For those of you concerned about Valpo drifting away from its faith based roots--and I understand that many aren't, this recently added piece about the Chapel is very well written and would indicate to me a renewed effort to reemphasize Valpo's roots as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Lutheran acquisition.
https://www.valpo.edu/stories/2024/09/26/a-way-station-of-wonder-a-haven-of-hope-the-chapel/
@vu72, I saw that piece which was shared on some of the social media.
However, I do not see that as much of an effort - the piece is glowing about the Chapel and its place at the center of campus. Still, it is hard for me to see this as any more than continued drift. The article has quite a bit of feel-good about faith and love, yet it is fairly generic: What do I mean? The author did not mention that the motto directly came from the Bible (it mentions details like who made the windows, yet could not somewhere mention the motto is directly from Psalm 36:9?)
More concerning to those of who value Valpo's faith-based roots, there was not mention in the article about Jesus Christ - or the cross at the center of the altar!
Near the end, it does mention the Christus Rex sculpture, yet that is described one of the symbols: As you enter, your focus is directed toward the chancel, the Christus Rex sculpture, and the altar, all symbols of faith and community.
As close as it gets to something biblical is "the redemptive work of God the Son" yet even that is "tell(ing) a story that seems to transcend any faith tradition" :
The narrative I’m referring to, of course, is the creation story. The Chapel’s Munderloh Windows, created by Peter Dohmen Studios, are a visual hymn to the Trinity. The three sections speak to the creative work of God the Father, the redemptive work of God the Son, and the Holy Spirit’s sanctifying gifts, yet they all tell a story that seems to transcend any faith tradition. They seem to tell a story of divine love.
Divine love, symbols of faith and community, and transcending any faith tradition all sound good, yet they miss that the death and resurrection of Jesus is the distinctive message of Christianity: This is what gives us hope, this is what central to the Christian faith, and it is because of what Jesus did that we can love (I John 4:19).
This might sound like blasphemy, but wasnt the point of the rebrand to find different meaning for the Psalm. Everyone knows the faith meaning, but VU is about much more than Lutheranism. Focusing purely on religion and fundamentalism goes against the point of higher education entirely. Higher ED is all about finding new meaning and braving ones own path.
