2026–2031 Strategic Plan
DUKE UNIVERSITY CHAPEL
BRIDGING
FAITH & LEARNING
“ WE WILL RISE WITH JOY TO RECEIVE THE BLESSINGS AND FACE THE CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.”
—REV. DR. LUKE A. POWERY
a message from the dean
As Dean of Duke University Chapel, it is my privilege and my responsibility to lead this community in pathways of faith. To do so, I listen to the community, our students, my colleagues and staff, and, by the grace of God, to the mighty Spirit of God moving in our midst.
From its founding, Duke Chapel has been an icon of both ambitious dreams and faithful actions. James B. Duke put it this way on an April day in 1925:
I want the central building to be a great towering church which will dominate all of the surrounding buildings, because such an edifice would be bound to have a profound influence on the spiritual life of the young men and women who come here.
Our work stands squarely within the aims outlined in Article One of the Bylaws of Duke University:
…to foster a lively relationship between knowledge and faith; to advance learning in all lines of truth; to defend scholarship against all false notions and ideals; to develop a love of freedom and truth; to promote a respectful spirit of dialogue and understanding; to discourage all partisan and sectarian strife; and to further the advancement of knowledge in service to society.
To these ends, we are committed to “Bridging Faith and Learning” every day.
On Sunday mornings, I rejoice with the gathered community as we carry on the traditions of faithful Christian worship. In the call to worship, the confession, the prayer for illumination, the reading of scripture lessons, the preaching, and the prayers of the people, we stand together to bless the Lord with our love and to receive the grace promised to us.
Today, even as the architecture of the Chapel reflects the bold aspirations of our founders, our building and our ministries are situated within the contemporary context of the Strategic Vision of Duke University. Together, with God’s help, we join in efforts to empower the boldest
thinkers, transform teaching and learning, strengthen our campus community, partner with purpose, and engage a global network.
This Strategic Plan (2026-2031) provides a framework for our work that is rooted in faith and alive with hope.
In our last strategic plan, we established four strategic areas of service.
Student Engagement
Inspiring every student to live with purpose and meaning
Christian Worship
Continuing the traditions of faithful preaching, prayer, and praise
Sacred Music and the Arts
Shaping our collective memories and fostering our creative imagination
Community Engagement
Offering a living witness of faith to our communities
We will extend the grace we have been given to include all people, centering our work as an ongoing response to God’s all-inclusive love. Because we know that every human being is made in the image of God, we are committed to caring for every person we encounter, to welcome every stranger, to greet one another with love and kindness, and to open the doors of our hearts to the wonders of God’s mercies.
Today, I invite you to join us. Together, we will watch Duke Chapel enter the next 100 years of faithful service. With God’s help, and with humility, we will rise with joy to receive the blessings and face the challenges of our time.
The Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery Dean of Duke University Chapel
WITH A DEEP ROOT IN THE HISTORY OF DUKE AND A BOLD VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF FAITH, WE WERE MADE FOR THIS.
VISION
To respond to God’s all-inclusive love at Duke, in Durham, and in the world.
MISSION
Rooted in the love of God in Jesus Christ, Duke Chapel bridges faith and learning by nurturing and embodying the intellectual, ethical, and spiritual life.
VALUES
INTRODUCTION
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
Student Engagement
INSPIRING EVERY STUDENT TO LIVE WITH PURPOSE AND MEANING.
The inspiration of students is at the very heart of our work on campus and in the community. This is as important today as it was when James B. Duke first imagined the “great towering church” that would become Duke Chapel. We acknowledge the blessings and the challenges this generation of students face and offer pathways to deepen their faith and discern the grace of God through a robust program of study, reflection, mentorship, fellowship, and service.
At Duke, students study with leading scholars in every field, read great literature, solve mathematical equations, learn new languages, and make lifelong friendships. The Chapel invites students into deeper relationships with God and with one another.
With God’s help, we will engage every student with kindness, compassion, and grace.
