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Religious Life

Since 1819, the College’s purpose has been the full intellectual, social, physical, ethical, and spiritual development of students. Although Centre’s roots are Presbyterian, the Religious Life Office is designed to celebrate our religious diversity.

The largest group on campus, religiously, is Catholic, followed by Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, and Christian Church/Disciples. Centre also has students who are Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, and Muslim, as well as a dozen additional Christian denominations.

The Religious Life office can provide extensive information on internships, volunteer positions, mission opportunities, and career options in the areas of social service, mission, or peace and justice work. Please feel free to come by for information, conversation, or inspiration.

A large gathering space in the basement of Yerkes has been made available for campus religious groups to meet. The “sacred space” is an ideal place for prayer groups, discussion groups, practice of meditation, and other gatherings. To reserve this space, email Dr. Rick Axtell.

Centre named a top religious college by StartClass.com

March 4, 2016. Centre College was recognized as one of the top religious colleges in the U.S. by StartClass.com. While the national ranking acknowledges Centre’s founding Presbyterian heritage, the designation also signals the College’s strong sense of community, civility and open-mindedness as an institution inclusive of all faiths and religious studies.

“A long and rich tradition of tolerance, freedom of inquiry and community informs all aspects of life at Centre,” says H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Religion and College Chaplain Rick Axtell. “This spirit of respect for diversity is central to who we are and reflective of our Presbyterian heritage.”

From the classroom to campus activities, religious life plays an important role for students of all faiths at Centre, and the College’s Religious Life Office aims to foster a respectful environment for all. Approximately 25 different religious denominations are identified on campus, many of them represented by student organizations such as CentreFaith, the interfaith group that provides opportunities for different traditions to come together for dialogue. More…

Our Goals

Connect students with the work of local congregations

Local congregations sponsor Sunday School classes and other college programs, and occasionally they host lunches and dinners for students. We serve as a resource for connecting students to a congregational home while they are here at Centre.

Promote vital religious life and greater religious understanding on campus

Services are held for Advent and Lent and Special events such as a Passover Seder and an Eid al Fitr commemorating the end of Islam’s holy month of Ramadan; and an annual interfaith dialogue series featuring speakers from Buddhist, Christian, Jain, Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim traditions. CentreFaith is a student-led campus interfaith dialogue organization that sponsors discussions, films, and events from various religious traditions throughout the year. In addition, six student-led religious groups foster fellowship and special events.

Develop the moral and ethical conscience of students as socially responsible citizens

CentrePeace, a group that works to educate the community on issues related to peace, human rights, social justice, immigration, war and peace, and capital punishment.
“Religion, Human Rights, and Latin America” is a series that brings speakers annually from Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Nicaragua, or Honduras to share with us the realities of their situations.
Poverty and Homelessness Week is an annual emphasis that includes workdays in Louisville shelters, education programs, a fast for hunger, and other ways to work on hunger relief.

Spiritual advising and vocational exploration

Internships
Seminary and Divinity school explorations

Centre College Chaplain

Jason Crosby

Rev. Jason Crosby '01 • College Chaplain Work Campus Center, 2nd floor Work Phone: 859.238.6026 Work Email: jason.crosby@centre.edu

Biography

Jason, a Kentucky native, previously served as co-pastor at Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville from 2008 - 2022. He was responsible for preaching, pastoral care, and administration.

He was born in Louisville and raised in Covington. He attended Centre College, receiving a BA in religious studies in 2001. He earned his MDiv at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. Prior to joining the Crescent Hill Baptist Church staff, Jason served as an interim minister at the First Baptist Church of Battle Creek, Mich., worked as a community organizer with the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice in Ann Arbor, Mich., and was a project coordinator with Kentucky Refugee Ministries. Jason serves on the board of directors for Kentucky Refugee Ministries and the ACLU-KY. Jason has been a frequent opinion piece editor for the Courier-Journal and regularly serves as a panelist on WHAS’s Moral Side of The News, the nation's longest-running television and radio program that analyzes the news through a religious lens.

Email: jason.crosby@centre.edu