The New Chapel: Impractical, Unnecessary, and Wasteful

Reported By: Benny Schorie

Photographed By: Yolanda Diaz

In the spring of 2022, George Fox University (GFU) announced the upcoming plans for the renovation of its Newberg campus. While the logistics and ideas are still in flux, the plan includes measures to improve the flow of campus and make it better for students and faculty. Part of this new campus concept is an upcoming chapel which will include a sanctuary, prayer chapel, library, and courtyard. 

This chapel is intended to support GFU’s spiritual mission and host small-scale events, but it will not host the weekly chapel services currently held in the Bauman Auditorium. This truly begs the question: what is this multi-million dollar chapel for? The plans certainly showcase a beautiful building, but we have adequate space for private prayer in the Prayer Chapel located behind Edwards Hall, and Canyon Commons easily accommodates smaller Spiritual Life (SpiL) events. 

During a national economic crisis when most students are struggling to meet basic financial needs, this project feels frivolous. A short list of underfunded areas within GFU explains the extent of this frivolity. 

When asked what areas of campus life are the least financially supported, the most common answer among undergraduate students is housing. This answer makes sense to anyone who has lived in GFU’s older buildings and houses which have not been renovated in this century. Students live in housing with electrical, heating, and structural issues; for example, Hobson Hall, which perches above the canyon, sits on a slant and also has heating issues in some rooms which residents are told cannot be solved. Most of the houses were slapped together to cram as many students into them as possible. On top of everything, a majority of available housing cannot accommodate students with disabilities. 

Another underfunded area of campus life is the humanities programs. Over the past few years, multiple majors within the realm of the arts and social sciences were reduced or completely phased out due to budget restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. To limit this subsection of students in what they can learn and accomplish only to be told that the university can afford a 7 million dollar chapel is a slap in the face. 

So, what conclusion does this leave students and staff with about the new campus chapel? To the naked eye, it appears that GFU cares more about having strong campus features to appeal to prospective students. Or maybe it wants to remain in the good graces of conservative Christian donors who want to see a traditional Christian college. Or maybe President Robin Baker needs a vanity project to leave behind a significant legacy once he retires. What feels neglected in these lines of reasoning is the needs of their current students who struggle to make ends meet under tuition raises and do not feel the “Be Known” promise fulfilled in their everyday lives.