February 5, 2025
Made possible by a collaboration between the Chaplain’s Office and Learning & Accessibility Services, students with mental and chronic health challenges, as well as those with mobility or sensory limitations, can gather in the Lower Beamer room rather than Edman Chapel for worship.
An alternate chapel location has existed in various iterations over the years. Initially, chapel services were live-streamed in the former Parmelee Meeting Room in the Todd M. Beamer Center to offer a more physically accessible space. This was intended to serve students who found it challenging to attend chapel in Edman, such as those who use a wheelchair or need crutches.
Then the pandemic hit. After one year of entirely remote chapels, in-person services resumed in the fall of 2021. An alternate chapel space also resumed at that time, intended for those who weren’t comfortable returning to Edman, where social distancing was not possible. The “COVID Chapel” moved around to a few spaces, including a large Blanchard classroom, a classroom in Meyer Science Center, and the Concert Hall in Armerding.
Once COVID-19 was less of a concern, LAS fine-tuned the criteria for those who could receive a chapel accommodation to attend chapel in the alternative space. Since the fall of 2022, around 30 students have received this accommodation each semester. The needs of the students who benefit from having this option range from mental and chronic health challenges to mobility and sensory limitations.
Although this accessible chapel was helpful for students who needed it, Director of Learning and Accessibility Services Melissa Norton noticed the space was not as intentional or spiritually enriching as Edman Chapel.
“If we’re talking about equal access, then we want our alternate location to be as similar an experience spiritually as Edman Chapel,” said Norton. “It’s comparable to how we think about classroom accommodations. We start with considering the learning outcomes of a class and what route a student would need to take to get to the same outcome as their peers. So, we considered the ‘learning outcomes’ of the chapel experience and discussed how we could replicate that in a more accessible physical environment.”
Through discussions with Chaplain Angulus Wilson, staff chose Gold Star Chapel as the new home for the alternate chapel. In addition to the new location, selecting graduate students to oversee the sensory-friendly chapel added an element of intentional relationship development for the undergraduate students who would attend. By providing prayer and getting to know attendees, the graduate students help create a space that’s more than just a viewing of the live-streamed chapel service in Edman. It is also a time of spiritual formation.
Angelina Gullins M.A. ’26, who works as the Graduate Ministry Associate and currently oversees the Gold Star Chapel, finds the space particularly conducive to the goals laid out by LAS and the Chaplain’s Office.
“The chapel features dimmed lighting and a low volume and gives students the freedom to stand up or walk without the worry of navigating long aisles or feeling like they’re being distracting to other students,” she said. “We also want the students to know that we’re not just here to watch the chapel service with them but to engage in life together as well, whether that's through prayer, lunch, or meaningful conversations. We are always eager to hear their feedback on how we can better support them, and I believe having a space like this enhances their overall experience.”
—Juliana Bacote