Emory University Hires Unitarian Universalist as First Non-Methodist Chaplain

Emory University, a school officially affiliated with the United Methodist Church (UMC), has appointed Rev. Gregory W. McGonigle, a Unitarian Universalist, as its new university chaplain and dean of spiritual and religious life. President Claire Sterk announced the appointment, marking the first time in Emory’s history that a non-Methodist individual holds this position. McGonigle will begin his role in August, at the start of the fall semester.

Emory is a member of the National Association of Schools and Colleges of the United Methodist Church (NASCUMC), an organization comprising 114 schools that collaborate with the UMC. McGonigle’s appointment brings a pluralistic vision of religion to a university still formally affiliated with the UMC and home to Candler School of Theology, one of 13 official United Methodist seminaries. The Unitarian Universalist Association describes its members as holding diverse beliefs, ranging from atheism to viewing God as “the creative power of evolution” or “the ultimate mystery within which we all must live.” This raises questions about the Christian character of the university in light of such an appointment.

McGonigle’s hiring reflects a broader trend at Emory to move away from its Methodist and broader Christian heritage, fostering a post-Christian, pluralistic, and interfaith environment. This shift occurs despite the university’s continued formal ties to the UMC, which it does not conceal or deny. These ties extend beyond the Office of Spiritual and Religious Life, encompassing deeper institutional connections.

According to Emory’s charter, the Southeastern Jurisdictional Conference of the UMC has the authority to confirm all members of the university’s Board of Trustees and can remove them. While this might suggest the influence of the most traditional UMC jurisdictions, the role of confirmation appears largely ceremonial with little real impact. Emory continues the tradition of appointing the current bishop of the North Georgia Episcopal Area to the board, currently Sue Haupert-Johnson, and typically includes a few other United Methodists. The power of removal has never been exercised, indicating that Emory’s secular trajectory is likely to continue.

Despite these formal ties, Georgia’s non-profit regulations and federal laws affirm that Emory is a separate and self-sustaining corporation not controlled by the United Methodist Church. This legal status allows the university to pursue its own mission and values, even as it maintains historical affiliations. The university’s vice president and official historian has noted this distinction, highlighting the autonomy Emory enjoys within its broader religious context.

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