Chapel Use Policy

The Sanctuary

The primary use of the chapel is for campus community worship and private meditation. The following are also regarded as consistent with this primary purpose:

• Religious musical works such as might be presented by the Rockford College Chorus

• Organ meditations and sacred recordings

• Chancel drama

• Religious dance

• Discussions that focus directly upon vital religious themes including speakers sponsored by religious clubs and/or recorded sermons by great preachers followed by open discussion

The following kinds of meetings are to be regarded as ordinarily inconsistent with the above stated purpose:

• Ordinary business meetings

• Discussions of a purely academic nature that does not bear directly on essential religious themes

If a church group requests the opportunity to use the Chapel for worship or discussion of religious themes or in order to hear about religious activities at Rockford College, permission may be granted by the Chief Student Life Officer provided the Chapel is not being used by student groups. The same would apply for such groups as the American Guild of Organists or the Rockford Ministerial Association.

Any outside groups wishing to use the Chapel (except for weddings and during vacation periods) must have sponsorship on the campus. Sponsorship would include clubs, academic departments or administrators.

Any person or group granted permission to use the Chapel has the right to control publicity over that event subject to the review of the Chief Student Life Officer.

The sanctuary proper is meant for silent, private meditation. Conversation is to be limited to other areas of the Chapel. The piano may be used for playing music. It is not to be used by persons unaccustomed to playing.

The Chapel may be used for memorial services and for weddings for a nominal rental fee by members of the College community. Details may be obtained from the Calendar and Conference Office.

Conference Room

It is recommended that the use of the conference room be limited to meetings bearing directly on campus spiritual life. Students may use the conference room for study and/or informal discussion whenever a scheduled meeting is not held in the room. Meeting requests must be cleared with the Chapel Events Coordinator.

Reading Lobby

The reading lobby may be used for study, reading and quiet discussions. Requests for use which seem to fall outside of the above policies or may involve meetings of an ambiguous nature shall be decided on by the Chief Student Life Officer.