A Lutheran College

Carthage is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and welcomes students of all faiths. Of its full-time students, 30 percent are Roman Catholic, 21 percent are Lutheran, and 49 percent represent a variety of Christian denominations and world religions.

The Carthage Chapel Series provides opportunities for the campus and members of the community to come together. Wednesday and Sunday morning worship services feature the best of Lutheran traditions with an ecumenical flavor. On Mondays, students, faculty, and staff gather for "Bridges to Peace," discussions that promote cultural awareness and social understanding. Fridays are devoted to quiet meditation. As we honor the traditions of Christian faith we respect the diversity of religious expression that promotes spiritual growth.

Worship services provide opportunities for the Rev. Harvard Stephens, Jr., Dean of Siebert Chapel, to gather the campus community and focus on the message of Christ and the power of faith in the world today. Pastor Stephens is a Harvard graduate who comes to Carthage from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Catholic mass is celebrated Sunday evenings, while Protestant services are offered Wednesday and Sunday mornings.

Research by the national higher education consulting firm Hardwick-Day, Inc., reveals that graduates of Lutheran colleges "credit their undergraduate experiences with helping them prepare for career and community involvement, and develop personal values, spirituality, and a sense of purpose and meaning.... Lutheran colleges outperform their larger state-supported peers—and not just by an inch or a percentage point."

You can learn more about the Lutheran College Advantage by asking a Carthage admissions officer for a summary of the research, or by exploring the Lutheran Educational Conference of North America's (LECNA) Web site at www.lutherancolleges.org.