Chapel

Midday chapel services are held at 1 p.m. Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters. The Alford Centrum provides a flexible setting for modeling many styles of worship, with MTSO faculty members and distinguished visitors offering thought-provoking meditation. Students are integral to planning services as members of the Chapel Planning Team.

In addition to these scheduled times for community worship, there are many opportunities and locations for individual meditation and spiritual growth. MTSO has a meditation chapel, an outdoor chapel and a prayer labyrinth.

Archived video of Spring 2024 chapel sermons
(Reverse chronological order)

Sermon by Tim Van Meter, associate professor in the Alford Chair of Christian Education and Youth Ministry, and coordinator of ecological initiatives, April 23.

Sermon by Joon-Sik Park, professor in the E. Stanley Jones Chair of World Evangelism, April 16.

Sermon by Eboni Marshall Turman, associate professor of theology and African American religion at Yale University Divinity School, April 9.

Sermon by Colleen Ogle, lead pastor of Bexley United Methodist Church and MTSO trustee, April 2.

Sermon by Susan Ritchie, fully affiliated faculty member and director of MTSO's Unitarian Universalist House of Studies, Feb. 20.

Sermon by Mark Kelly Tyler, MTSO fully affiliated faculty member in homiletics and African-American studies, and senior pastor of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Feb. 13.

Sermon by Jeremy Garber, MTSO registrar, Feb. 6.

Sermon by Valerie Bridgeman, MTSO dean and vice president for academic affairs, Jan. 30.

Fall 2023

Sermon by Jeremy Garber, MTSO registrar, Nov. 28.

Sermon by Susan Ritchie, director of the MTSO Unitarian Universalist House of Studies at MTSO, Nov. 14.

Sermon by Jeffrey Jaynes, MTSO professor in the Warner Chair of Church History, Oct. 31.

Sermon by Imani Jones, director of the Department of Chaplaincy and CPE at Wexner Medical Center, Oct. 24.

Sermon by MTSO Associate Professor of Theology Christopher Carter, Oct. 10.

Sermon by Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, director of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging at United Church Homes, Sept. 26.

Sermon by MTSO Director of Enrollment Management April Casperson, Sept. 19.

Sermon by MTSO Assistant Professor of Homiletics Eugene L. Gibson Jr., Sept. 12, 2023.

Sermon by MTSO Professor of Worship, Music and Spirituality Lisa Allen-McLaurin, Sept. 5, 2023.

Opening Convocation address by MTSO Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs Valerie Bridgeman, Aug. 29.

Spring 2023 sermons

Sermon by Susan Ritchie, director of the Unitarian Universalist House of Studies at MTSO, April 25.

Sermon by Senior Pastor Eugene Gibson Jr. of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, April 18.

Sermon by Kathy Dickson, director of vocational discernment and community engagement at MTSO, March 21.

Sermon by MTSO alum Benjamin Hall, vice president of admissions and financial aid at Wesley Theological Seminary, Feb. 28.

Sermon by Assistant Professor of History, Ethics, and Black Church and African Diaspora Studies Tejai Beulah Howard, Feb. 21.

Sermon by MTSO Director of Enrollment Management April Casperson, Feb. 14.

Sermon by Christopher Carter, associate professor of theology at the University of San Diego, Feb. 7.

Sermon by MTSO Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Worship, and Black Church and African Diasporic Studies Kyle Brooks, Jan. 31.

Fall 2022 chapel sermons

Sermon by David Copeland, founder of Live Without Regret, a doula organization that serves the LGBTQIA+, elderly, terminally ill, dying and their loved ones with dignity, grace and love, Nov. 15.

Sermon by Joon-Sik Park, professor in the E. Stanley Jones Chair of World Evangelism, Oct. 4.

Sermon by Bishop Gregory Palmer of the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church, Sept. 27.

Sermon by Susan Ritchie, director of MTSO's Unitarian Universalist House of Studies, Sept. 13.

Sermon by Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Worship, and Black Church and African Diasporic Studies Kyle Brooks, Sept. 6.

"Shaped in Community"
Opening Convocation address by MTSO Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs Valerie Bridgeman, Aug. 30

Spring 2022 chapel sermons

"Stations of the Cross"
Sermon by Jeff Jaynes, professor in the Warner Chair of Church History, April 5

"Rolled Away"
Sermon by Rev. Landon Jermain Adams, director of maturity at New Salem Baptist Church, March 29

"I Commend Her"
Sermon by TaNikka Sheppard, executive pastor of the Fountain Church, March 22

"The Fig Tree"
Sermon by Megan Buehler, pastor of LeRoy United Methodist Church and Chippewa Church at the Lake, March 15

"Hungry for More"
Sermon by Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Worship, and Black Church and African Diasporic Studies Kyle Brooks, March 1

"How to Have an Enemy"
Sermon by Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart, director for faith-based and interfaith affairs for the city of Philadelphia, Feb 22

"How to Lose Your Mind"
Sermon by Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Worship, and Black Church and African Diasporic Studies Kyle Brooks, Feb. 15

"The Truth of the Matter"
Sermon by Director of Student Services Monique Williams, Feb. 8

"Pre-Approved"
Sermon by Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Worship, and Black Church and African Diasporic Studies Kyle Brooks, Feb. 1

Fall 2021 chapel sermons

"The Purge"
Sermon by MTSO Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs Valerie Bridgeman

"No more!"
Sermon by Jon Osmundson (MA in Practical Theology '21), associate pastor of Hilliard United Methodist Church

"Playlist for the Apocalypse"
Sermon by Susan Ritchie, director of MTSO's Unitarian Universalist House of Studies

Sermon by Landon J. Adams, director of maturity at New Salem Baptist Church

"What Makes the Good News 'Good'?"
Sermon by MTSO alumnus Andy Burns, associate pastor of King Avenue Church

Sermon by Megan Buehler (M.Div. and MA in Counseling Ministries '20), pastor of LeRoy United Methodist Church

"The Innocent Years"
Sermon by Director of Enrollment Management Benjamin Hall, Sept. 28

"Is There a Surgeon in the House?"
Sermon by Assistant Professor of History, Ethics, and Black Church and African Diaspora Studies Tejai Beulah, Sept. 21

"Breaking the Silence"
Sermon by Director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations Leigh Precise, Sept. 14

"A Word to the Weary"
Sermon by Assistant Professor of Homiletics, Worship, and Black Church and African Diasporic Studies Kyle Brooks, Sept. 7

"Have You Got Good Religion?"
Opening Convocation Address by Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs Valerie Bridgeman, Aug. 24