New positions replace chapel board

With Ron Hafer’s retirement at the end of this year, change is coming to chapel at Biola. The University Chaplain position will be split into two new positions: the Associate Dean of Spiritual Development and the Director of Chapel Programs. In addition, at the end of this semester the University Chapel Board (UCB) will be officially disbanded.

Danny Paschall, the associate dean of student development and community life, said that the new associate dean of spiritual development will “serve as shepherd to guide the spiritual life of the undergraduate community.”

The new associate dean’s duties will include speaking in chapel on a regular basis, interacting with students, and providing pastoral counseling. Also, the associate dean will provide oversight and leadership for three other positions: the director of chapel programs, the director of spiritual life and the director of outreach.

The director of chapel programs will oversee the vision and operation of all undergraduate chapel programs, according to Paschall. This leader is in charge of “demonstrating a wide range of chapel programs through a variety of speakers and topics that reflect the overall university commitment to diversity,” Paschall said.

Current University Chaplain Ron Hafer was confident about the future of chapel at Biola.

“The two new individuals being hired will be godly, capable leaders who love Biola and the Biola students,” said Hafer. “I have full confidence that my colleagues in Student Affairs will continue to give godly, responsible direction to chapels at Biola University.”

Hafer also said that his colleagues are a “phenomenal” group of people and that they will have a lot more administrative responsibility than he did.

Since there will now be a separate position devoted strictly to chapel content, administration does not know if there is still a need for the University Chapel Board.

Lauren Turner, who is in charge of chapel accountability, said the UCB is made up of individuals from all across the university.

“It includes students, faculty and staff providing support to the Chaplain,” Turner said.

Turner also added that all of the student positions will still exist. The Student Chapel Board will still assist in regular participation of assessing chapel and planning chapels.

“We are disbanding the UCB so that the new chapel leadership can give form and direction to the input structure that would best serve this new leadership,” said Matthew Hooper, the director of Residence Life.

“We want the new people to be able to start with a clean slate,” Turner said about the disbanding of the UCB.

Student reaction was mixed. While some students were not even aware of the existence of the UCB, others are wary of results that will come from eliminating it altogether.

“Seems like they should keep a few people on board to keep continuity,” said junior David Martina, Stewart Hall senator. “I know that with a one year turnover in AS it’s hard to keep a continuity of ideas, goals and precedent. But I’m definitely a fan of fresh minds in the committee.”

Junior Johnathan Mastron agreed.

“Although I trust the university to pick good candidates for the positions, this would be the ideal chance to make changes to the ideological and theological atmosphere that underpins the UCB’s choice of speakers for chapel,” Mastron said.

Hooper believes that a committee similar to the University Chapel Board is likely to be formed in the future.

“I think something like the UCB will be created, but I think the purpose of this new committee will be different,” said Hooper. “There is always a need for input. We are maintaining the student positions in AS for next year. We are excited to offer consistency to the new staff leadership through the student positions.”