Learning requires life-long joint inquiry through which both teachers and students are transformed. This is particularly the case in reflecting on God, but Christians believe it is also found in any authentic inquiry. In this spirit, the Divinity School is a community of worship. The Church has long held that pursuit of knowledge is most faithful when it is formed by the praise of God. Christian worship directs attention to God, challenging our disordered desires by redirecting our loves to the One who alone can satisfy human yearnings.
Worship is a practice that shapes and forms Christian identity and knowledge.
The rhythms of worship shape the Divinity School's year. The year opens and closes with a convocation in the Duke University Chapel. Each week during the school year, the community of students, faculty, and staff gathers for worship on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. Every Thursday, the eucharist is celebrated. Regular participation in the practice of worship cultivates habits of responding to God in ways that deepen possibilities for knowledge and challenge people to faithful Christian witness in the world.