It is nearly one year since Rev. Scotty McClennan stepped down as university chaplain, but Tufts has yet to begin a search for a replacement.
When McClennan became dean of religious life at Stanford University in January - ending a 16-year tenure at Tufts - the University appointed Rev. Patricia Budd Kepler as interim chaplain. At the time, the Board of Trustees was searching for a successor to former President John DiBiaggio, and the search for a permanent chaplain was postponed to allow input from the new president.
But since taking office on Sept. 1, President Larry Bacow has devoted much of his attention to the administrative restructuring announced this week. That initiative includes a national search for new provost.
Kepler's contract as interim chaplain was extended from the end of last semester until June 2002, and she says she will remain at Tufts for the duration of the academic year.
Judy Olson, the president's executive associate, said that despite several forums last spring that sought to clarify the role of the university chaplain, Tufts never initiated an active search. "We're very content at the moment with the interim chaplain," Olson said.
But according to Olson, the president's office will soon look for a long-term replacement.
Rev. Kepler said she is not a candidate for the permanent position and has little input in the search for McClennan's successor. "I'm trying hard not to be involved and just do my job on a day-to-day basis," she said.
Kepler, who was an affiliate chaplain with Tufts as the pastor of Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church before McClennan left, said she knew her position would be temporary when she accepted the job. She said that her successor will be expected to serve for "an undetermined number of years" and should therefore be relatively young.
While she waits for the University to act, Kepler said her job is to prepare Tufts for the future. "An interim's job is really to assess the situation and to give the University as much feedback as possible on that assessment," she said. "I get to see where the strengths are, where the weaknesses are, where the promise lies, and what needs more work."
When she started in January, Kepler assumed the responsibilities of a permanent chaplain. "I try to keep track of the religious pulse on campus and to make sure that all of the constituencies here are served," she said. "The chaplaincy provides a focal point for the multiple faiths on campus to come together, to talk together, and to interact - both in times of celebration and times of crisis."
She also has the opportunity to leave her mark on the position. Unlike her predecessor, who was present in the classroom as well as at the pulpit, Kepler does not teach undergraduate courses. Instead, she has focused her efforts on outreach in the campus community and promoting interfaith dialogue.
Last spring, Kepler initiated a weekly "Tea and Theology" program for members of the Tufts community to engage in informal discussions with the chaplains about current events. "This is a time for students to meet chaplains they wouldn't normally come across in their weekly lives," Kepler said.
Her next project is to determine whether there is sufficient demand for an English as a Second Language (ESL) class for Tufts' custodial staff. Kepler is also continuing McClennan's programming, including the Chaplain's Table, a dinner and discussion program in which dialogues are often led by professors and broach topics such as religion in Africa, the Islamic tradition, and the role of music in religion.
Kepler's leadership has won praise from students. Senior Janis Manzo, who was hired to work for the chaplaincy in her freshman year, said Kepler is well-attuned to the needs of the student body. "From day one she knew my name," Manzo said. "She talked with me and really wanted my input."
