Chapel
Chapel is a key element of Spiritual formation at LBC, and is instrumental in fulfilling the mission, vision, and core values of Lancaster Bible College. It is a vital part of the LBC curricula. Chapel seeks to enhance the goals of Spiritual Formation at LBC by Engaging Scripture, Living Out Daily Discipleship, and Connecting in Community.
Engaging Scripture: God’s Word is truth! Chapel helps us integrate Scripture with our lives, looking at both historic teachings and current issues. As faculty, staff, and students engage God’s Word together, it will create stronger connections across campus. Speakers will demonstrate high quality teaching and preaching guided by orthodox Christian doctrines with the aim of proclaiming Christ and challenging students in their faith, helping to form a Christian worldview. While we seek to engage Scripture, not every chapel will involve an expositional message.
Living Out Daily Discipleship: God is shaping us into the image of Christ. Chapel helps to foster growth by employing the widest possible range of practices and formats. We will engage in a variety of spiritual disciplines, worldview thinking, and corporate worship practices to help us grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus.
Connecting in Community: God made us for community. We need each other. In chapel, we will prioritize connecting and celebrating a diverse campus that spans numerous departments, cultures, and church traditions. We will strengthen our friendships and community by highlighting various activities, events, and achievements.
Chapel is the part of the way God grows our campus culture, individually and in community. While chapel is a vital part of spiritual formation at LBC, it is not a replacement for involvement in the local church.
Chapel Attendance Policy
Chapel meets three times per week in the Good Shepherd Chapel (GSC): Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:00 – 9:40 am. Because chapel is central to spiritual formation for the LBC community, regular attendance is expected for Faculty, Staff, and On Campus students.
Chapel Attendance Requirement:
- As a regular rhythm of life at LBC, students are required to attend 80% of the total number of scheduled chapels (39) in accordance with the class attendance policy.
- Resident Students - Factoring in nine (9) skips for illness, vacation, work, and other conflicts, ALL students must attend a minimum of 30 chapels each semester.
- Commuter Students - Follow the requirements in the chart below based on class schedule.
| |
Total Chapel Attendance Possible
|
Minimum Attendance Requirement |
| Scheduled Classes M-TH/F |
39 |
30 |
| Scheduled Classes T/TH* |
26 |
20 |
| Scheduled Classes M/W/F* |
13 |
10 |
| * PLEASE NOTE – All Commuter students wishing to be exempted from chapel on days they don’t have classes until after noon MUST submit a Chapel Reduction Request Form. Once the form is received, it will be reviewed by the chapel department to make a determination on whether an exemption will be granted. |
- Out of respect for speakers and for the LBC community, attendance for the full chapel service time is expected. Scanning and leaving shortly after will result in voided attendance.
- Academic chairs, coaches, and student leadership advisors will receive regular chapel attendance reports, and consistent chapel attendance is required for graduation.
Chapel Attendance Reduction and Exceptions
- If 80% chapel attendance is not possible due to class schedule or other reasons, a chapel reduction request form must be submitted within the first TWO weeks of the semester.
- Students are responsible for monitoring chapel attendance through their StarRez Portal.
- Graduate, JumpStart, and Part-time Students (<12 credits) are not required to attend chapel but are welcome and encouraged to do so as their schedules permit.
Additional Chapel Opportunities
Each semester, 5 additional opportunities will be made available for students to earn a chapel swipe, outside of regular chapel times. These will be identified and communicated prior to the events, but may include worship nights, campus-wide events in hosted by the Spiritual Life Council, or special events in conjunction with chapel programming.
ID Cards
- In order for attendance to be counted, students must arrive prior to 9:05 am and scan in with an LBC issued student ID Card. Students without an ID card will not be counted present for chapel.
Work and Internships
- It is expected that part-time work, internships, and practicums are scheduled around chapel.
- Student teachers will be fully exempt from chapel attendance and are not required to complete a chapel exception form.
Excessive Skipping and Chapel Sanctions
1 – 2 Excessive Skips Per Semester
- For each excessive chapel skip, a written chapel summary must be submitted by the last day of finals. Written summaries (250 words or more) must be submitted to the Student Affairs chapel coordinator.
- After the last day of chapel, a hold will be placed on the student’s account on any student who has not fulfilled their chapel requirement.
- Holds may prevent students from graduating, registering for classes or selecting housing in the following semester, and will not be removed until chapel sanctions are satisfied.
- Excessive skips may affect other co-curricular privileges.
3 + Excessive Skips Per Semester
- $150 fine
- For each excessive chapel skip, a written chapel summary must be submitted by the last day of finals. Written summaries (250 words or more) must be submitted to the Student Affairs chapel coordinator. Summaries must be written by the student, in line with academic requirements, and may not be AI generated.
- After the last day of chapel, a hold will be placed on the student’s account on any student who has not fulfilled their chapel requirement.
- Holds may prevent students from graduating, registering for classes or selecting housing in the following semester, and will not be removed until chapel sanctions are satisfied.
- Excessive skips may affect other co-curricular privileges.
- After two semesters of 3+ Excessive skips, the student will be referred to the Restorative Conduct Process for review of possible additional sanctions and a conduct record will be created. Sanctions could involve community service, additional assignments or impact co-curricular privileges or involvement, including athletics.
- The Restorative Conduct Process is a division of Student Affairs, under the leadership of the Dean of Student Experience.