Student Organizations

Get involved.

Religious life is important for many students at Carthage College. For those students who are interested in continuing work in their faith, learning about other religions or assisting with community projects, there are many ways to get involved:

Catholics at Carthage. Catholics at Carthage is a welcoming community for Roman Catholic students on campus. With the guidance of Edith Padgett, our Catholic campus minister, students gather to receive the Sacraments, worship, pursue catechetical formation, assist in service projects for the College and the wider community, and interact socially with other campus Catholics. Local priests share the sacramental duties and travel to Carthage each Sunday to say Mass, offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and perform any other necessary sacramental ministries. Student leaders serve as musicians, lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.

CUMBYA (Carthage Undergrads Making Big Youth Activities). This group encourages and prepares its members to engage in on-site youth ministry events (primarily lock-ins and drop-ins) for junior and senior high youth in southeastern Wisconsin congregations. Through facilitating these events, CUMBYA members have experienced growth in their own faith as Christians and confidence in sharing their faith stories with young people as a way of encouraging and strengthening local youth ministry programs. Open to professing Christians of all denominations, CUMBYA meets at 9:30 p.m. Mondays in the Ehrler Chapel.

Gospel Messengers
The Gospel Messengers minister to students by teaching them to sing gospel music and explore the faith this music celebrates. They are a touring choir under the direction of Gloria Tillman-Kemp. They have brought their music ministry to audiences and congregations across the United States and in Europe, Africa, and the United States Virgin Islands. Each year the Gospel Messengers sing at the annual Carthage Christmas Festival and at the baccalaureate and commencement programs. Wherever they go to sing, the Gospel Messengers celebrate the love of Christ as they share the joy of contemporary gospel music.

Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. IVCF is an evangelical, student-led Christian movement that ministers to students at more than 700 colleges and universities in the United States. It is non-denominational; everyone is welcome to participate. The emphasis on fellowship in IVCF brings about a non-threatening atmosphere of support and understanding in which members can grow in their faith and knowledge of Scripture. The Carthage chapter meets for large group fellowship weekly. Anyone is welcome to attend.

Theta Alpha Kappa. Theta Alpha Kappa is Carthage's honors fraternity for religion students.

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Student Voices

"The program successfully provides the skill of critical investigation and encourages students to consider other perspectives on any given subject manner pertaining to religion. But most of all, the willingness of the entire faculty to go beyond the 'call of duty' is another strength of this department."

— Emerson Murphy, '12, Roseland, Chicago, Ill.

Hear what students have to say about studying religion at Carthage.

J-Term in India

See a slideshow of photographs from Religion J-Term trips to India and The Himalayas.

J-Term in Israel

Unearthing the Past. Annual study tour in northern Israel transforms Carthage undergrads into archaeologists.