Who are Disciples on Campus?

The ministry of the Disciples On Campus (DOC) student group is provided by the Office of Church Relations. DOC is made up of over 100 students from Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and United Church of Christ congregations all across the United States and beyond. As the second largest student organization on campus, DOC members are leaders within student government, honors societies, Greek societies, athletics, music, film and TV and nearly every other student club and organization on campus. Every semester, DOC students represent DOC and the school at Chapman’s unique study abroad and semester at sea programs.

The social, spiritual, and service events offered by Church Relations, enable DOC students and those from the larger campus to find lifelong friends. Each semester the DOC program begins with an off-campus weekend retreat that is open to all students. Unique weekly, DOC-hosted, Worship Services give people opportunities to celebrate their faith in the presence of a supportive Christian community. Throughout the semester, DOC students participate in social activities that provide a needed break from the stresses of class and unique local and global service projects and work trips that challenge students to reach beyond themselves and make a different in our world. Recent work trips have included travel to: the Gulf Coast, India, Yakima, El Salvador, Honduras, Hawaii, and Korea. Another distinguishing ministry offered DOC students is participation in our Church Relation’s Partner Church Program. This unique program matches DOC students with over 130 Disciples and UCC congregations throughout the Southwest. Each Partner Church supports our annual DOC Scholarship Fund in addition to hosting annual visits and update letters from DOC students. 

The largest annual event that the Church Relations office and DOC students host is Chapman University's Founders Day Celebration. Founders Day is the most visual and intentional celebration of Chapman’s rich heritage as Disciple-related institution. DOC students provide leadership in all aspects of Founders Day, which remains the largest Disciples gathering in the Southwest each year. Over 200 Chapman alumni participate in Founders Day helping to make this Chapman's largest annual fund raising event for the DOC Scholarship Fund. Founders Day is a chance to get to reunite with new and old friends, hear inspiring national speakers, and lift up what most Disciples’ leaders consider to be the most dynamic DOC ministry in the country.

Please feel free to browse through our Photo Gallery to see some of our DOC students in action.

Our Mission Statement and Vision

The Mission of Church Relations is to create a community that seeks God's Spirit, nurtures relationships, embraces diversity, and enables service and the sharing of gifts.

The Vision of Church Relations celebrates the values of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ while implementing the mission of Chapman University.