HOW WILL THE CHAPEL PROVIDE INSPIRATION, GUIDANCE, FRIENDSHIP, AND FELLOWSHIP FOR EVERY STUDENT?
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
student engagement
STRATEGY 1
ENRICH CHAPEL SCHOLARS: AN ECUMENICAL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Chapel Scholars welcomes students into an interdenominational Christian community rooted in study, service, counsel, and worship. With approximately 140 Chapel Scholars in 2025, we dream of a program that reaches more than 200 students every year by 2031. Our plans include expanded opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement, sponsored travel and pilgrimage, and mentorship by the professional ministry team at the Chapel and Religious Life at Duke.
STRATEGY 2
INVEST
IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE OF EVERY STUDENT
About two-thirds of students identify a religious affiliation upon entering their first year at Duke. With generous hospitality toward different beliefs and our shared values, Duke Chapel continues to provide opportunities for Christian students to engage their faith. New investment will expand interfaith programming and support for the twentyfour recognized Religious Life groups at Duke.
STRATEGY 3
PROVIDE
CHAPLAINCY FOR EVERY STUDENT
Distinct from affiliation with a particular denomination or religious life group, chaplains assist students with one-on-one conversations to make sense of their daily lives, loves and losses, and significant questions of purpose and meaning. Chaplains facilitate group conversations to build communities of peace and understanding, organize vigils in times of sorrow, and celebrate in times of triumph and success.
STRATEGY 4
ENHANCE ERUDITIO ET RELIGIO IN THE CLASSROOM
Bridging faith and learning is the Chapel’s living expression of the historic motto of Duke University: Eruditio et Religio. The Chapel supports several ongoing initiatives designed to bridge faith and learning for undergraduate and graduate students. To enrich the academic offerings at Duke, the Chapel will partner with the Divinity School and the Center for Christianity and Scholarship to develop course offerings and assist students in living their faith in every aspect of their lives.
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
photo by ann imrick, program coordinator, office of wesleyan engagement, duke divinity school
student engagement
Religious Life at Duke THE
HISTORIC MOTTO OF DUKE, ERUDITIO ET RELIGIO, WELCOMES ALL PEOPLE TO CONNECT, ENGAGE, AND GROW TOGETHER THROUGH FAITH AND LEARNING.
By investing in the leaders, chaplains, and organizations comprising Religious Life at Duke, the Chapel supports a future in which religious engagement at Duke is hallmarked by our dedication to every student. Our personal devotion is balanced with compassion and demonstrated in a rigorous commitment to belonging, collaboration, and hospitality. In this way, we affirm the power of the divine to enrich all our lives in beautiful and unique fashion.
This is not a new initiative, but rather, a continuation of a decades-long commitment to support our students. In the early 1960s, the Chapel welcomed Jewish students in search of a home during their high holy days. In the 1980s, Muslim students held prayers in the Chapel crypt. Religious Life at Duke expanded in the 1990s and in 1999, the Freeman Center opened, thanks to the advocacy of Jewish alumni. In 2008, the first Muslim chaplain was hired at Duke. In the last ten years, the university endorsed the work of Religious Life at Duke with ongoing salary support for a Buddhist and a Hindu chaplain to care for students from these traditions. The Catholic Center uses the Chapel for many of its regular worship services, and the university Baccalaureate celebrates religious diversity in readings and prayers from the major religious traditions in our world and on our campus.
WITH GOD’S HELP, WE WILL FOSTER CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE BOUNDARIES OF RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCE.
PRIORITY 1
CREATE A NEW SPACE FOR FAITH AND LEARNING
A hub for Faith and Learning would build on the Chapel’s strategic initiatives in student engagement. Our recent university space planning study critically assessed the needs of Religious Life groups housed under the Chapel’s administrative oversight. Based on these initial conversations, we envision a space open daily during the academic year, linked with technology, comfortable for large, medium, and small groups, with a robust slate of programs to activate the space seven days a week and foster the spiritual wellness of every student. Summer programming for graduate students, post-docs, and others on campus would ensure year-round use. All spaces would be reservable. This renovated facility would meet five identified programmatic needs: Gathering, Prayer and Ritual, Counseling/ Spiritual Direction, Storage, and Office Space.
