The Office of the Chaplain provides spiritual support to the Divinity School community through two primary areas: pastoral care and corporate worship. 

The journey of faith is not always a straight line, and knowing that there are sojourners and caring partners prepared to draw alongside on the way can be a great inspiration and comfort to students.

Meghan Benson headshot in dark blue sweater and multi-shaded bluescarf

"As chaplain, my role is three-fold: first to offer pastoral care, second to administer and lead the worship life, and third to oversee spiritual formation for the Divinity community. Each of these roles is close to my heart. It is a gift and privilege to be present with the community in times of both joy and hardship, and to help guide students and staff to turn their hearts and minds to knowing God more deeply, both through worship and spiritual reflection."

Rev. Meghan Feldmeyer Benson

Pastoral Care

While many of Duke Divinity’s faculty and staff are ordained pastors, primary responsibility for pastoral care rests with the Chaplain’s Office. The chaplain meets with students informally and by appointment to offer encouragement and spiritual direction as students seek to clarify their calling, struggle with questions of the faith, and balance the rigorous and sometimes conflicting demands of seminary life. All inquiries are treated with the utmost concern for confidentiality.

The chaplain also maintains an active list of therapists, pastoral counselors, spiritual directors, and local congregations and clergy to whom students can be referred when necessary. As Christians, the most important thing to remember is that we do not make this journey alone—the Triune God accompanies us as we accompany one another.

About the Chaplain

The Rev. Meghan Feldmeyer Benson became chaplain of Duke Divinity School in July 2015. Originally from Colorado, she is an ordained elder in the Mountain Sky Conference of the United Methodist Church. She has degrees in religious studies and psychology (1998) from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas), and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School (2002). Prior to becoming chaplain, Chaplain Benson worked for nine years as director of worship at Duke Chapel, having previously served as the executive assistant to Duke’s CIO. She is married to Adam, who is also a United Methodist pastor. They have a young daughter, Katie, and beagle (Charlie). She loves the mountains, liturgy, Durham, good food, and traveling.

Christina Hershey is the staff specialist for the Office of the Chaplain.