celebrated the graduation of 16 students earning Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Religion, and Master of Arts in Christian Leadership degrees and the graduate certificate in Christian Leadership.听
Coming from different denominational backgrounds and returning to ministry and work with new credentials, the group鈥檚 experiences and various gifts were honored during Saturday afternoon鈥檚 Baccalaureate ceremony. View the ceremony at [you do not need an account to view.]
Graduates were also offered the opportunity to participate in an in-person Commencement walk on Saturday, May 1. 91短视频鈥檚 official Commencement ceremony was online Sunday, May 9. [Both ceremonies can be viewed at 91短视频鈥檚 Commencement webpage.]
MA in Christian Leadership
- Mark Stancil, Stephens City, Virginia
MA in Religion
- William Jones, Broadway, Virginia
- Joel Nofziger, Ephrata, Pennsylvania
Master of Divinity
- Amber Baker, Morgantown, West Virginia
- Ryan Cobb, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- William Evans, Lignum, Virginia
- Joanna Friesen, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Paul Merchant, Lexington, Virginia
- Robert Michalides, Lynchburg, Virginia
- Carmen Miller, Rockingham, Virginia
- Carrie Moffitt, Staunton, Virginia
- MaryBeth Heatwole Moore, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- Dawn Reidy, Bunker Hill, West Virginia
- Emily Tolbert, North Dinwiddie, Virginia
- Lori Witmer, Newville, Pennsylvania
Graduate Certificate in Christian Studies
- Shirley LaVerne Steward-Jones, Harrisonburg, Virginia
More on the Baccalaureate Ceremony
The Baccalaureate ceremony, with a theme selected by the graduates of 鈥淒rawn by Love: Jesus Calls Us,鈥澨� included a scripture reading, musical selections, benediction and a commissioning.
Dean Sue Cockley welcomed the gathered and thanked those watching for their support for students. 鈥淚t takes a lot of people, a community really,鈥� she said, 鈥渢o get each seminary student to this happy milestone.鈥� The theme that the graduates had selected was especially appropriate to the tumult of the year, she noted, calling to mind lines of the hymn 鈥淛esus Calls to Us, O鈥檈r the Tumult鈥�: Jesus calls us o鈥檈r the tumult of our life鈥檚 wild, restless sea / Day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying 鈥淐hristian, follow me.鈥�
Nancy Heisey, associate dean and professor of biblical studies, gave the main address on the theme 鈥淥f Panic and Love,鈥� both being part of the full human experience and that which links us with Jesus and the Father:
So, John鈥檚 gospel starts out with 鈥淕od becomes us,鈥� and ends up with 鈥測ou, the new humans, are going to be me.鈥� Maybe you think I鈥檓 pushing that latter part of the equation a bit too far. But I offer that ordinary women and men have been called into love by Jesus, and sent as the Father sent Jesus. Throughout the centuries they have stared down the ruler of this world with their true humanity. They have experienced panic鈥攏ot just the sudden terror of one event, but the long terror of the power that seeks to destroy God鈥檚 creation. But they and we are one with the One who has conquered the world.
Participants in the ceremony also included Courtney Joyner, UMC liaison and instructor, musical prelude and postlude;听 current seminarian Caleb Schrock-Hurst and Perry Blosser, hymns; Joanna Friesen, graduate, invocation, Carrie Moffit, graduate, the scripture reading. Bob Michalides, the class vice president, introduced the speaker.
Professors Andrea Saner and David Evans anointed and blessed the graduates. Kevin Clark, assistant professor and seminary pastor, and Sarah Ann Bixler, incoming associate dean and professor, provided the commissioning.