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Spiritual Development

Bethany College has been affiliated with the Lutheran Church from its founding in 1881. Today, Bethany is connected to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). As such, it is part of the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU). NECU institutions share a common calling that is deeply rooted in the Lutheran intellectual tradition and boldly open to insights from other religious and secular traditions. As part of this network, students at Bethany College will:

• receive an excellent education, rooted in the liberal arts, that engenders freedom of inquiry, and prepares them for meaningful work.
• discern their gifts and hone their skills so that they are able to contribute capably, confidently, and courageously to the needs of a world that desperately needs them
• be welcomed, challenged, and equipped so that they might serve the common good
• become intellectually acute, humbly open to others, vocationally wise, morally astute, and religiously sensitive.

Spiritual development at Bethany College is integral to our mission of preparing students for lives of faith, learning, and service. Spiritual and religious life at Bethany is decidedly ecumenical and interfaith, serving and providing opportunities for students, faculty, and staff of any or no religious background. The institution is committed to an orientation of radical welcome and hospitality, strengthened by sharing in community together. Our chapel space is dedicated to enriching these values, shared by ecumenical partners with the ELCA. 

Campus Pastor

The Campus Pastor oversees the religious and spiritual life of the College. The Campus Pastor is ordained and rostered through the ELCA and is called to the entire campus community. Therefore, they serve all students, faculty, and staff, and work to create an environment where all members of the campus community feel valued, respected, and challenged. The pastor’s office is located in the J.E. & L.E. Mabee Welcome Center.