The ‘eyes and ears’ of the chapel

“I love being in the chapel. It’s a comforting, spiritually fulfilling place for me,” says Dorea Ruggles, a senior chapel apprentice. A number of students who feel this type of connection with the chapel have had the opportunity to be more involved in chapel life through “Apprenticeship of Christ Chapel,” a unique program that helps mentor students and aid them in the discovery and cultivation of their faith.

During the 2005-06 academic year, 40 students participated in the four-year program. The students came from a variety of academic interests, including physics, biology, and elementary education – bringing different insights and perspectives to the program. Apprentices are encouraged to explore new ways of thinking about faith issues and be receptive to new ideas. Students also learn to incorporate faith with their other interests and skills, and reflect on how faith influences other aspects of their lives.

The apprentices participate in monthly meetings where they discuss issues related to the church and made observations based on what they see and hear on campus. These meetings allow students to diagnose problems and brainstorm solutions, or share concerns and hopes about faith-issues and the chapel. The students participate in individual meetings where they reflected on how their interests and involvements connect with faith. The apprentices also take part in a series of themed retreats, including the Sabbath, social justice, and clearness.

Chaplain Brian Johnson developed the idea for the apprentice program after attending a meeting of professionals to discuss vocational calling. After meeting with several students who had expressed anxiety about discovering their calling and incorporating reflection into their worship routines, the Office of the Chaplains decided an apprenticeship program might help to incorporate peer ministry and faith discussions into campus life. Although many colleges have peer ministry programs, Gustavus Adolphus College is the only college to have a program that incorporates the idea of apprenticeship with peer ministry.

The program started in 1996 with two apprentices, Callista Brown Isabelle ’00 and Brent Voight ’00. As a first-year student, Isabelle was interested in ministry opportunities. “My experiences as an apprentice solidified and affirmed my interest in the seminary,” stated Isabelle, who attended Yale Divinity School and has returned to Gustavus to serve as vicar.

Chaplain Johnson stresses that the program is not intended to teach specific skills, but to encourage students to develop other interests and passions, while combining these interests with their roles in the chapel. Dorea Ruggles, who is a physics major, is conducting an independent study of chapel acoustics, which allows her to combine her interest in acoustical science with her commitment to the chapel.

Gustavus alumna Barbara Nordstrom Hanson ’60 and her husband John donated money to the chapel endowment fund to help start the program. Barbara Hanson explained that her reasons for supporting the program were “strengthening the influence of the church on student life at Gustavus as well as the growth of the faith life of Gustavus students.”