DUE WEST, S.C. Ð Dr. Randall T. Ruble, a fixture at Erskine Theological Seminary for more than 32 years, closed a career and lifetime of service to his alma mater Sunday, delivering the 154th commencement address at the Due West Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

Ruble, a positive presence at Erskine throughout his tenure, preached on "Encouragement" from Acts 11:19-24 to the 42 graduates in three disciplines. He told them he had never experienced burnout in his career, but was aware it is prevalent among clergy.

"Burnout is like sin," Ruble said. "It is always with us. We have to deal with it, so we best just get on with the job."

Burnout, he said, leads to depression, which is caused by the demon discouragment.

"I am convinced the ultimate solution for discouragement can be found in the grace of God," Ruble said. "God is faithful and will supply all your needs."

When Ruble first became Dean at Erskine seminary, there was plenty to be discouraged about. He said only about 50 students attended the seminary, faculty salaries were not in line, and the divinity facilities were outdated. Several key faculty members had also left, including his predecessor and mentor Dean Dill Allison, and Ruble wondered Ð and worried Ð where solutions for these problems could be found.

"God always led us to someone else when we lost a key faculty member," Ruble said. "I saw the demon of discouragement take flight over and over again. We prayed about the condition of our divinity hall, and the demon of discouragement took flight when that need was manifested by God through a genorous gift from the Bowies for a brand new divinity hall."

Ruble said, "We need always be on lookout for the grace of God. It show up many times when we least expect it."

Through the grace of God, Ruble said, the seminary student body has grown to nearly 350 students today, and he said the excellent faculty is one of the seminary's strengths. When his retirement officially begins July 1, Ruble will step down after two consecutive years of record enrollment at the seminary.

Erskine President Dr. James W. Strobel conferred degrees upon students in the Master of Arts in Christian Education program, the Master of Divinity program and the Doctor of Ministry program.

Board of Trustees Chairman John T. Moore greeted the new graduates, as did Erskine Alumni Association President J. David Chesnut.

Special music was provided by the Korean choir from the Young Nak Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Doraville, Ga.

Seminary Student Body President Gerald Lord was the first Erskine student to receive both the Master of Arts in Christian Education degree and the Master of Divinity Degree. Erskine College Chaplain Jay West received the Doctor of Ministry Degree.

Erskine Theological Seminary graduates are as follows:

Receiving the Master of Arts in Christian Education Degree were Aubrey Herschel Collins III of Sylvania, Ga.; Maria Jerdone Davis of Central, Mary Margaret Duke of Warner Robbins, Ga.; Sondra Cash Edwards of Boone, N.C.; Gerald Calvin Lord of Summerville; and Ronald Creswell Taylor of Laurens.

Receiving the Master of Divinity Degree were Robert Anthony Adams of Clover; Athon Meltron Arant, Jr. Of Abbeville; Juan Carolos Unda Azua of Cd. Valles, S.L.P., Mexico; Yoo-Chang Bang of Pusan, Korea; Gary Lewis Boggs of McDonough, Ga.; Billie Starr Brightwell of Pamplin, Va.; Keith Thomas Byers of Orangeburg; Luis German Carrion of Camuy, Puerto Rico; Bruce Wayne Cooley of Pelzer; Darrell Edward Cox of Toccoa, Ga.; Joseph Lynn Curtis of Greenville; John Scott Efird of Simpsonville; Bonnie Jean Franke of Hodges; David Carroll Inman of Chester; Juennarl Keith of Georgetown; Charles Franklin Knight of Charlotte, N.C.; Kyung Jung of Cheju, Korea; Geun-Hyung Lee of Seoul, Korea; Gerald Calvin Lord of Summerville; Myong S. Paik of Abbeville; Angela Yvonne Shaw of Sumter; Randall Holmes Sheetz of Due West; Calvin Lee Smith of Taylors; Robert Bryant Sneed of Easley; Phillip Eugene Stout of Urbana, Ohio; Marvin Taylor of Ladson; Wayne Jarrod Williamson of Pensacola, Fla.; and Ray Fontaine Youngblood of Louisville, Ga.

Receiving the Doctor of Ministry Degree were Ronald Raymond Caplette of Hickory, N.C.; Christopher Lovett Horton of Stockbridge, Ga.; Willis Irvin of Augusta, Ga.; Ervin Finley Limehouse of Beech Island; Robert Eugene McCollum of Chapin; James Daniel Stokes II of Abbeville; Victor Rommel Thomas of Jacksonville, Fla.; and John Taliaferro West IV of Belton.