John Chopka
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Messiah University
Compulsory chapel is typically a requirement at a Christian College, but that is not the case at all institutions. Some institutions offer a voluntary chapel experience, while others provide a variety of experiences from which students gain “chapel credits.” A model I am familiar with requires students to attend 24 chapels per semester. Half of those experiences are to come through a common chapel service for the entire student body. The rest are elective or alternate chapels. Elective chapels offer students a choice between liturgical worship, Bible teaching, praise and worship, mission awareness, etc. Alternate chapels are services held at various times throughout the semester and are planned by student organizations and special-interest groups. Regardless of how it is offered, the chapel experience at a Christian College is a central expression of our identity as a community of Christians with a deep commitment to spiritual growth and academic excellence.
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