Recent Chapel Changes Offer A New Way To Look At Worship

Anderson University has been through a fair amount of changes within the past year that have impacted the campus greatly. Some of those changes include majors (dance, chemistry, visual communication, and Spanish) being cut and dining services changing. This year, the Reardon Auditorium chapel service is a larger setting that takes place on Tuesdays, while small groups are done on Thursdays. Some of the small groups include Delight Women’s Bible Study in The Common Place, Anam Carta in various locations around campus, and one led by Jason Varner in Edwards Hall 200 (SOTCM). These chapel changes are something that students have been keeping up with since the plan was introduced over the summer.

Worship is a major pillar of the campus community. Brian ‘B’ Martin, Dean of Spiritual and Intercultural Life, plays a big role in connecting students to worship through his friendliness and encouragement. Worship, he believes, is a great time for campus as a community to come together and encourage each other to live faith on and off campus. 

“It’s always been a consistent thing on campus,” he explained. “In the 1920s, chapel was initially called Anderson Bible Training School for pastors and missionaries. Eventually, it expanded and developed to acquire more majors while keeping the chapel part.”

This idea of expanding on chapel is something that is clearly seen in the way chapel is set up this year. Becca Palmer, Director of Spiritual Formation for Student Life, feels that the small group chapels on Thursdays are a positive change to the university’s community. “There will be more space for getting to know people, sharing your thoughts and questions, and finding a community you can grow alongside.”

Abby Nelson, a sophomore majoring in Christian Ministries with minors in Peace and Conflict Transformation (PACT) and Spanish, expressed that she felt this in her own experiences with the small chapel groups. Since the start of the school year, she has attended Becca Palmer and Jason Varner’s small group chapels. She stated, “It felt as if we were all learning and figuring things out together.”

She went on to say that she felt as though different perspectives and opinions were welcomed. This has created a space where she has been able to interact with a wide variety of different people. “I know I already started to build positive acquaintances with people I probably wouldn’t talk to because we have the same interest in wanting to be there. It has built common ground to learn how to be kind.”

Elora Gable, a junior majoring Youth Ministries with a complimentary major in Youth Leadership Development (YLD) and a minor in criminal justice, offers another perspective on the recent chapel changes. “This year is very different. I’m still trying to navigate it.”

Before the changes, there was more flexibility for students to miss a chapel if they needed to for whatever reasons. This year, there is very little wiggle room to make up chapel credits. Gable expressed the concern that these chapel changes would make it harder for students to miss chapel, putting a lot of students in a tough spot homework-wise. However, she still thinks that the chapel changes are good and interesting. “I think if people are willing, the small groups are a good idea.” 

With only a handful of weeks in the school year, it will take time for the chapel changes to grow on students. The changes offer a different way of worship that some students may flock to while others may be more hesitant. There is no right or wrong way to view the change. Sharing one’s faith with others can be a powerful thing and that is something that the small group chapels can reflect if people are open to that type of community. In creating a space for students to grow spiritually, Anderson University has introduced worship opportunities that students are no doubt going to be keeping an eye on.