Multiuse Gathering Spaces
Flexible space design would accommodate large and small, formal and informal gatherings. The space would be programmed to include activities such as dinners, lectures, and religious and interfaith services. The space would also include state-of-the-art A/V technology to expand participation for remote participants.
A “Smart” Conference Room
Designed to support and facilitate synchronous and asynchronous engagement. This space would also be available for House Courses, university classes, and seminars to ensure regular use.
Small Catering Kitchen
Designed to create a hospitable environment in an open lounge space, a small catering kitchen will be developed to support student gatherings and events.
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
student engagement
Prayer and Ritual
Two dedicated prayer and ritual spaces address the needs of the Abrahamic traditions (Jewish, Christian, Muslim) and would also be suitable for the Dharmic traditions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikh). Both spaces would include lockable storage space for sacred objects needed for rituals.
Counseling and Spiritual Direction
Counseling rooms for Religious Life leaders and chaplains, private but fully compliant with best practices in student care; reserved through an online scheduling tool.
Storage
Storage Spaces for Religious Life leaders including lockers and small storage closets (with keypad access).
Office Space
Dedicated offices for the Assistant Dean of Religious Life and others, with shared and reservable offices for Religious Life leaders who request them.
PRIORITY 2
INVEST IN RELIGIOUS LITERACY
Because our students will graduate into a workforce rich in religious diversity, the Chapel will invest in new programmatic opportunities for interfaith learning and engagement. Under the leadership of the Assistant Dean of Religious Life, our programs will not only enhance understanding but also create new pathways for friendship across traditional boundaries. Conversations, pilgrimages on and off campus, and service opportunities create fertile ground for new friendships.
PRIORITY 3
CREATE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT
To bolster the efforts of all faith-based ministries at Duke, the Chapel will support the ministers and leaders in their efforts to secure funds from friends and alumni. We also envision new endowments established to provide resources to these groups through annual distribution. These resources would allow leaders and ministers to schedule retreats, mission trips, and other programs to benefit Duke students beyond the scope of weekly meetings during the academic year.
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
Christian Worship CONTINUING THE TRADITIONS OF FAITHFUL PREACHING, PRAYER, AND PRAISE.
Since its construction in the 1930s, the Chapel has remained a Christian church of uniquely interdenominational character and purpose. Through its tradition of inspiring worship and music, and a calling to walk with people of all faiths and circumstances, Duke Chapel stands as a beacon of hope, bridging faith and learning on campus and in the community. The gathered Christian community in the Chapel and the thousands who join us online celebrate God’s love for humanity, the blessing of praying together, and the longstanding influence of the Duke Chapel pulpit. As we affirmed in our previous Strategic Plan, our Christian worship is hallmarked by love: God’s all-inclusive love for us, our love for God, and our love for one another.
With God’s help, we will continue to gather in worship because we know God’s love matters for the life of the world.
HOW WILL WE DEMONSTRATE OUR COMMITMENT TO A VIBRANT ECUMENICAL CHRISTIAN PRESENCE ON DUKE’S CAMPUS AND BEYOND?
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
christian worship
STRATEGY 1
EXPAND ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DUKE CHAPEL DIGITAL PREACHING ARCHIVE
The Duke Chapel Recordings digital archive, housed in the Duke Libraries, preserves and provides access to sermons preached at Duke Chapel between 1946 and 2002. In the next five years, we will complete the remaining digitization of sermons from 2003 to the present and establish ongoing processes for its continuation. To that end, we aim to create a new fellowship, housed at Duke Chapel, to activate and curate the collection. This position would be tasked with creating new and innovative approaches to the archive and enrich the offerings on the Living Tradition portal for a global audience. Living Tradition is a web-based resource designed to enrich our understanding of preaching in the past, the present, and the future.
