Located in the Sharon and Ron Matthews Ministry Center (MMC), the Department of Religious Life and Office of the Chaplain are available for students interested in connecting with religious and spiritual life on campus, learning about faith communities, or seeking spiritual support along the journey of university life. Religious Life fosters a spirit of hospitality that supports and encourages all students, faculty and staff in honoring the sacred. In this environment of education and growth, there are safe and respectful times and places to wrestle with the hard questions of life. The University Chaplain, adjunct chaplains and staff are available to students of all traditions for conversations around faith and personal matters. Religious Life has many opportunities to serve, lead and grow spiritually. The core tenets of Religious Life are: Connect. Grow. Serve. Listen. Love. Learn.
A mid-week chapel service is offered on Wednesdays at 11 a.m. It is non-denominational and open to all. Catholic Mass is offered on Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. Student Religious Life Organizations include FCA, Bible Study, PGM Fellowship, One Voice Gospel Choir, Interfaith Council, and “Unpacking Religion” discussion groups.
The Ministry Center’s Student Lounge, “The Family Room,” (open 7 a.m.-12 midnight) is an inviting place for students to relax, watch TV, study, meet new people and enjoy an occasional snack. The University Chaplain, Rev. Kelli W. Taylor, is available at (910) 630-7515 or ktaylor@methodist.edu. Student program information is available from Ruth Carr at (910) 630-7157 or rcarr@methodist.edu.
This 2019-2020 Religious Life theme is “The Awakened Life.” See our Schedule of Religious Observances (2019-20) for a monthly list of religious observances.
Staff
B.A., Converse College; M.Div., Duke University; OSL Elder in Full Connection – The United Methodist Church, South Carolina Annual Conference SCUMC Board of Ordained Ministry, Theology and Doctrine Examination Committee Rev. Taylor holds degrees from Converse College and Duke University Divinity School and is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church. In addition to serving as a Pastor in rural, downtown and urban churches, she has previously served as faculty in the Religion Department and Chaplain at Spartanburg Methodist College. Rev. Taylor was the Director of Communications for the General Board of Church and Society, one of four international general program boards of The United Methodist Church located in Washington, DC and served as editor for Guidelines for Leading the Church: Church and Society, Cokesbury Publishing, 2008. In 2019, she co-authored an article with Dr. George Hendricks, Dean of the School of Public Affairs at Methodist University, entitled “A Fresh Expression of ‘And Are We Yet Alive?’”, published in The Asbury Journal. Rev. Taylor’s interests are: peace and reconciliation, interfaith religious literacy, liturgy, advocacy/justice on death penalty issues, teaching and Christian discipleship. She is married to J. Richard Taylor, a PGA professional, and they have three sons. B.S., Campbell University
Rev. Kelli Taylor, OSL
Vice President for Religious Life & Community Engagement; Chaplain
Professional Affiliations:
Bio:
Ruth Carr, B.S.
Director, Religious Life & Community Engagement
