“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:3 NIV
Beneath the shade of giant trees stands our campus’s most iconic building—Oakland Memorial Chapel. More than an architectural landmark, the Chapel embodies the enduring conviction that education is about more than the cultivation of intellect; it is also the formation of character, conscience, and calling.
Long before the founding of Alcorn State University, this sacred space was part of Oakland College, established in 1830 to educate young men for Christian ministry. Though the institution itself would eventually give way to a new and transformative mission, the enduring presence of Oakland Memorial Chapel serves as a tangible reminder that spiritual formation has always been central to this place.
That legacy continued with the founding of Alcorn University in 1871 under the leadership of the Rev. Hiram Rhodes Revels—African Methodist Episcopal pastor, educator, statesman, and the first African American to serve in the United States Senate. Revels understood that education must attend not only to the mind but also to moral life. In addition to serving as Alcorn’s founding president, he taught moral philosophy, helping to establish a tradition in which intellectual excellence and ethical formation were inseparable.
Since those earliest days, generations of Braves have understood that faith and freedom are essential dimensions of an Alcorn education. Born in the aftermath of slavery and dedicated to the uplift of newly emancipated people, Alcorn has long prepared students not merely for successful careers, but for lives of service, leadership, and moral courage. The University’s enduring motto—Where Knowledge and Character Matter—reflects this historic commitment.
As the spiritual center of campus, Oakland Memorial Chapel bears witness to a rich legacy of worship, reflection, dialogue, and community. Generations of students have gathered beneath its steeple and on its steps to celebrate, grieve, discern, and grow. In every season, Oakland has served as sacred space where faith is deepened, ethical commitments are shaped, and students are encouraged to consider both who they are and who they are called to become.
Today, that mission remains as vital as ever. In a complex and rapidly changing world, Alcorn continues to affirm that knowledge and character matter. Through the work of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, Oakland Memorial Chapel remains a place of spiritual and ethical nurture, cultivating spiritually and ethically rooted leaders who champion scholarship, service, and dignity.
Mission Statement
The Office of Religious and Spiritual Life cultivates spiritually and ethically rooted leaders who champion scholarship, service, and dignity.
Core Values: SHADE
S — Spirituality
We nurture the spiritual lives of students, faculty, and staff through worship, reflection, prayer, and meaningful engagement with questions of faith, purpose, and calling.
H — Holistic Well-Being
We promote the development of the whole person—mind, body, spirit, and relationships—recognizing that true education attends to the entirety of human life.
A — Activism
We inspire courageous leadership and service that advances justice, strengthens communities, and contributes to the common good.
D — Dignity
We affirm the inherent worth of every person and foster a campus culture marked by respect, compassion, belonging, and care.
E — Ethics
We cultivate moral discernment, integrity, and responsible decision-making, preparing Braves to lead with wisdom and character.
Our Framework
Gather
We create sacred and communal spaces where the Alcorn family comes together for worship, reflection, celebration, and dialogue.
Examples include:
- Weekly Chapel Services
- Founders’ Day Observance
- University Worship and Memorial Services
- Special Convocations and Community Gatherings
Guide
We provide spiritual care, pastoral presence, and ethical guidance that supports the holistic well-being of students, faculty, and staff.
Examples include:
- Pastoral Counseling
- Spiritual Care and Crisis Support
- Prayer and Pastoral Consultation
- Ethical Reflection and Discernment
Grow
We cultivate faith, character, leadership, and service, empowering Braves to flourish personally and positively impact their communities and the world.
Examples include:
- Leadership Development Programs
- ASU Gospel Choir
- Service and Civic Engagement Opportunities
- Interfaith and Spiritual Formation Initiatives
- Workshops on Character, Ethics, and Purpose
Together, these commitments reflect our belief that faith and freedom, knowledge and character, belong together as essential dimensions of an Alcorn education.
Chapel Services
Catholic Mass, Sundays at 5:00 PM
Interdenominational Services, Thursdays at 5:30 PM
Listed below is a partial listing of area churches (more will be added periodically):
Fellowship Baptist Church
17831-US-61
Lorman, MS 39096
Waterloo Baptist Church
Highway 552 W
Lorman, MS 39096
New Christian Fellowship
208 Oak Street
Port Gibson, MS 39150
Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church
5088 Highway 61
Port Gibson, MS 39150
First Seventh Day Church
205 Anthony Street
Port Gibson, MS 39150
St. Joseph’s Catholic Church
909 Church Street
Port Gibson, MS 39150
Campus Ministries
AMP Ministries
Chosen Generation
COGIC Club
Poimne Ministries
Wesley Foundation