in Hebrew Letters from HUC-JIR. Prior to her arrival at Skidmore in 1986, she taught in the Judaic Studies department at the University of Cincinnati. She is the author of four Hebrew language textbooks published by UAHC press: Aleph Isn't Tough, Aleph Isn't Enough, Bet is for B'reishit and Tav is for Torah. She is also co-author of two other Hebrew language textbooks: The First Hebrew Primer and Prayerbook Hebrew: The Easy Way, from EKS Publishing. In addition to serving as Skidmore's Jewish Chaplain, she is co-rabbi, together with her husband Rabbi Jonathan Rubenstein, of Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs, a Reform Jewish congregation. Rabbi Motzkin has a close relationship with all of the local Jewish congregations in Saratoga Springs and works to foster connections between Skidmore students and the local community. |
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Coordinator of Jewish Student Life and Interfaith Programming Margo lives in Saratoga Springs with her husband Jeff, and three children, Jaffa, Sarice, and Izak. She received a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Binghamton and a Masters in Education from the State University of New York at Albany. Margo spent four years at the National Museum of Racing as Curator of Education. Prior to the Racing Museum, she served for almost eight years as Director of Education at the Junior Museum in Troy.
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The "Coordinator for Catholic Student Life" is Catherine Wagner Minnery, who joined the Chaplain's Office in August 2002. Previously, she was a Pastoral Associate for Youth Ministry at the Church of St. Peter, Saratoga Springs where she is a parishioner. A native of Ohio, she and her family also have lived in South Dakota and Mississippi, but have lived in New York for the last 22 years. Saratoga Springs has been home for the Minnerys since 1990. Educated in the Fine Arts, Catherine is a working and exhibiting artist. She has worked as a Graphic Designer/Illustrator and Art Director for several corporations and large retail businesses. She has a Certificate in Fine Arts from the Art Academy of Cincinnati and a BS in Fine Arts from the University of Cincinnati. Catherine is in the process of pursuing theological studies at St. Bernard's Institute in Albany. She is also a volunteer hospital chaplain at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY. A love of the outdoors and a striving for a sacramental view of our world and every day life nourishes and inspires her art and prayer life. Recognizing the importance of the social justice teachings has lead to a personal commitment to the teachings and a relationship with Catholic Relief Services. In March 2002, she was a "Called to Witness" trip participant and traveled to Rwanda to see first hand the programs that CRS is implementing in that African country. In January and February, 2003, the Albany Diocese Pastoral Center hosted an exhibit of her photos, writing and art that came out of this experience. Several drawings from the exhibit will be shown at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Manhattan this May and she continues to give presentations about Rwanda to interested groups. |
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Rabbi Linda Motzkin
Margo Bloom Olson
Catherine Minnery