Abstract

Hospitality is at the basis of so much religious ethics, illustrating the need to view the stranger not as an “other” but as an aspect of the divine. As such, hospitality is a foundational value that must be addressed and practiced when undertaking community engagement as a class. Thinking about hospitality allows students to realize that they are most often the ones receiving hospitality in community engagement experiences, and that this exchange of hospitality cannot be passive if it is to be successful. Preparing for the exchange of hospitality is one of the more time-consuming parts of teaching such a course, but doing so can lead to a reciprocity which is beneficial both to the students and university and to the community partner.