By Michael Freeman, Managing Editor
“Changed” will be this semester’s Chapel theme, which will showcase people’s stories of how their lives were transformed since becoming a Christian. The theme name could also describe the new Chapel credit process.
During Tuesday’s service, Dr. Jean-Noel Thompson, vice president and dean of Student Life, announced he would award students with an extra credit whenever they conduct themselves in a respectful and non-distracting manner. Several staff members from the Student Life office will attend Chapel on a regular basis and report to Thompson how the service went. Based on the feedback, Thompson will decide whether or not students should receive an additional credit for their behavior. “While Moody [Coliseum] is a difficult place to hold Chapel with respect to noise level and other distractions, I firmly believe that our students can rise to the challenge of respect and care here,” Thompson said in an e-mail. “I also believe that this requires students holding one another accountable, in addition to what we can do as staff, faculty and administration in this important process.”
Thompson thought of the Chapel credit incentive halfway through last semester. He said the incentive could result in students receiving five or more extra credits by the end of the semester based on how students act.
“With an overall Chapel experience, there are so many different pieces that go into it: the time of singing, reading the Scripture, prayer, the speaker and also the audience’s participation or lack thereof,” said Mark Lewis, assistant dean for Spiritual Life and Chapel Programs. “So, [Thompson] was thinking that might be an excellent way to affirm our student body periodically for an overall excellent experience in Moody.”
But the credit incentive was not the only change that was implemented to enhance students’ daily experiences in Chapel. A card reader was installed on the bottom rail of Sections G and H, bumping the total of available card readers to 24. The Campus Conversations topics also were altered for this semester. Of the eight sessions last semester, only two will continue this semester: the Prayer Chapel in the Chapel on Hill and NOOMA video Chapel in Cullen Auditorium led by Dr. Steven Moore, associate professor of English. The Office of Spiritual Life will release details about the new topics before the first session of Campus Conversations Jan. 27.
“I think it’s important to be able to offer people a lot of different options, so they can find something that’s really going to fit them and make it worth their time,” Lewis said.
The first Chapel forum will be Thursday and will feature the results of last semester’s Chapel survey. A total of 21 Chapel credits will be offered outside of the 73 available in daily Chapel services.
“Building our students up as young adult people and rewarding outstanding conduct in the process is an approach I feel has real merit,” Thompson said in an e-mail. “I hope that our students will see that we do believe in them and are trying the best we can to make Chapel an amazing experience.”
