COMMENCEMENT LIVESTREAM

Conde-Frazier is a trailblazing educator, scholar, and institutional leader, currently serving as Director of the Association for Hispanic Theological Education. Throughout her career she has worked extensively with Hispanic Bible institutes to bring rigorous theological reflection to evangelical and Pentecostal communities and to create and expand pathways for entire communities, not just pastoral leaders, to benefit from the resources of theological education. Hamilton is founder and senior pastor of Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kans., the largest United Methodist Church in the world with over 25,000 members. A committed public theologian, he has led his congregation and The United Methodist Church through some of the most critical and challenging social issues of our day. Stead and his spouse, Mary Joy, have been the largest benefactors in the history of Garrett-Evangelical. Stead joined the Garrett board 30 years ago, and for the last 15 years has served as chairman. His leadership has influenced all aspects of the Seminary’s life and it was a privilege to recognize and celebrate his tremendous leadership and impact.

In further indication of the seminary’s future vision, Dean Mai-Anh Le Tran awarded teacher of the year to Dr. Julie A. Duncan, Associate Professor of Old Testament, and Dr. Mark R. Teasdale, E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism. Dr. Duncan’s liberation theology lens for reading scripture and Dr. Teasdale’s enthusiasm for growing the church are emblematic of Garrett-Evangelical’s conviction that—despite what naysayers warn—the brightest days for Christianity are still ahead of us. The road that takes us there still leads through robust biblical engagement and conviction in God’s ability to make all things new.

Perhaps nowhere was that change more evident than in the appointment of Garrett-Evangelical’s new board chair, the Rev. Dr. Daryl Franklin. Franklin is the first Garrett-Evangelical alumnus to serve in the position, the first non-UMC chair, and the first AfricanAmerican chair. His election testifies commitment to the new strategic vision—a determined effort to make Garrett-Evangelical not just the world’s flagship Methodist seminary, but a destination for all people who are serious about the thriving of the church and the healing of the world.

And yet, as he said those words, the hope was seated directly before him: 59 graduating seminarians, filled with a fire and passion to transform the world into God’s just peace. “It is time,” Dean of Student Life and Chaplain Karen Mosby concluded in her charge to the church’s newest leaders, “Go forth in the confidence that you have what you need. You are ready.”