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FEATURE
Even though you do different things to practice a religion, you can still find common elements or common themes.”
PRACTICING AND PREACHING Robin Kelby, a senior studying computer science, took a different track with their faith. Kelby, who identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, works as an intern at UCM. Finding an interfaith outlet on campus was something Kelby, a commuter student from Belpre who was raised in the United Methodist faith, prioritized during their freshman year. “The problem with growing up in this area, being from Southeast Ohio, is that there’s not a lot of diversity. Before I came to OU, there simply weren’t multicultural people around me,” Kelby says. “So being able to come to a place where there are Muslim people and people of Eastern religions, that was really cool.” UCM provided the right blend of service work and a variety of perspectives that Kelby was looking for. They volunteered for the organization their
Robin Kelby, Methodist
freshman year and began working as an intern in the fall of their sophomore year. Through weekly community meals and larger events such as the Interfaith Peace Walk on 9/11, the organization aims to bridge the gaps between people of different worldviews by focusing on shared experience. “Even though you do different things to practice a religion, you can still find common elements or common themes,” Kelby says. “And if you're non-religious or never have been religious, then you wouldn't understand why you'd want to have this obligation that you're choosing to do … that means so much.” Because they commute, Kelby continues to attend the church they have attended through their young adult life, where they work as a choir director and lay servant. They have taken training to lead meetings and services and have had the opportunity to preach twice. Although Kelby had experience with community
theater, they found preaching held its own challenges. “I'm really comfortable with really being able to just speak to people. The hard thing is that whenever you're in community theater, you're given a script, you memorize the script, you deliver the script as best you can,” Kelby says. “But actually having to write what you're saying is difficult.” Kelby doesn’t think attending seminary school or working as a full-time pastor is the correct path for them as of now, but they plan to continue interacting with their faith communities, both in Belpre and in Athens. “That’s been something I never would have dreamed of, whenever I started college, that I would be able to be at a place in my faith where I could actually preach,” they say. “I may not be called to do it as my job, but I can still fill that role when I’m needed.” b
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