Who Doesn't Go to Chapel?

If you've been to chapel very much this semester, you've probably noticed that Lehman Auditorium hasn't exactly been overflowing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Students just aren't going to chapel.

Even if students are choosing not to attend, at least the faculty and staff are going to their recommended two chapels per week, right? Well, not quite. In fact, not even close. The last yearbook lists 238 faculty members. If faculty members attend two chapels per week, there should be about 150 faculty members present at each service. I know that many of these people have valid reasons for not attending chapel. But the number of faculty that I've counted at recent chapels - usually around 30 - is a far cry from meeting the school's recommendation.

I hope that faculty chapel attendance isn't a reflection of their spirituality (or lack thereof). I also hope that the fact that some professors schedule activities with students during chapel time isn't a reflection of the professors' concern (or lack thereof) for students' spirituality.

I'm not naïve enough to think that students will begin flocking to chapel en masse if more faculty members were to attend. But I do know that it's easier for students to justify - to themselves and others - their lack of chapel attendance when they can point out that not even their professors seem concerned about going.

I can imagine that many faculty members might say that chapel just isn't how they connect with God. It isn't catered to their worship style preferences, and they feel like they don't get fed spiritually. I have often said the same thing myself. But I realize that a large part of the importance of chapel is expressing the desire to be fed spiritually and to assemble as a body of believers, even if that desire isn't always met. I don't sense that desire in many faculty members.

To the dedicated faculty and staff who do make an effort to come, your attendance is noticed and appreciated. Through your visible expression of faith, you have my respect and the respect of quite a few of my fellow students.

To the faculty and staff that I seldom if ever see in chapel, your absence is likewise noted. I know that not going to chapel doesn't automatically mean that you lack religious dedication or a meaningful relationship with God. But I hope that you will consider how many empty chapel pews there would be if everyone on campus followed your example.