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A major in religion at Furman provides an excellent background for graduate study in religion or for theological study leading to the ministry or other service-related positions. Graduates of the Furman program have also entered such fields as law, medicine, social work, teaching and business.
A Furman religion major builds a strong foundation for many church-related vocations, including ministry, whether as a pastor, minister of youth, minister of education or recreational minister; missions works as teacher, administrator or business manager; chaplaincy in hospitals, colleges, prisons, or the military; education as teacher, religious journalist or editor; and counseling.
Among Furman graduates who have majored in religion, Linda Lanier teaches at the University of Florida's College of Medicine; Davis Perkins is president and publisher of
One Major, Many Paths....
A religion major at Furman University offers students endless possibilities.
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation; and Jon Brooks is director of Camp Rockmont in North Carolina. Peggy Hames and Catherine Fluck Price are among many graduates who serve as ordained ministers; David Odom works at the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem; Sandra Hack Polaski is professor of New Testament at the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond; Christie Matthews is director of the Clubhouse Gang after-school program in Greenville, and also minister of Minus Chapel United Methodist Church; and Chris Ferrell is a businessman in Nashville who has twice been elected to the Nashville City Council.
Recent graduates have attended seminary at Princeton, Columbia, Southern, Southeastern, Southwestern and various other denominational institutions. Others have gone on to divinity school at Candler, the University of Chicago, Duke, Earlham, Harvard, Vanderbilt, and Yale.
A long list of success...
Please browse the following list of some of our graduates (divided by decade) who demonstrate the wide range of career opportunities offered by a major in religion at Furman.
1990s
Christie Matthews ('96): Director, Clubhouse After-School Enrichment Program, Greenville, SC
Karen Martin ('94): Victim Advocate, battered women's shelter, Drayton, SC
Megan Filston ('93): Teacher of Religion, private high school, Knoxville, TN
Alisa Monfalcone ('93): Coordinator, program for homeless preschool children,
Savanna, GA
Garland Pierce ('92): Intern with the World Council of Churches, New York City
Roger Ferrell ('92): Director, Homefront, a Christian music and teaching ministry
Christopher Ferrell ('91): City Council Member, Nashville, TN
1980s
John Blevins ('89): Chaplain with AIDS Pastoral Care Network, Chicago
Emily Barrett Yancey ('88): Instructor, Flight Attendant Training, Delta Airlines, Atlanta
Sandra Hack Polaski ('87): Instructor, Religion Department, Furman University
Rosella Trotter ('86): Family Therapist, Charter Ridge Hospital, Lexington, KY
Dale Morehead Steward ('86): Community Relations, Duke Power Company
Dr. Marion Soards ('86): Professor of New Testament, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Jon Brooks ('86): Director, Camp Rockmont, North Carolina
Melissa Sexton O'Neil ('85): Director, Sunrise Ministries Retreat, Sunset Inn and Providence Lodge, Lake Junaluska, NC
James Strange ('85): Archaeological escavator, Sepphoris, Israel (and writer of country song lyrics)
Sylvia Underwood Burch ('83): Program Director, Attleboro Family Planning, Providence, RI
Peggy Haymes ('82): Author, Be Thou Present: Prayers, Litanies and Hymns for Christian Worship; Editor, Reflections magazine
Mary Gregson Rayburn ('82): Director of Student Ministries, Taylor University, Upland IN
Ron Jackson ('81): President, Disciples: America's Christian Superstores
Dr. Cecil P. Staton. Jr. ('80): Publisher for both Mercer University Press and Smyth & Hellwys Publishing
1970s
Lynn Moore Stanley ('79): Homemaker and mother of three, involved with foster care and social work, Vesuvias, VA
Dr. Davis Perkins ('74): President and Publisher, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, Louisville, KY
Dr. Vic Greene ('73): Chaplain, Furman University
J. Neal Sasser ('72): Chaplain, Maryview Medical Center, Portsmouth, VA
Dr. Samuel Balentine ('72): Professor of Old Testament, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, VA
Elaine Hickman ('72): Director of Hospital Chaplaincy Services, Dixon, CA; President,
College of Hospital Chaplains (the first woman to hold this national post)
Dr. Bill Bellinger ('72): Professor of Hebrew and Director of Graduate Studies, Baylor University
Dr. Linda Lanier ('71): Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology, and Chair of Admissions Committee, University of Florida College of Medicine (the first woman to hold this University post)
1960s
Dr. Jenny Yates ('65): Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Wells College, Ithaca, NY