2008 Woodie Awards
Our Lutheran heritage: faith informing reason
Peter Bredlau, College Chaplain
Issue date: 12/9/04 Section: Focus
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Martin Luther was an advocate of a liberal arts education for both men and women. The College was named after the family of the first German Lutheran Pastor in the U.S., Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. The College's founders were people who were raised in the educational tradition of Luther. They valued education, and we, their Lutheran descendents, still do. We Lutherans like to remember that our church was started on a college campus, by a campus pastor and professor, for that was Luther's call at the time. Lutherans treasure the connection of faith and education; we don't think that faith and education are mutually exclusive, rather, they are complementary. Faith can inform reason, and reason can inform faith.
Over the years at the College, the Lutheran church connection and faith expression have been lived out in many ways. In the early days of the College, the professors and administration were Lutherans, most of them clergy. Today's faculty and staff still has Lutheran representation and is more religiously diverse than ever. There are a number of Lutherans that serve on the Board of Trustees, including Bishops of the church and people active in congregations. The College believes that these are important voices in the decision-making that happens at that level.
Another past expression of the church connection was mandatory Chapel attendance, which lasted until the early 1970s, when most U.S. colleges had eliminated mandatory attendance. Some still lament the loss of compulsory Chapel, but as Chaplain, I am glad we now have people in Chapel who want to be there, rather than those who have to be there.
The religion course general academic requirement has also been a connection to our church heritage. We believe that a liberal arts education should include a wide variety of courses and that being educated about religion is important because religions play a vital role in many societies. While we don't require students to be instructed about faith or a particular religion, we do hope that students will learn about the many faiths and belief systems that inhabit the world.
Over the years at the College, the Lutheran church connection and faith expression have been lived out in many ways. In the early days of the College, the professors and administration were Lutherans, most of them clergy. Today's faculty and staff still has Lutheran representation and is more religiously diverse than ever. There are a number of Lutherans that serve on the Board of Trustees, including Bishops of the church and people active in congregations. The College believes that these are important voices in the decision-making that happens at that level.
Another past expression of the church connection was mandatory Chapel attendance, which lasted until the early 1970s, when most U.S. colleges had eliminated mandatory attendance. Some still lament the loss of compulsory Chapel, but as Chaplain, I am glad we now have people in Chapel who want to be there, rather than those who have to be there.
The religion course general academic requirement has also been a connection to our church heritage. We believe that a liberal arts education should include a wide variety of courses and that being educated about religion is important because religions play a vital role in many societies. While we don't require students to be instructed about faith or a particular religion, we do hope that students will learn about the many faiths and belief systems that inhabit the world.