Overview
In chapel we gather as a covenant community of faith to worship God. Through the act of worship, we, the body of Christ, find ourselves encouraged, equipped, energized and empowered by the Spirit of God for acts of loving service in the world. Chapel is one opportunity where faith formation leads us to discover and explore authentic avenues by which we glorify God.
Attendance Policy
As members of a Christian college community that values both academic and spiritual development, students are expected to participate in the spiritual development of the campus and, specifically, to meet the chapel requirements as one demonstration of fidelity to institutional values. It is unacceptable that a student leader would not fulfill the chapel requirements and maintain their leadership role. Similarly, it is expected that all students (who voluntarily come to ENC) will support this requirement. Thus, in keeping with a holistic approach to this covenant community, students who do not meet the community standards for chapel attendance will be sanctioned a fine.
Each student must earn twenty (20) chapel credits in the Fall Semester and twenty (20) in the Spring Semester.
There are a number of opportunities by which a student can meet the chapel requirement and, on occasion, other special services may be held where extra chapel credit may be received. The Office of Spiritual Development will inform students about any opportunities to earn credit.
It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their chapel attendance, as they will be held accountable for all excessive absences.
If students have a unique circumstance, the Office of Spiritual Development may grant an exemption upon approval of the Chaplain/Dean of the Chapel. If a chapel exemption is approved, the student will need to submit an alternative Covenant Plan which is a spiritual growth strategy rooted in covenant community. Key elements of a Covenant Plan include a statement of intentionality, a proposed plan for spiritual growth, and a means of accountability. The Covenant Plan must be submitted by the established deadline stated in the exemption approval letter issued each semester once an exemption has been approved. Students who are granted an exemption yet fail to return their Covenant Plan and meet with their Spiritual Mentor will be fined the maximum Chapel fine for that semester.
Chapel Exemption Submission Deadline
Chapel Exemption submission deadline to the Office of Spiritual Development is the date the Registrar has posted as the last day to Add/Drop classes. Please make your request by this time.
Levels of Accountability
Persons exempted from chapel will choose, or be assigned, a Spiritual Mentor within the ENC Faculty & Staff to be accountable to during the semester of exemption.
Students earning fewer than the required number of chapel credits per semester will be sanctioned a $15 fine per credit not earned.
Falsification of Information
Falsification of information is a serious offense and will be treated and looked upon as such.
Students who are dishonest when filing a petition will be subjected to a $200.00 fine.
Students submitting ID cards to be scanned for others not in attendance will be subjected to a $25.00 fine for each participating party and will not receive credit for the chapel in question.
