Clarion 1993-09-24 Vol. 69 No. 02

              The Official Student Publication Of Bethel College
Volume 69, No. 2; September 24, 1993
Goin' to the Chapel...and we're gonna see changes
?
by Sherry Hall
Writing Intern
"One of my major convictions is that
Bethel chapel hours should reflect the
Bethel community...the tastes, styles, and
felt needs of the wonderful diversity
represented on our campus," said Keith
Anderson, Campus Pastor. Anderson has
coordinated chapel services since he joined
the faculty four years ago.
According to Anderson, "The basic
goals for chapel haven't changed: loving
and worshiping God in community;
integrating faith into the familiar by setting
aside worship time in the midst of life, for
all of life is sacred; and learning respect
(and hopefully, even appreciation) for a
variety of worship forms."
iaj    ...should
reflect the
... community...the
tastes, styles,
and felt needs."
If the goals of chapel haven't changed
in"BranchingOut", how is chapel different
this year? Anderson cited several changes:
1. Decentralizing worship planning.
More students and faculty are contributing
ideas, abilities, and evaluations. Ethnic
offerings are to be a regular feature. Each
residence hall will have opportunity to plan
a chapel service. The various academic
departments will each be asked to take one
month of special involvement in chapel,
and the United Cultures of Bethel
multicultural group will help plan and staff
some chapels. Each of the four student
class levels will have opportunity to present
one day's chapel. Last year, there was a
special "seniors' day" chapel which focused
on careers.
Pholo/ K. Undberg
This promotional "branching out" postcard was distributed to the Bethel community to
encourage attendance at chapel.
Student Worship Coordinator Cindi Jansen,
Pastor Anderson, and Drama Professor Dale
Rott welcome the input of all students and
faculty.
2. Tailoring chapel to needs. "We're
taking chapel to the freshmen on Friday the
17th [of September],"
Anderson continued. "We'll
have a big band and rented
sound equipment on the
freshman parking lot. If
anybody's still sleeping, we
won't be 'in their face,' but
we will be in their ear!" Last
year Anderson surveyed 120
Bethel freshmen. Only a little
above half had ever attended a
chapel hour. Anderson wants
to make chapel a relevant and attractive
offering to freshmen; so if they reject the
opportunity, it won't be because they
haven't tried it.
3. Focusing on worship. The praise and
worship chapels have generated excitement
and attendance this year. Anderson said,
"The praise times allow transition into a
sense   of   worship,   and   emotional
wim
involvement with the Lord and one another
as a community of worshipers. We're not
interested in preaching only."
4. Experimenting with new forms.
Gender is a timeless, yet hot topic. Anderson
and Sherry Bunge will each lead separate
chapels
focusing on
"What it
means to be a
man/woman
of God."
Anderson's
plan is to have
a relatively
unstructured
interaction
time between
male students,
faculty and coaches. Bunge and a group of
women will be putting together a similar
forum for female students and faculty.
Anderson hopes to revive an appreciation
for the meaningful hymns which have
impacted individuals down through the
ages. "Worship didn't begin in 1986. We
are linked with a 'great cloud of witnesses'
"Stic6>.. student
class...will have
the
to present...
one...
n
Tony, Tony, Tony
(Campolo, that is...) has
done it again.
See Page 6
and their fai th can enrich and enliven ours."
"Branching Out" has thus far drawn
unusually large chapel attendance, as
compared with other years at this time.
Though attendance numbers are not
recorded, "There seems to be a different
emotional feel this year," Anderson
commented. "An intensity of spiritual
interest, not just numbers. Is it an especially
energetic, alive freshman class? I'm not
sure what to attribute it to."
Chapel can be some of the most
significant memories students make while
at Bethel. Anderson reported, "I often see
alumni in their situations after graduating
from Bethel. Many say, 'I would give
anything to have opportunities again like
the ones that were available but I missed
out on.'"
"The
stands before
God by
choice..., not in
mandated
worship...this is
a great place to
be
»»
Historically, chapel at Bethel College
has never been mandatory. Anderson
explained, "The men and women who left
Sweden and Norway partly due to the
oppression of the State Church system,
embraced a theology of 'soul freedom.'
The individual stands before God by choice
of heart, not in mandated worship. When I
travel to campuses where chapel is
mandatory, I often see hostile students with
walkmen on their heads and reading
material in their hands. I come running
back to Bethel where students are motivated
to listen, participate, and go out to integrate
what they've learned into their daily lives.
This is a great place to be."
Look for our