A fresh start: Changes to NGU chapel
Photo by Treasure Hardwick
Treasure Hardwick, Staff Writer
On Aug 21, 2024, Dallas Vandiver, associate vice president of Campus Ministries and Student Engagement (CMSE) at NGU, announced to the student body that there will be changes in chapel in the 2024-2025 school year.
These changes include implementing a new curriculum, scheduling less chapels and enforcing rules that create a more classroom-esque environment.
Vandiver explained that chapel was stricter several years ago. Students were assigned seats and were given letter grades based on their attendance. These rules had the potentional to affect GPAs and make chapel unappealing.
In recent years, chapel became less stringent, allowing students to attend less chapels and grades were solely pass or fail.
As of this school year, there are now 25 chapel services. Students must attend 18 of these to pass the class, which allows room for seven absences. Students were asked to refrain from using technology, and if this rule is breached, staff members will ask the student to put their device away.
The services will vary from lectures, interviews and sermons.
Vandiver said that the topics being taught will build on each other, and the goal is to help students establish a biblical worldview.
“In chapel we cultivate transformational leaders by regularly worshipping Jesus and thinking about all of life in relation to Jesus. I’m talking about hearing from the Word, praying and worshipping,” Vandiver said.
Not only is the goal of chapel to create transformational leaders, but it also serves as resource to help students view their area of study from a biblical lens.
“Chapel is our biggest classroom,” Vandiver said. “I want to be able to address journalism majors, biology majors, chemistry majors, sports-management majors, whatever it may be and to help them think about what they are learning in the classroom in relation to Jesus.”
With chapel now being stricter, NGU students have mixed opinions on the changes.
Allisondra Phipps, sophomore health science major, viewed these changes as positive.
“I don’t feel as though the changes to the chapel rules are that severe. As someone who enjoys chapel, the heightened rules mean less distraction,” Phipps said.
She added, “As far as attendance goes, it does not seem much different than last year. I do appreciate the more organized topic series and hope they will continue to bring guests from outside of NGU.”
Caleb Krupcsyk, junior psychology major, believes that the chapel changes will instill healthy habits in students’ lives.
Krupcsyk said, “I think that the changes offer a new light into how we view chapel. I think it creates new opportunities to be intentional during that time. These changes help us to create better habits in and outside of the classroom.”
However, other students believe that the changes will not result in furthering the ultimate mission behind NGU chapel.
Cecelia Sundell, senior interdisciplinary studies major, believes that the changes will not guarantee students full attention, and it may lead to students resenting the class.
“I understand the perspective of the changes in chapel, like them wanting students to be more involved and to pay attention, but I also want to push back on the idea of forcing students to love it,” Sundell said. “People, in my opinion, will not pay attention in chapel even if you do take away devices.”
Though various opinions do exist throughout the student body, the rules remain the same.
Vandiver encouraged students to lean into chapel and to approach every service with a ready heart, eager to learn about the gospel. He even emphasized the importance of resting well the night before chapel to be fully alert during the teachings.
