About Us

Gaia House Interfaith Center Today

Gaia House Interfaith Center is a friendly and comfortable place where all are welcome. Community Groups meet at Gaia to meditate, worship and recover. Check our calendar to see what times the Center is alive with activity.

Our History

Long known simply as the Interfaith Center, the current facility was constructed in 1961 by University Christian Ministries (UCM), an organization which had prior campus homes. Since its inception in 1943, the ecumenical partnership has been recognized as a progressive and inclusive interfaith ministry with two goals: to help SIUC students grow in spirit and understanding, and to help them change the world. Our devotion to creating a better world through commitment to spiritual awareness hasn't changed, but the times have. The recent addition of "Gaia" (pronounced "guy-uh"—the Greek word for "earth") to our title reflects the global imperatives of our spiritual journey, interfaith dialog, peace, social justice, and ecologically sound living.

We are supported locally by the Carbondale First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship, Church of the Good Shepherd UCC, the Southern Illinois Baha'i Community, the Carbondale and Cobden First Presbyterian Churches, and many generous individuals and families. Thank you.