Elon names Joel Harter associate chaplain for Protestant life

Harter will direct Protestant Christian programming in the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life; he joins the campus community after serving as a religious adviser in the Office of Spiritual Life at the University of Chicago.

The Rev. Joel Harter
The Rev. Joel Harter[/caption]The Rev. Joel Harter has been named Elon University’s associate chaplain for Protestant life, a new position in the university’s Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life.

In his role, Harter is responsible for providing pastoral and religious care to the campus community with a focus on Protestant staff, students, faculty and campus organizations. He will supervise Protestant staff in the Truitt Center and direct Protestant Christian programming.

“We are delighted to welcome Joel to Elon,” said the Rev. Jan Fuller, Elon University’s chaplain. “He brings wide experience along the Christian spectrum, having planned and led worship for students on a college campus, and a breadth of knowledge and experience in working with students in interfaith settings. He will greatly enhance our ability to reach out to the Elon Christian community.”

Harter’s most recent role at the University of Chicago was serving as a religious adviser in the Office of Spiritual Life and a writing instructor in the College Writing Program. Harter built a reputation on campus for collaborating with Christians from varied ethnic backgrounds, religious customs and spiritual views, organizing introspective worship for Catholic, Episcopal and Lutheran student ministries emphasizing the connection between faith and social justice.

He also worked in Chicago as the project director for Urban Dolorosa at Hyde Park Union Church where he organized community outreach into neighborhoods impacted by urban violence, established connections with various faith parties, and managed communications and publicity through social networking and web development.

Harter’s professional and community service includes a cabinet position with the Ministers Council for American Baptists Metro Chicago, an interfaith chaplain position with Jackson Park Hospital, and volunteer roles with Habitat for Humanity at the University of Chicago and with the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter in Boston.

In addition to a doctorate in religion and literature from the University of Chicago Divinity School, Harter holds degrees from Harvard Divinity School, Northwestern University and Vanderbilt University. Harter, who is originally from Texas, moves to Elon with his wife Melody, a classically trained pianist fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese, and their two children.