June 2013
A PUBLICATION OF WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
The Commons 137th Commencement
Faculty Marshal David Stubbs leads the procession, followed by students Melisa Blankenship and Smirna Lezcano.
Dr. Lauren Winner of Duke Divinity School gives the commencement address.
Western Theological Seminary celebrated its 137th Commencement on Monday evening, May 13, in the Dimnent Memorial Chapel on the campus of Hope College. The seminary awarded 31 Master of Divinity degrees, four Master of Theology degrees, and one Doctor of Ministry degree. Dr. Lauren Winner of Duke Divinity School gave the commencement address based on the story of the woman at the well from John 4. She asked the graduates, “What would our ministries look like if we knew what the woman at the well knew: that we are known and loved by God and nothing is more urgent than provoking other people’s curiosity about that knowledge and love?” In his charge to the graduates, Dr. Timothy Brown closed the evening with the story of Jesus in John 11, raising Lazarus from the dead and directing onlookers to “unbind him, and let him go.” Dr. Brown urged the graduates to take that phrase into their ministries and remember that God is calling them to the same work. “The Lord sets the prisoners free and opens the eyes of the blind...” (Ps 146:8a)
The graduates stand to take vows of faithfulness in their ministries.
It’s official! Tassles to the left!
Dr. I. John Hesselink and Dr. Elton Bruins, from the Class of 1953, pray a blessing over graduates representing each degree program.