Religion Division Announced

Academic Affairs has announced the establishment of a Division of Religion separate from the Division of Humanities where it has been previously housed. The creation of the new division will highlight the vital role of religious education and provide increased visibility for an academic program that has a strong heritage of excellence, according to Dr. Michael Arrington, provost.Dr. David Crutchley, professor of religion, will serve as the first dean of the division .

According to Crutchley, the College made these changes "to give the religion department a sense of identity, personality, and prominence." He also stated that the move will provide an opportunity for new imagination and creativity.

Dr. Crutchley has many visions for the department, including a satellite program to allow students to study and work on up to five different continents. He also added that the professors in the religion department are becoming more than just professors, but also mentors for the students.

"Our faculty is committed to sharing their life experiences and living out the imitatio Christi," said Dr. Crutchley.

Dr. Crutchley was born in Zimbabwe and raised in Cape Town, South Africa. He lived in Africa for two-thirds of his life, before moving to the states. He began his education studying law but after law school went to seminary school, "not with a calling but with a curiosity." After he finished with seminary, he returned to South Africa to be an educator.

Dr. Crutchley is beginning his fourth year of teaching at Carson-Newman but he has taught at several institutions. including the Cape Town Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is currently serving as the Chair of the Theological Education Workshop of the Baptist World Alliance Society of Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion Institute of Biblical Research. He is also the teaching pastor at Smithwood Baptist Church in Knoxville.