Class of

The One Hundred and Seventieth

Commencement Service

Eden Theological Seminary May 15, 2020

Saint Louis, Missouri

7:30 P.M.

Meet Our Graduates

Deborah W. Anderson Alan E. Bailey

Gabrielle Nichole Smith Kennedy

Autumn Dennis Jennifer Einspahr Helen Jacqueline French

Lisa King

Matthew Thomas Helis Phillip Anthony Harris Renee T. Johnson

Mtipe Koggani Emma Landowski Harold E. Long

Magloire Kawang Kevin R. Kelley

S. Jewell S. McGhee Noah McCarn Stephen Nitzsche Lisa Pettis

Tarrah Suzanne Vaupel

Romell Parks-Weekly

Vivian Esi Williams Barbara Burkhalter Schuette

Order of Service

We are delighted that you could join us for Eden Theological Seminary’s 170th commencement. The webinar format of our online ceremony means that you will only see certain people at any given moment. You will get a glimpse of each graduate when their name is called, however. If you are not able to get on the Zoom call, this service will also be streaming on Facebook live, on the Eden Theological Seminary page.

PRAISE PRELUDE Waymaker (Miranda Curtis) Lord,You are Good (Todd Galberth)

Gabrielle Kennedy Paul Vasile, Director of Music

CHOIR PRELUDE Sithi Hallelujah (Zimbabwe) Eden Seminary Choir Paul Vasile

PRELUDE Paul Vasile

WELCOME David Greenhaw, President

OPENING SONG What a Fellowship (E. A. Hoffman) Paul Vasile

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, leaning on the everlasting arms; what a blessedness, what a peace is mine, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way, leaning on the everlasting arms; O how bright the path grows from day to day, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms. What have I to dread, what have I to fear, leaning on the everlasting arms? I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, leaning on the everlasting arms. Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms; leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING Damayanthi Niles, Professor of Constructive Theology

(Please join in reading aloud even while you are muted.)

Holy and Gracious One, who are we that you have loved us so well?

As we pause at the threshold of a new season of life and ministry, we consider the sufferings of this present time not worth comparing to the glory about to be revealed to us, and our hearts overflow with gratitude when we think of all you have done.

All through these years of learning, as we have reached for understanding and learned to live with mystery, as we have struggled and protested, and practiced how to serve those pushed aside, as we have tended the first fruits of the Spirit so that they might grow in our hearts, through all this you have blessed us time and again.

When we were uncertain, you sent us assurance in the form of friends or strangers. When we lost our way you gently pushed and prodded us back into the contours of your grace. When we threw up our hands, convinced that the world was torn and spoiled beyond repair, even then you were with us, re-working the tender places in our hearts, re-forming hope, re-forming courage, re-forming vision.

And so we declare what we have heard, what we have seen with our own eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands in our lives and in your world: scripture has been fulfilled in our hearing and your kin-dom of shalom has continued to come near, for we have heard the songs of the captives, and have seen the dawning smiles of outcasts welcomed home. We have touched the smooth, fading scars of healing, and have seen the ministry of Jesus, your anointed, go forward despite all the forces of death.

We offer you our humble thanks, and the balance of our days to the cause of your compassion, praying in the name of Jesus who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lights our way.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE READING Romans 8:18-25 (NRSV, alt.)

As read by volunteers from the graduating class. One: Holy Wisdom, holy Word. Holy Wisdom, holy Word. Many: Thanks be to God. HYMN OF THANKSGIVING “I Thank You, Jesus” (K. Morris) Paul Vasile I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, my Savior God for you brought me, yes you brought me from a mighty, a mighty long way. I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, I thank you Jesus, my Savior God, for you brought me, yes you brought me from a might, a mighty long way. You been my father, you been my mother you been my sister, my brother, too…

PRESENTATION OF CANDIDATES FOR DEGREES Sharon Tan, Dean of the Seminary

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES David Greenhaw, President Susan Stepleton, Chairperson,

Board of Trustees

CHARGE TO THE GRADUATES

David Greenhaw

Susan Stepleton COMMENTS FROM THE CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

SONG OF SENDING “Go On Your Way in Joy, My Friends” (Kerri Meyer)

Paul Vasile

BENEDICTION David Greenhaw

POSTLUDE La Rejouissance from ‘Water Music’ - G.F. Händel

Paul Vasile

Hymns reprinted with permission. One License A-704968.

The Honor Graduate Fellowship

The Honor Graduate Fellowship Award recognizes the graduating Masters-level student who, in the judgment of the faculty, has the greatest academic promise

and potential for further graduate study in theology.

The recipients: JEWELL MCGHEE

NOAH MCCARN

The Gerhard and Marie Grauer Award

Awarded each year by the Faculty to the graduate who holds special promise for pastoral ministry. Academic accomplishment, preaching and pastoral care skills, and promise to fulfill the broad range of pastoral responsibilities are considered in making this award. The award honors Mrs. Grauer and Dr. Grauer, a graduate of Eden and long-time

pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Chicago.

The recipient: GABRIELLE KENNEDY

The Senior Preacher

Selected by the Faculty for excellence in preaching. The student ordinarily preaches at the Brueggemann and Kulenkamp Lectures/Annual Spring Convocation.

The Senior Preacher: RENEE JOHNSON

The Kniker Family Book Award

The Kniker Family Book Award celebrates the call of Charles Kniker as the twelfth President of Eden Theological Seminary and is given

to a UCC student selected by the administration.

The recipient: EMMA LANDOWSKI

AWARDS

Board of Trustees

Kevin Anthony Susan Artt Paul Brady

Deborah Burris Karla J. Cooper Merry Dahms

Jane Zimmer Daniels Jo Hudson

David Luckes Timothy Luehrman Matthew Miofsky Nelson Pierce, Jr.

Pierce, Jr.

Larry D. Richardson Susan Nell Rowe David Sauerhoff Mark Schafale Darlene Sowell

Susan S. Stepleton Noah Tabor

Thomas K. Tiemann Carol B. Walker Stephanie Weiner

Ann Asper Wilson

Faculty

David M. Greenhaw Christopher Grundy

Deborah Krause Kristen Leslie

J. Clinton McCann

Damayanthi Niles Adam Ployd

Ben Sanders III Sharon Tan

Laurel Koepf Taylor

Faculty Emeriti/ae

John Bracke Enoch Olgesby

Martha Robertson

Ruby Schroeder A. Hale Schroer

Karen Tye

Adjunct Faculty

Dietra Wise Baker

Jill Baker

Vince Bantu Marshall Crossnoe

Donna Hawk-Reinhard

Howard G. Kaplansky

Jeffrey T. Moore Paul Stroble

Lerone Martin

Program Directors

Paul Vasile Director of Music

Denise Stauffer

Director of Contextual Education

Rev. Sonja Williams

Associate Dean of Students

Spiritual Directors

Devoree Crist Paul Metzler

Tina Newberry Susan Ulmer

Lisa von Stamwitz

House of Study Directors

Rev. Veronica Richardson Donna Hawk Reinhard

Rev. Kim Shirar Rev. Clint McCann

Rev. Barbara Willock Rev. Michelle Torigan

Rev. Roger Bertschausen Rev. John Allen

Eden Theological Seminary 475 East Lockwood Avenue Saint Louis, Missouri 63119-3192

Phone (314) 961-3627 Toll Free 1-800-969-3627 www.eden.edu

Congratulations Graduates!

Mission Statement

Eden

Theological Seminary

is called to strengthen

the life of the church by

educating women and men

for ministry,

enlivening critical

reflection on faith,

and supporting

bold Christian

discipleship.

Class of