EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT
Spiritual Development AND CHAPEL . . . BUT WERE AFRAID TO ASK!

Statement of Chapel Importance:
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 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 through both fines and disciplinary points through the Office of Student Life.

Each student must attend twenty (20) chapels each semester.
There are 26 total chapels for the semester through which you can meet your chapel requirement.
 (Note: these will be prorated, for semesters with fewer or greater numbers of chapels. Students will be notified of the specific numeric requirements during the first week of each semester by the Office of Spiritual Development. This notification will be both in chapel and via the ENC website.)

It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their chapel attendance, as they will be held accountable for all excessive absences.

Exemptions:A full chapel exemption may be granted to students in unique circumstances. If the request is approved, the student will need to submit a “Covenant Plan,” which is a spiritual growth strategy rooted in covenant community.


The “Covenant Plan” must be submitted by the deadline of each semester established once the exemption has been approved. Key elements of the “Covenant Plan” are: a statement of intentionality, a proposed plan for spiritual growth and a means of accountability. A mid-term and final written evaluation must be submitted for completion of the chapel exemption program.


Chapel Exemptions:
It is the student’s responsibility to treat chapel as any other required class. Therefore, work, etc. is to be scheduled around the chapel hour. Further exemptions are granted for Upper-class students (60 credits and above) for the following reasons only:

1. Verifiable and necessary employment during chapel.
2. Full-time student teaching assignments and practicum placements verifiable in their respective departments.
3. Commuter students with evening or Tuesday / Thursday classes only MUST file a chapel petition to be considered for participation in the “Covenant Plan” program.
4. Commuter students who have MWF classes after 12:00 p.m. MUST file a chapel petition to be considered for participation in the “Covenant Plan” program.


Levels of Accountability:
Students attending fewer than 20 chapels per semester will be sanctioned as follows:
1-2 excessive misses -- $10 per miss and 1 disciplinary point total
3-4 excessive misses -- $10 per miss and 2 disciplinary points total
5-8 excessive misses -- $10 per miss for first 4 misses and $15 for each subsequent miss and 5 disciplinary points total plus meeting with representatives from the Office of Spiritual Development
9+ excessive misses -- $10 per miss for first 4 misses, $15 for next 4 misses, and $25 per miss for each subsequent miss and 10 disciplinary points total. Required meeting with representatives of the Spiritual Development Advisory Council and Office of Residential Life, for review of student status and additional sanctions, if any.
 
 
The student handbook states:
“In some instances, disciplinary points (pts) may be assigned for violations of certain College policies. ENC may discipline students for their actions and/or violation of policy without assigning disciplinary points. A student who has accumulated 25 disciplinary points in any given academic year, or a total of 40 disciplinary points since enrolling at the College, will be subject to dismissal. A student may be dismissed or be subjected to other disciplinary action even if he or she has not accrued 25 points in a year or 40 points in 4 years. A student’s disciplinary record is also one criterion for review for leadership selection within the College – whether an elected position or a role selected to represent the College.” (ENC Student Handbook)


Falsification of Information:
Falsification of information is a serious offense and will be treated and looked upon as such.
1. Students who are dishonest when filing a petition will be subjected to a $200.00 fine.
2. 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.