University Chapel Policies and Guidelines
The University Chapel serves as a sacred space where members of the University community can come together for prayer and worship. It promotes a sense of hospitality and inclusivity, allowing Christians and individuals from different faith backgrounds to coexist and flourish.
“Hospitality means primarily the creation of a free space where the stranger can enter and become a friend instead of an enemy. Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place. It is not to bring men and women over to our side, but to offer freedom not disturbed by dividing lines. It is not to lead our neighbor into a corner where there are no alternatives left, but to open a wide spectrum of options for choice and commitment.” — Henri J. M. Nouwen
The University of Indianapolis shares this aspiration by offering opportunities for Christian students to grow in their faith in the context of various Christian ministries offered through the Office of Ecumenical & Interfaith Programs and by offering hospitality to those of other faith traditions.
University Chapel
The University Chapel serves as a place of worship for everyone. Situated at 4002 Otterbein Ave., it stands as the focal point of religious activities on our campus, enriching the spiritual aspect of our academic community. The chapel, open to individuals of various faiths, offers a serene and aesthetically pleasing environment for practicing one's religious beliefs. Visitors are encouraged to participate in the rituals of their own faith traditions.
Primarily, the University Chapel's use shall relate to religious and ceremonial events and programming for our campus. This means that the chapel is especially available for occasions for worship, fellowship, formation, and organizing religious functions on campus. It is also the location from which events that pertain to church relations and that involve guests to our campus from religious bodies are hosted. Other uses for the chapel are secondary to these principal ones for this sacred space.
Beyond scheduled programming, the chapel is to be open and available during the hours of operation of the Schwitzer Student Center to members of the campus community for personal devotional use and prayer.
Current Christian worship opportunities include Thursday Night Alive services of Taizé Prayer and Contemporary Praise and Worship; University Community Communion; and Chapel Prayer. The chapel's availability for additional worship experiences include Welcome Weekend Worship; Threshold Weekend Retreat; the Lantz Center for Christian Vocations and Formation and the Parish Nurse Commissioning Services; and the Service of Lessons and Carols.
Current interfaith events include the annual Interfaith Peace Service, and have in recent years included the commemoration of Yom HaShoah (Jewish); Friday Mid-Day Prayers (Muslim); and the celebration of Diwali (Hindu).
Fellowship events include weekly meetings of various religious organizations within the Christian Ministries Council and the Interfaith Activities Council, smaller Christian concerts, and other gatherings.
Formation events include the annual Showers Lectures; special events, dialogues and presentations on religious life issues. The chapel has been host to interfaith dialogues on issues of religious devotion and practice; Spirit and Place events; and student gatherings of remembrance and prayer. Occasionally, there are class sessions held in the chapel when it is beneficial to be in the sacred space to illustrate what is being covered in the course. CVOC courses are usually held in the chapel, and some of the campus Bible studies are held here.
Organization meetings for spiritual life activities, service projects, mission trips, and program planning for campus ministries are often held in the chapel.
The University Chapel is the site in which gatherings of clergy and laity who come as guests to our campus are held. Annually, the School of Christian Mission of the United Methodist Women and the Wesleyan Connection Project take place in part in the chapel. The plenary gatherings of the Indiana Area Extension Course of Study School of the United Methodist Church takes place in our chapel. Occasionally, local church Confirmation classes also will gather for campus visits to learn about our university in the chapel.
University Chapel is available for personal and small-groups to come in for devotions and prayer at times when events are not scheduled and the Schwitzer Center is open.
In addition, the chapel is to be available for other appropriate ceremonies, such as weddings and memorial services for students, alumni, faculty, and staff; Alpha Chi and Phi Alphi Epsilon inductions; and hooding ceremonies.
Scheduling of the Chapel is done through the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Programs. Please contact our Office Manager, Dorella Phipps (phippsd@uindy.edu).
Please note: These policies and guidelines have been reviewed and approved by the University of Indianapolis administration. They are set for both campus and other groups in the use of the chapel. If you have further questions about the use of the University Chapel, please contact the Office Manager of Ecumenical and Interfaith Programs, Dorella Phipps (phippsd@uindy.edu), or stop in the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Programs at University Chapel 4002 Otterbein Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46227.