The Office of Church Relations is excited to host a reinvigorated Founders Day on March 8, 2025, featuring a StoryHour in which eight storytellers from the Chapman community will tell real stories and draw us together as a community. The theme of the StoryHour is tentatively “Oops… I Did it Again! Stories of things we just keep on doing.” Rebecca Anderson, storytelling trainer, will help our storytellers craft their narratives in ways that will draw us in and bring us closer together. We look forward to alumni, Chapman staff, students, and community members sharing their stories. We will discover more about each other and establish a sense of shared community through the gift of hearing these voices.
   
Founders Day is an annual event sponsored by the Office of Church Relations, which connects students, staff, faculty, and community members in a celebration of Chapman University’s founding, and current relationships with the Disciples of Christ and United Church of Christ and all that it means to belong to the Chapman community.
 

• The day will begin with a café hour where local musicians will play light music as we make new friendships and reconnect with friends who are like family. Coffee will be served to compliment the coffee house atmosphere.

• Rev. Dr. Joel Brown, President of the Disciples of Christ Historical Society will preach at the morning worship service following the café hour. Disciples on Campus students will lead the service and a number of talented musicians will invoke the Spirit’s presence, including the Chapman University Singers.

• Following worship, there will be workshop opportunities, including a workshop offered by DCHS President Joel Brown and a workshop on the history of black music in the United States offered by musician and activist Angelica Rowell. Further workshop opportunities and more details to come.

• During the time designated for lunch, opportunities for campus tours and to look at a showcase of items from special collections at the Leatherby Library will be provided. 

• The StoryHour will be the climax of the day, a true celebration of our Chapman community. A Disciples on Campus young alumni party off-campus will conclude the day.

   
Within 10 days of the event, registrants will receive an email about the schedule and further event information.

For the Chapman Community: the morning worship and the StoryHour, Chapman students, staff, and faculty can log in to register for free. With the free registration, lunch is not included. If you would like a boxed lunch, you will need to register for the paid ticket option.

Donations to offset the costs of the day will be gladly accepted. For more information: chapman.edu/founders-day.

Registration for in-person participation will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, 3/3/25