STRATEGY 2
INVEST IN DUKE CHAPEL ONLINE
We will invest in our infrastructure to create broadcast-quality audio and video recordings of all our services and concerts. With more than 100,000 views of Sunday services every year, close to 450,000 total online video views each year, and hundreds of listeners to the daily online carillon concert, the Chapel is becoming a more open, expansive resource worthy of new investments in state-of-the-art technologies.
STRATEGY 3
CELEBRATE A SANCTUARY FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW
As we approach 2030 and the Cornerstone Celebration for Duke Chapel, we will again invest in the sanctuary of the Chapel as the heart of Christian life at Duke. Our investments will include tangible expressions—new chairs, choir robes, vestments, and other liturgical service items—as well as explorations of new innovations in the practices of Christian worship.
STRATEGY 4
WELCOME A LITURGIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Beginning in 2028, the Chapel will establish a biennial residency to explore historic and contemporary liturgical practices to enrich our offerings. As a chapel at a tier-one research university, we are uniquely positioned to explore innovations, even as we honor historic practices.
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
Sacred Music and the Arts SHAPING
OUR COLLECTIVE MEMORIES AND FOSTERING OUR CREATIVE IMAGINATION.
As we consider the future of faith for the next generation, we know that sacred music will be the soundtrack for our efforts and a unifying chorus for our communities. From the daily carillon recital to Jazz Vespers, from Sunday morning worship to our music in concert and organ recitals, sacred music continues to bind us together. We are blessed by the excellence of the Chapel choirs, the expansive sounds of the Chapel’s organs, and the community of musicians and singers who enrich our music in worship and in concert. The visual arts also offer pathways into the community of Duke Chapel as we continue to explore how visual communications enhance our appreciation of faith.
Building financial support for sacred music and the arts will augment the extraordinary support offered in the past and secure the future of this area at Duke for the next generation.
With God’s help, we will continue to raise our voices in praise to the Lord of all.
HOW WILL WE HONOR THE DEEP TRADITION OF SACRED MUSIC AND THE ARTS AT DUKE CHAPEL AND EMBRACE A BRIGHT FUTURE?
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
sacred music and the arts
STRATEGY 1
SHAPE THE SONG OF THE CHURCH
The Chapel will complete a multiyear initiative to create a new Chapel Hymnal to more fully reflect the beautiful diversity of Christian musical traditions as expressed within the university setting. While retaining the beloved favorites of the Chapel community, the hymnal will include more global, twentieth- and twenty-first-century hymnody. In addition to the hymnal project, we will continue to invest in the Music from Duke Chapel publication series. Through this series, the reputation of Duke Chapel as a center for creativity and excellence is shared with faith communities and choirs across the nation.
STRATEGY 2
PROVIDE NEW RESOURCES FOR OUTSTANDING MUSIC
The Chapel identifies several priority opportunities to strengthen the foundational support for our program. Among these, support for Early Music at Duke Chapel to continue our historic offerings in this area, specifically, the annual concerts of Handel’s Messiah and the Bach Cantata Series. Additional opportunities include scholarships for students, support for touring expenses for the choirs, and the presentation of visual arts.
STRATEGY 3
TRAIN THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHURCH MUSICIANS AND SINGERS
We will elevate the reputation of Duke Chapel as a center for the teaching and practice of sacred music through partnerships with the Divinity School and other nationally recognized educators and practitioners. Initiatives will include our current program for Organ Scholars (a yearlong intensive training program for emerging church organists), as well as new and expanded programming for singers, local choir members, and others interested in sacred music.
STRATEGY 4
CREATE NEW REHEARSAL SPACES FOR CHAPEL CHOIRS
In collaboration with the Divinity School, retrofit a lower-level Divinity School classroom space to be used by the Chapel choirs for rehearsal. This renovated space will facilitate deeper musical teaching and learning, with state-of-the-art technology for listening and recording, conference calls with composers and lyricists, and musicthemed lectures and presentations.
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
Community Engagement
THE
LIFE
OF
DUKE CHAPEL
IS A LIVING WITNESS OF FAITH FOR THE CAMPUS, THE CITY OF DURHAM, AND THE ONLINE
COMMUNITY.
