The Grace Memorial Chapel Use Committee has decided on two courses of action that I endorse.
Members will study best practices in interfaith spaces on American campuses and recommend any changes that should be considered here. And, the committee will create a listening process so that campus and community voices can be heard. That will likely include a town meeting within a month, sponsored by Student Government Association.
There has been a great deal of conversation on social media and in the news regarding the removal of pews -- which were replaced with chairs that can more easily be moved around the small space -- from the chapel last spring. In the interest of having a fact-based discussion, you should know:
From its inception, more than 40 years ago, the Harvey D. Grace Memorial Chapel has been dedicated to 鈥渁ll faiths.鈥� It represented a tie to the University鈥檚 beginning as a Congregational college, but it never was a Christian chapel. The d茅cor of the chapel reflected the times in which it was designed, in the early 1960s. Early records show that the intent was that no symbols from any religion should be installed in the chapel. That would include a cross, crucifix, Star of David, prayer rug, icon screen or any other symbol designating a particular religion. Those symbols may be brought into the chapel for use in religious services and then removed. The roof of the chapel was meant to reflect Mr. Grace鈥檚 heritage in the thatched roofs of the rural churches of Denmark.
Approval to change the chapel last March was given with requirements regarding formation and operation of an oversight committee. The committee was charged with recommending policies on uses of the chapel and how to resolve conflicts of use. The committee, now under the leadership of Dr. Eric Sexton and including officers of Student Government Association, is moving toward fulfilling those initial requirements.
It has been incorrectly stated that internal constituencies are the only constituencies that matter in this decision. The people of Kansas own all public universities within the state. Students, faculty, staff, alumni and donors are all stakeholders in the future of the University. All opinions matter. Most are acting in goodwill, based on their past associations with the chapel. People have been married there, had memorial services for loved ones and attended musical performances. For many of us who have been students or worked on campus since the early 1960s, Grace Chapel has been part of our lives.
This isn鈥檛 just about Christians and Muslims or 鈥淐hristians versus Muslims,鈥� as we鈥檝e seen it described on social media. Grace Chapel cannot be a one- or two-religion space, and to characterize it as such ignores the intent of the gift and the nature of the University. Wichita State welcomes all faiths and creeds. I personally and professionally believe that is the only way a University can achieve its mission. Grace Chapel can serve the needs of all faiths. Serving one faith for an hour or two a day doesn鈥檛 diminish the chapel鈥檚 value in serving others faiths.
The issues that have been laid out above are substantial. The committee will need time to learn about other interfaith worship spaces and to hear the viewpoints of all concerned. Because these issues have been unfolding over millennia, we can invest a few more months to develop wise solutions.