Justo Mwale Theological College is a sister school of Austin Seminary. Fifty-seven students are expected to receive degrees: forty-four, the Master of Divinity; seven, the Master of Arts in Theological Studies; and six, the Doctor of Ministry. Commencement exercises also include the granting of special awards to graduating seniors who have distinguished themselves in five areas. The Reverend Louis H. Zbinden Jr., the Louis H. and Katherine S. Zbinden Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Leadership at Austin Seminary, will preach during the baccalaureate service at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 24. Presiding at the Lord’s Table will be the Reverend Dr. Michael Jinkins, academic dean and professor of pastoral theology at Austin Seminary. Both baccalaureate and commencement events will be held at University Church, 2208 San Antonio Street, Austin, Texas.
Columbia Theological
Seminary, Decatur, Ga.
Baccalaureate service will be held Friday evening, May 16 at Columbia Church in Decatur. Bishop William H. Willimon of the United Methodist Church will be the guest speaker. Commencement Service will be Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. at Peachtree Church, Atlanta, Ga.
University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa
The Seminary will hold commencement at Westminster Church, 2155 University Ave., Dubuque on May 10 at 9:30 a.m. The Rev. Michael L. Lindvall, author and pastor of Brick Church, New York City will address the graduates.
Johnson C. Smith Theological
Seminary, Atlanta, Ga.
The seminary is part of the Interdenominational Theological Center, which expects to graduate 102 persons this year. The Baccalaureate for graduating seniors of the ITC will be held on Thursday, May 1, at the historic Big Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church on Auburn Avenue in Atlanta. The Rev. Gregory Eason is the pastor. This year’s speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, the founding and senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Ga. It is a congregation of 7,500 persons gathered in the last 17 years, also recognized in the book, Excellent Protestant Congregations: The Guide to Best Places and Practice, as one of 300 excellent Protestant congregations in the United States.
The Commencement Exercise is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, at 8:30 a.m., in the King International Chapel at Morehouse College, 860 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta. The speaker will be the Rev. William D. Watley, senior pastor of Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Watley is an alumnus of the Interdenominational Theological Center, having earned the M.Div. degree. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Theology from St. Louis University, and the Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in Ethics from Columbia University. He also completed post-doctoral work at the Ecumenical Institute in Celigny, Switzerland, and Harvard’s Institute for Educational Management.
He is an innovative worship leader known for his dynamic approach to worship and inspirational messages. His services have become a model for other ministries across the nation.
Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.
Commencement will be Sunday, May 18 at 3:30 p.m. at Second Church, 3701 Brownsboro Road, Louisville. The speaker will be the Rev. Mary Gene Boteler. Title of her address: To Serve With Imagination with Scripture from Jeremiah 32:1-15. Devoted Service Award Recipients will be: Mary Gene Boteler (M.Div. ’78), pastor, Second Church, St. Louis, Mo.; Dr. Robyn S. Abel (M.Div. ’90), moderator, Synod of Living Waters; and Rance Thomas, Ph.D., moderator, Synod of Mid-America. All are alumni of the seminary.
McCormick Theological
Seminary, Chicago, Ill.
McCormick Theological Seminary’s 174th commencement will be held Saturday, May 10 at Rockefeller Chapel, located on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus. The speaker is the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago.
Pittsburgh Theological
Seminary, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Baccalaureate service will be Thursday, May 22 at 10 a.m. at Hicks Memorial Chapel on the campus of the seminary. The speaker will be The Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Peters, the Henry L. Hillman Associate Professor of Urban Ministry and Director of the Metro-Urban Institute, PTS.
Commencement will be the same day at 7 p.m. at East Liberty Church, Pittsburgh. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Kang-Yup Na, Associate Professor of Religion, Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa. Paul Schaughency will receive the John Anderson Award of Merit. Named after one of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s founders, the John Anderson Award of Merit recognizes the unique service and contribution of special friends the Seminary. Awarded annually, this is the Seminary’s highest honor. Schaughency has served the Seminary community for more than 25 years as the volunteer human resources specialist following his retirement from PPG Industries.
Princeton Theological
Seminary, Princeton, N. J.
Commencement will be held Saturday, May 17 at 4 p.m. in the Princeton University Chapel. President of the Seminary, Dr. Iain Torrance, will be the speaker.
San Francisco Theological
Seminary, San Anselmo, Calif.
The Baccalaureate Service will be Friday, May 23, at 4 p.m. at First Church, San Anselmo. A reception will follow in Alexander Hall.
The Commencement Exercises and the Conferring of Degrees & Honors will be held Saturday, May 24 at 9 a.m. at Bouick Field, San Anselmo.
Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education, Richmond, Va.
The Charlotte campus, graduation was to be held April 26 at 10 a.m. at Selwyn Avenue Church in Charlotte. Steve Eason, pastor of Myers Park Church in Charlotte, was to be the preacher for the Charlotte commencement. Eason is a trustee of Union-PSCE. Sixteen graduates will receive degrees.
The Richmond campus commencement service will be on May 31 at 10 a.m. at Reveille United Methodist Church, 4200 Cary Street Road in Richmond. Gary Charles, pastor of Central Church in Atlanta, Ga., will preach at the Richmond commencement. Charles is a trustee and alumnus of Union-PSCE. Sixty-six graduates will receive degrees.
Other Seminaries
Auburn Theological Seminary,
New York, N. Y.
Related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by covenant agreement, Auburn shares commencement exercises with Union Theological Seminary in New York.
The 172nd commencement will be held Friday, May 16 at 4 p.m. at the Seminary Quadrangle on union’s campus.
Colgate Rochester Crozer
Divinity School, Rochester, N. Y.
Commencement exercises will be Saturday, May 10 at 10 a.m. at Third Church, 4 Meigs Street, Rochester, N.Y. The commencement address will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. Joseph C. Hough Jr., president of Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Fuller Theological Seminary,
Pasadena, Calif.
The 59th Commencement will be held Saturday, June 14, at 10 a.m. at Lake Avenue Church, 393 North Lake Avenue, in Pasadena. Seminary President Richard Mouw will be the commencement speaker.
