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05.16.05 Dr. Thomas W. Gillespie Erskine Seminary celebrates achievements at Commencement ceremony Erskine Theological Seminary conferred 66 degrees on graduates in seven degree programs and an honorary degree was conferred on Dr. Luder G. Whitlock, former president of Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Fla., during commencement Sunday at the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Commencement speaker was Dr. Thomas W. Gillespie, president and professor of New Testament emeritus at Princeton Theological Seminary. Erskine College and Seminary president Dr. John L. Carson welcomed the graduates, families and friends. A member of the seminary faculty from 1985-94, Carson is Erskine's 13th president and has announced he will step down June 30. Chairman John T. Moore of Columbia brought greetings from the Erskine Board of Trustees, and the Rev. H. Neely Gaston, executive vice president of Erskine Seminary, introduced the commencement speaker. Gillespie served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Garden Grove, Calif., from 1954-66 and as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Burlingame, Calif., from 1966-83. He was adjunct professor at San Francisco Theological Seminary from 1972-73 and at Fuller Theological Seminary from 1973-78. He served Princeton Theological Seminary as president and professor of New Testament from 1983-2004. In a commencement sermon titled "Ministry as Witness," Gillespie told of a conversation he had with a German pastor's wife not long after the fall of the Berlin Wall. She and her husband had served for many years at a church in a tiny East German village, despite attendance figures that would discourage many American pastors — fewer than 20 on a good Sunday. The family had also endured discrimination because they were Christians, including having their high-achieving sons barred from admission to university. "God called us here as witnesses," the woman said. Citing French theologian Paul Ricoeur's contention that witnesses are called to testify that something is a fact, but are also called to testify for one side or the other, Gillespie said, "You're going out into a culture that is not going to support your ministry." He told the graduates the postmodern world they are entering is like a carnival, with carnival barkers hawking various entertainments. Christians can offer something that is not available anywhere else at the carnival. "I can be at the carnival and I can be a barker and I can witness for Jesus Christ," he said. "I commit you to the ministry of witness," Gillespie said. The Rev. Robert Glick, organist, who is associate professor of church music and worship at Erskine Seminary, and Kelly Gallamore, vocalist, a graduating student, provided music. Westley McAllister of Mount Carmel, president of the Erskine Alumni Association, led the induction of graduates into the association, and urged them to "Remember Erskine, and lead others here." Student Body President Terry Roof accepted membership on behalf of the graduates. The Leon McDill Allison Award for Excellence in Teaching was given to Associate Professor of Historical Theology and Missions Dr. Donald M. Fairbairn Jr. Fairbairn also serves as director of the Master of Arts in Theological Studies program. The Zondervan Publishing House Award in Biblical Greek was given to John Paul Marr of Due West, and the Zondervan Publishing House Award in Biblical Hebrew went to Elias Gamaliel Pozos of Tamuin, Mexico. The Bruce G. Pierce Award for Christian Leadership was given to Benjamin Mushuhukye of Kigali, Rwanda; the Arlene Leola Hoyt Culver Award in Hebrew was given to Steve Shealy of Easley; and the Robert Duncan Culver Award in Systematic Theology was given to Robert Glenn Rhyne III of Irmo. The Ray A. King Award for Excellence in Church History, named in honor of a longtime professor of church history, went to Angela Owens of Anderson. Retiring Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology Dr. Merwyn Johnson was given a plaque in honor of his long service to the seminary, and he offered a prayer for the graduates. "It has been a joy and a privilege to work with you," he told students, professors and staff members. Johnson will also be honored on a later occasion. Whitlock, a graduate of the University of Florida, Westminster Theological Seminary, and Vanderbilt University, is now president of Excelsis, an educational materials company. In addition to more than 20 years as president of Reformed Theological Seminary, he was executive director of "The New Geneva Study Bible" and has served numerous organizations, including the National Association of Evangelicals and the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. "If you've been associated with Erskine, it gets in your heart,” said Whitlock, noting that one of his early contacts at Erskine was Dr. Randall T. Ruble, now dean emeritus. Other degrees awarded included the following: MASTER OF CHURCH MUSIC: Sung-Doh Oh, Charlotte, N.C.; Adair Dean Rogers, Laurens. MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: Kathryn Hendrick Barron, Rock Hill; Norris Delaney Darden Jr., Savannah, Ga.; Erin Rebekah Hopkins, Greenville; Margaret Murr Kiser, Mayesville; Benjamin Mushuhukye, Kigali, Rwanda. MASTER OF ARTS IN COUNSELING MINISTRY: Julie Claire Moore, Greenwood; Donna Louise Rogers, Due West. MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY: Talmadge Davis Belding Jr., North Augusta; James David Rich, Donalds. MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES: Joseph Solomon Moore II, Lowndesville; Angela Gale Owens, Anderson; Jimmie Lee Perry III, Pauline; Robert Glenn Rhyne III, Irmo; Vernon Gary Stephens, Walhalla; John Wilson Wages, Laurens. MASTER OF DIVINITY: Wanda Rapley Aull, Greenwood; William Marshall Austin III, Taylors; Debora Katheryn Bishop, Greenville; William Danford Blair, Greenville; Brent Stephens Bohanan, Auburn, Ga.; Rondey Bolden, Taylors; Deborah Ann Broadwell, Anderson; Sandra Denise Brooks, Augusta, Ga.; Barbara R. William Chisolm, Summerville; Steven Saxon Clark, Columbia; Mark Edwards, Metter, Ga.; Debra Louise Gaddy, Hendersonville, N.C.; Kelly Lee Gallamore, Taylors; Geoffrey Ashland Grubbs, Monroe, Ga.; John Lawrence Hallman III, Greenville; Brian Lewis Howard, Lake Wylie; Julius Melvin Johnson, Anderson; Kevin Duane Koger, Taylors; Rebecca McClendon MacArthur, LaGrange, Ga.; Alice Elaine MacKeil, Greenville; Samuel Earle Marcengill, Aiken; Margaret Stradley Marquis, Black Mountain, N.C.; William Clyde Marsh, Charlotte, N.C.; Ralph Calhoun May III, Greer; Kathleen Monahan McAbee, Cullowhee, N.C.; Deborah Richardson-Moore, Taylors; Joseph Solomon Moore II, Lowndesville; Samuel Moses, Salem, India; Priscilla Kay Fulcher Pearce, Greer; Forrest DeFate Sanders Jr., Columbia; Gayle Minor Summey, Ninety Six; Thurmond Kemzy Thomas, Newberry; Sharon Roddy Waters, Asheville, N.C.; Alvin Elfonzo Webb, Sumter; Marie Deas-Webb, Sumter; Robey Alan Wilson, Morganton, N.C.; Michael Leonard Written, Estill. DOCTOR OF MINISTRY: R. Wayne Bearden Jr., Pickens; Jason Daniel Danuser, Danielsville, Ga.; Christopher Hugh Deane, Goose Creek; Jennifer Katona Fairbairn, Due West; William Jeffrey Flowers, Evans, Ga.; Thomas Henry Kelly, Carlisle; Jae Neung Park, Seoul, South Korea; Anthony Reed Reggi, Alexander, N.C.; Gary Alan Smoak, Newberry; Dearld Blake Sterling, Sumter; Grady Edward Usher, Eastover; Timothy Lee Waldrop, Spartanburg. |
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