Sixteen religious organizations reside in the small Center for Religious Services house on Race Street, and the Lutheran Campus Ministry is one of the smaller groups, with only six consistent members and 20 affiliated Lutheran students.

LCM became established on campus in 1996 when Pastor Hank Corcoran was appointed to run the program. The group had a slow start but is gradually gaining recognition at DU.

“We experimented with different models at first,” said Corcoran, “such as putting up a table on the bridge. But students were too busy going to class to stop and talk, so now we contact students through the information they supply to us.”

The university sends out religious preference cards to incoming freshmen the summer before they arrive, on which the students list their chosen faith and their contact information.

The information from these cards is then given to the appropriate religious organization that contacts them once school has begun.

“By being a registered religious group on campus we receive benefits, such as the contact information for students,” said Corcoran. “But as a part of that covenant we have agreements that respect other faiths as well.”

Use of the Religious Services house is free of charge and is one of the primary benefits of registering with the university. Maintenance, utilities and furnishings are included.

In exchange, the groups honor other religious faiths and practices and must refrain from interfering with the diversity of the university.

“We must modify our enthusiasm to adhere to the marketplace of religious ideas,” said Corcoran. “But the point of religion is that while Jesus was alive, he looked ahead hundreds of years to be a part of everyone’s life, no matter in what form.”

LCM services are held every Sunday afternoon in casual, social setting with food, music and receiving of the Eucharist.