George Fox University | Offices and Services | Student Life | Handbook
SPIRITUAL FORMATION PROGRAM One of our priorities is for each student to come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and grow in that relationship toward a mature faith. While we believe strongly in the value of our Spiritual Formation Program, we want you to know that it does not replace the life and ministry of the local church and should not be considered a substitute for church attendance or involvement. Instead, the Spiritual Formation Program is an integral part of the total faith-learning experience you receive at George Fox University. To help you in your journey toward spiritual maturity and prepare you to step out into a bigger world, George Fox offers a Spiritual Formation Program with three components: 1) Chapel is a time of learning, praise, and worship. Chapel services are held Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:40 am to 11:30 am the first 14 weeks of the 15-week semester. The Spiritual Formation Times Schedule (available at the beginning of each semester) lists all opportunities to receive Spiritual Formation credit. In addition to the regular Monday/Wednesday chapel services, there are other daytime and evening opportunities to receive required Spiritual Formation credit as well. 2) Small-Group Bible Studies offer a time of interaction, questioning, and fellowship with other students. These small-group Bible studies are held many different times during the week. 3) Ministry And Service Opportunities allow us to live out what we say we believe. Serve trips take place during the third week of Christmas break and the entire week of spring break, reaching communities in West Coast areas and beyond. CHAPEL ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTSAll students carrying a full class load (12 hours or more) are required to fulfill 21 Spiritual Formation credits each semester. Those credits can be earned in four ways:
Students involved in a small-group Bible study during the semester -- with consistent weekly attendance and not missing more than one-fourth of the group sessions -- may earn 4 Spiritual Formation credits. Small groups are held many different times throughout the week. Students choosing this option must sign up for a small group through the Campus Ministries Office within the first three weeks of the semester. Students attending Winter Serve or Spring Serve earn 4 Spiritual Formation credits for the semester. Students choosing this option must sign up before the deadlines for each of these trips. ATTENDANCE CREDITAny attempt to defraud the Spiritual Formation attendance requirements or any aspect of the crediting system -- chapel attendance, small-group Bible study, or serve trips -- may subject you to disciplinary consequences. SPIRITUAL FORMATION OPTIONSTo be given credit for attending a chapel service, students must scan their student ID cards into a computerized scanner upon entering the auditorium. Students who are found leaving chapel before the conclusion of the service or students who scan in for someone other than themselves will be held accountable for an attempt to defraud chapel attendance requirements. For other Spiritual Formation options held in smaller venues, a sign-in list will be used. SMALL-GROUP BIBLE STUDIESAt the end of each semester, small-group leaders turn in the names of those group members whose attendance has earned them 4 Spiritual Formation credits. SERVE TRIPSAt the end of each serve trip, leaders turn in the names of those who attended and participated fully in the ministry and the work of the trip. They are granted 4 Spiritual Formation credits for the semester just ending. ABSENCESAbsences due to activities such as field trips, athletics team participation, band and choir tours, etc., are not considered excused. Students who participate in these activities are responsible to earn 21 Spiritual Formation credits like all other students. Prolonged and confining illnesses are evaluated on an individual basis at the end of the semester. Prolonged and confining illness excuses are issued only by the school nurse for illnesses of three or more consecutive days. EXEMPTIONS A student may receive a full or partial exemption for the chapel attendance requirement for one semester at a time due to one of the following reasons: 1. adult-learner status (22 and older on or before September 1, 2008; the first day of classes of the 2008-09 academic year) will be automatically exempt and do not need to fill out the exemption form 2. seniors (93 credit or more)there is no need to apply forSpiritual Formation exemption if you fall under this category) 3. student teaching 4. significant off-campus work schedule (must attach signed work schedule with exemption form) 5. an off-campus field placement
Partial Exemption: All exemptions must be cleared through the dean of Community Life by the second Friday of each semester. However, if employment dictates that an exemption be granted after this date, students should submit the exemption form along with the required documents as soon as possible. Exemption forms may be found on the Web or at the Office of Student Life, third floor Stevens Center. |
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