Zuri Primos
President Monqiue Guillory, Ph.D., announced during Dillard University’s town hall meeting on Aug. 28 that Reverend Herbert Brisbon III will be released from his duties at the end of the current semester.
The decision marks a major transition for the university’s chapel community, a long-standing spiritual and cultural cornerstone of campus life. Guillory said the university is planning changes to how the Methodist Church operates on campus.
“We’ve actually been in conversation with the Methodist Church about this process of revivalizing campus ministry and the spiritual life of the campus,” Guillory said at the town hall. “Rev. Brisbon is still here–he has not been terminated. We just told him this was going to be his last semester, this is actually a personnel decision, so I’m not quite sure why we’re talking about this.”
For many students, the news came as a surprise. The Lawless Chapel, for many, has been more than just a religious space; it also serves as a place of comfort and belonging.
Andreus Lowry, senior political science major and part of the Dillard University Concert Choir (DUCC), reflected on his relationship with Brisbon.
“When I first got here, the very first thing he said to me is that God has me at Dillard University for a reason,” Lowry said. “He was the one that told me to join the choir.”
Lawless Chapel’s impact extends beyond weekly services. It is one of the official university offices that partners up with several student organizations on campus, including Leading Ladies, Elevate, Vision Quest, Chosen to Dance Ministry, and the Drama Ministry.
President Guillory said that while she appreciates the chapel’s deep connection to student life, her goal is to expand its influence beyond clubs and organizations. She hopes to integrate spiritual teachings into the academic curriculum.
“We are looking at ways to incorporate spirituality more so in our curriculum,” Guillory said. “Not just have campus ministry be like a club or an organization, or a co-curricular activity, but to actually be spiritual development, a core component of your education at Dillard.”
“Chaplain Brisbon received a lot of criticism from the students who are Christian because he worked with so many different people,” said Dejuan Fuel, a junior criminal justice major.
Rev. Brisbon often collaborated with individuals and organizations from other religious backgrounds, which some felt strayed from Methodist traditions, said Fuel.
Reverend Brisbon will remain at Dillard until Dec. 31. As of now, there has been no further information about the plans to integrate spirituality into the curriculum.
The president did not respond to the Courtbouillon’s requests for comment.