The Chapel ministers in the context of our community. We embrace the call to respect the dignity of every human being, encouraging everyone to be reconciled to God and to one another.
Our commitment to free public programs and concerts as well as partnerships with the Religious Coalition for a Nonviolent Durham, Habitat for Humanity, and DurhamCares are examples of faith in action. The Crop Walk and Crop Drop bridge the campus and the community, while our message of hope is broadcast to thousands of online followers who join us for worship and watch concerts online.
We go forth with a message of hope and add our labor to community efforts to secure a brighter future for all. In partnership with the Duke Community Affairs office, we will more fully engage with those who work in alignment with our values, even as we directly meet community needs through our Mission of the Month offerings to local nonprofits and small gifts to individuals in immediate need.
HOW WILL WE EXTEND MERCY AND PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S WORK IN THE WORLD?
STRATEGIC AREAS OF SERVICE
community engagement
STRATEGY 1
INVEST IN A DEDICATED MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
To bring the witness of Duke Chapel to the local community, we envision a dedicated Christian minister who focuses on our connections in Durham. This position would partner with Duke Community Affairs, carrying hope and comfort into and out of the Chapel. To bridge faith and learning for all, this position would also assist in designing programs and events that connect scholarship, faith, community life, and service.
STRATEGY 2
ENGAGE IN OUR ONLINE COMMUNITY
By building our technical infrastructure with stateof-the-art, broadcast-quality audio, visual, and sound equipment, we will carry the message of God’s love to the growing community of Chapel followers who join us through YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other digital media. We will focus on new engagement strategies for welcoming these viewers into our community, exploring with them intersections of faith and learning, and inviting them to offer feedback and to enroll in our email newsletter.
STRATEGY 3
ENRICH THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE
Every year, the Chapel hosts more than 250,000 visits from the campus, the community, and the world. These individuals come as tourists and congregants, as people in need of comfort, solace, and prayer as well as for concerts, lectures, and other public programs. To greet them and to listen to them, we will invest in new signage, additional visitor resources for all ages, and new protocols for evaluation and feedback.
STRATEGY 4
REFRESH THE LOWER LEVEL OF DUKE CHAPEL
Every day, the lower level of the Chapel is the work location for our dedicated staff and a place of gathering for the broader community. This space will be reimagined with the assistance of interior designers and university architects to elevate the daily work experience for our staff and enrich our community engagement options.
FOR YOU, O LORD, HAVE MADE ME GLAD BY YOUR WORK; AT THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS I SING FOR JOY.
—PSALM 92:4 NRSV
photo by joni harris, senior director of business and facilities, duke university chapel
Living Our Values Together
HOPE | COMPASSION | COMMUNITY | JUSTICE | CREATIVITY | JOY
Values give us a framework through which we live to our highest purpose— the glory of God in Christ Jesus. In this new strategic plan, we embrace JOY as an additional value.
Over the course of the next five years, our projects and programs will focus on our values. We will invite the Duke community to consider these values with us in sermons, musical performances, and public programs. Together we will explore how we might live these values more richly in our homes, communities, and here on campus.
In every effort, we will work to fulfill the mandate of our mission: to nurture and embody the ethical, intellectual, and spiritual life. Please join us in living a value-driven life in service to God.
Measuring Our Success
To activate this plan, the leadership team of Duke Chapel regularly engages our strategic goals and priorities to align our work and measure our progress. The plan is a guiding document in establishing new programs and projects, prioritizing financial investments, and aligning our fundraising to provide the resources necessary to maintain our commitment to institutional excellence.
The Chapel’s Annual Report, published every fall, shares our programming and accompanying metrics for Student Engagement (including Religious Life at Duke), Christian Worship, Sacred Music and the Arts, and Community Engagement. In this way, we reflect our progress to the public, while annual performance reviews of our professional staff align key programs and projects with the goals outlined in this plan.
photo by joni harris, senior director of business and facilities, duke university chapel