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Religion

Why LaGrange College?
We offer two separate concentrations that cater to your personal career interests:

The Religion and Philosophy Major is a traditional liberal arts study of the field. It is especially suited for those with a general interest in religion and philosophy or those who wish to prepare for graduate study of religion or theology.

The Religion & Philosophy Major with a Concentration in Church Leadership is designed to prepare students of any denomination for careers in full-time Christian service: youth ministers, ministers of Christian education or clergy.

We are one of only nine colleges in the nation – and the only one in this region – authorized by the United Methodist Church to offer certification programs in Christian Education and Youth Ministry to our Methodist students. The denomination's Board of Higher Education and Ministry examined the quality of our program and, by awarding certification, declared that Methodist students who graduate from our program have accomplished coursework that is comparable to a full graduate program in Christian Education or Youth Ministry – a career advantage that has helped our graduates rise very quickly to top staff positions.

Meet religion majors:

Kaylen Short
Kaylen was encouraged to take classes in subjects like comparative religions, which helped to inspire his academic direction.

“When I decided to come to LaGrange, I knew that I wanted to be a religion major with an emphasis on church leadership.

“I was born and raised in the United Methodist Church, and I knew that LaGrange College would be a great place for me if I wanted to go into ministry.”

Kelsey Tinker
“LaGrange is great because it opens up a lot of experiences,” she said. “I’m a member of several organizations, and that gives me a great perspective on different things. I’m thinking that will help when I start looking for a job. I’ll be able to relate to many people and situations.”

How does the faculty rate?

Each member of our faculty is also a dedicated teacher, deeply committed to student engagement and learning.

Department Chair Dr. David Oki Ahearn's introductory textbook in Christian Ethics is used widely in colleges and seminaries throughout America.

Dr. John Cook has achieved international recognition for his writings on the reception of New Testament in the Greco-Roman world.

Prof. Alvin Lingenfelter, Chair of the Church Leadership program, brings a wealth of professional experience in youth ministry and pastoral ministry to his craft.