Thursday, October 4, 2001

Chapel held in Spanish
Different language used in service for first time
By Heather Christie
Staff Reporter

In an effort to provide students and faculty with the opportunity to “share faith in a global community” University Ministries conducted its first-ever Spanish-speaking service at Robert Carr Chapel, Wednesday.

Even those who did not speak Spanish could appreciate the service, said Chris Stillwell, a Brite student and University Ministries intern.

“It’s not just the words of the service that can (have) meaning, but a great deal is the attitude and the ritual (of the service),” Stillwell said.

Kristi Kolpanen, a freshman computer science major who attends chapel services every week, said she understood a little of the Spanish service.

“I actually thought it brought in more people today than it usually does,” Kolpanen said. “There were different, new faces in here.”

Stillwell said other non-traditional services, as Islamic and Jewish, have been held in the chapel.

“I suggested that we do something in a different language because we had never done that before,” Stillwell said. “I suggested Spanish because we have a decent size Hispanic community on campus.”

The leader of the Spanish service was Dr. Rev. Gilbert Marez, pastor of Iglessia Cristiana Camino De Paz in Fort Worth.

The chapel choir, composed entirely of students, sang in Spanish prayer songs.
Amy Lightner, a chapel choir members and freshman biology major, said the choir spent two weeks learning the Spanish songs. She said the English translation of the songs was written underneath the Spanish words.

Stillwell said the special service was helpful not only for Spanish-speaking students and faculty, but also for students taking Spanish classes. University Ministries sent a letter to Spanish classes, the Organization of Latin American Students and the International Student Association inviting them to the service, he said.

Many Spanish students were required to attend one of the activities of Hispanic Heritage Month, said David Bedford, Spanish professor.

“It was a requirement for (my) Spanish class so I picked up some words here and there,” said Collin Sandifer, a sophomore e-business major.

Bedford said he hopes his students will see the universality of Christianity and begin to understand how the Spanish language is used.

The next non-traditional service this semester will be Oct. 17, Stillwell said. The service will follow the beliefs of Unitarian Universalists, who believe in the unity of God but not the Trinity (the Father, Son and Holy Ghost), he said.

Heather J. Christie
h.j.christie@student.tcu.edu