Spiritual and Religious Life at Peace

William Peace University is an independent institution with a long history of serving students’ academic and spiritual needs. Today that means different things for different students.

Peace welcomes students of all faiths. Our goal is to provide a space where students can explore and deepen their spiritual and religious beliefs, practices, and traditions in a supportive and inclusive community. While spirituality and religion are vital components of a well-rounded education and personal growth, not every student who attends Peace is affiliated with religion.

What does it mean to be affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA)?

William Peace University is related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and is a member of the Association of Presbyterian Colleges and Universities (APCU). The University also maintains its local ties to the First Presbyterian Church of Raleigh, where the head minister of that congregation has an ex-officio seat on the University’s Board of Trustees.

Are students required to attend chapel/church services or take religion class?
No, students are not required to attend chapel or take a religion class. The University offers several religion courses open to any major, and the University Chaplain can assist students seeking a place of worship in the greater Raleigh area.

Programs

  • Peace offers a variety of programs and resources to help students explore their spiritual and religious beliefs, including worship services, meditation, and mindfulness sessions, interfaith discussions and events, spiritual retreats, and service opportunities.
  • Peace currently has two faith-based clubs on campus that students can connect with, Peace Ministries and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
  • Our University Chaplain is always available for pastoral care, counseling, and guidance.

Dinwiddie Chapel at PeaceOne of our core values as an institution is a commitment to the community. By providing opportunities for service and volunteerism, students feel more connected to a larger purpose or mission, which can help support their spiritual growth. We work closely with local faith communities to connect students with resources and support outside of campus.

Our commitment to spiritual and religious life is an essential part of our commitment to holistic education. We encourage all students to engage with our programs and resources to enrich their personal growth and deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them. We believe in creating a sense of community on campus to help alleviate feelings of loneliness or isolation, which can be detrimental to one’s spiritual well-being.

We look forward to connecting with you on your spiritual and religious journey.

About our Chaplain

Tanner Brown was born and raised in New Bern, NC. He grew up in a family that loved the Lord and loved each other. As he continued to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ, he also grew in his love for sports. Following high school, Tanner planned to find a school with a collegiate lacrosse program. However, during his senior year, he had my third concussion and was told he would likely be sidelined from contact sports for many years. After receiving this news, he opened his college search and fell in love with Peace. The following year, he was thrilled to be cleared by the doctors and join the baseball team before competing on the inaugural Peace lacrosse team.
 
 
While at Peace, Tanner was “blessed to have many professors and mentors that helped me further my relationship with Christ and help me identify my call to ministry.” After graduating from Peace in 2019 Tanner attended Campbell University Divinity School and graduated with a Master’s in Divinity in 2023. During his time at Campbell, he served with Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) as the campus representative at Peace. Tanner was thrilled to return to Peace as the men’s lacrosse coach and is now excited to serve as the chaplain.
Tanner Brown
Contact Tanner Brown