Greenville College Annual Report 2003-04

Campus Profile

Community of Faith

Chapel is the cornerstone of the spiritual formation program at Greenville College. A place of corporate worship, prayer, education, and growth, Chapel exists to encourage the formation of Christian community and to foster the development of a vibrant, life-changing relationship with Christ for each individual within the community.

The chapel curriculum, which was developed by Chaplin Lori Gaffner in the summer of 2003, runs on a four-year cycle, giving each group of freshmen the chance to participate in the entire program. The first year, 2003-04, focused on “Jesus Christ – The Author and Perfector of Our Faith,” the second focuses on “Becoming a Disciple of Christ,” while years three and four focus on “Living in Christian Community,” and “Living in the World” respectively.

Gaffner describes her thought process while writing the chapel curriculum. She asked herself and others, “What do our students need to know? Where are they in their spiritual development? What is it we want them to leave having heard?” Recently appointed dean of Chapel, Dr. Brian Hartley added, “We want students to leave saying I know what it means to lead a cruciform life in community.” The chapel program facilitates the development of this cruciform life - a life lived in the shadow of the cross.

Hartley has developed a distinct structure to each day of chapel. Mondays are considered times of traditional worship, with Hartley presenting an expository message every other week. Wednesdays include contemporary worship with Lori Gaffner leading the service, and Fridays bring a potpourri of guest speakers and class chapels. “I see chapel as an opportunity to shape the way we look at God,” said Hartley, “that includes what we sing and the way we worship.”

Working together allows Gaffner and Hartley to maximize their strengths. “I enjoy putting together chapel programs,” said Gaffner. “I get excited when I can get someone else to showcase their gifts in chapel.” Hartley focuses on expository preaching and teaching around a specific topic.

As a part of the chapel program students are also encouraged to attend Tuesday prayer and meditation chapels and Thursday night vesper services. Vespers, a student-led service, consists of music, testimonies, Scripture readings and preaching.

Hartley reaffirmed the importance of the community of faith that the chapel program creates. “While we are called to a personal relationship,” he said “we are not called to a private relationship. We are called to be members of a community of faith, not just Lone Ranger Christians.”

Last updated: October 31, 2005