Dr. Luder G.
Whitlock, Jr.
President
of Reformed Seminary Speaks at Erskine Seminary
Commencement May 14
Erskine Theological Seminary conferred 67 degrees
on graduates in five degree programs during
commencement ceremonies held Sunday. Commencement
speaker was Dr. Luder G. Whitlock, Jr., since 1979
president of Reformed Theological Seminary in
Orlando, Fla. Whitlock served as executive director
of the New Geneva Study Bible and is a director of
the National Association of Evangelicals.
Erskine College and Seminary president Dr. John L.
Carson welcomed the graduates and their families and
friends. Carson, who served on the seminary faculty
from 1985 to 1994, said, “I'm glad to see some
of my students are finally finishing up.”
Chairman of the Erskine Board of Trustees William
B. Patrick, Jr., commended the graduates, saying,
“You have studied hard, learned much, and
developed gifts you've been given by God.” He
told them to remember that their gifts come from God.
“This will keep you from becoming puffed up when
you are praised ... or remaining discouraged too long
when criticized.”
Dr. R. J. Gore, Vice President and Dean of the
Seminary, introduced the speaker, explaining that
Reformed Seminary has campuses in Orlando, Fla.,
Jackson, Miss., and Charlotte, N.C. “I haven't
talked with Luder since January—they could have
opened up another one by now.” Whitlock is
president of the Association of Theological Schools.
“If I had to select a class to speak to, it
would be the class of 2000,” Whitlock began.
“I think there's more in store for you than you
might imagine.”
Whitlock said that technology “ultimately
changes your life—it changes culture.” He
spoke of the forces of technological change, the
stress of urbanization, and the loss of the sense of
community that confront faith today.
“Every innovation exacts a price,” he
said. “We are seeing the collapse of our own
civilization. Economically and politically, we're
strong; culturally, the core is empty.” He said
he wondered about what Augustine must have felt
“when he saw the smoke rising” indicating
that the barbarians were destroying Rome.
The decline of our civilization presents
opportunities for ministry, but the situation is
similar to that facing the early church. “They
had to do something to get people's attention and
they had to do it well,” he said.
Contemporary people “are spiritually hungry,
but Christianity is no longer seen as the first
alternative,” said Whitlock. Christians must be
willing to do more than just what has always been
done. “The Lord calls you to challenging
ministry in an exciting time ... You will have to
land on your feet and keep moving.”
Whitlock said compassion is necessary for
ministry, challenging the graduates, “Where will
we rediscover community? Is anything more powerful
than the gospel?”
Music was provided by the Rev. Robert Glick, W.
Parker Bowie Associate Professor of Church Music and
Worship at Erskine Seminary, organist; and Erskine
Seminary senior Robin Rogers Kingston of Asheville,
N.C., soloist.
Senior Tommy Tucker, president of the Erskine
Seminary Student Body, made a special presentation to
the family of Bruce Pierce of North Augusta, who died
this spring following an automobile accident. Pierce
had completed the requirements for the Master of
Divinity degree. Following the hooding of the
graduates, Dean Gore presented the diploma and hood
to the late Pierce's son.
Dong Won Han of Seoul, South Korea, received the
American Bible Society Award in Christian Education;
John C. Brown of Bristol, Va., received the American
Bible Society Award in Biblical Studies; Mi Sook Song
of Seoul, South Korea, received the Zondervan
Publishing House Award in Biblical Greek; and
Interpretation Journal Awards were given to Brown,
Russell D. Hendrix of Taylors, and Sandra S. King and
Steven M. King, both of Spartanburg.
A framed print of the Marie T. Bowie Chapel at
Erskine Seminary was presented to the Rev. Ray A.
King, longtime seminary professor, who is retiring
this year.
Those receiving degrees were: .
DIPLOMA IN THEOLOGY: (picture)
Alfred Valentine Griffin, Jr., Greenville, S.C.;
Charles Edward Jones, Dearing, Ga.; and William H.
Maier, Dana, N.C.
MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: (picture)
Dong Won Han, Seoul, South Korea; Jessica Ludwick
Rider, Chesnee, S.C.; and Florica Saracut, Oradea,
Romania.
MASTER OF ARTS IN PASTORAL MINISTRY:
(picture) Philip Stephen Keown, Abbeville, S.C.;
Edwina Julliette Williams, Orangeburg, S.C.; and
James M. Wood, Greenville, S.C.
MASTER OF ARTS IN THEOLOGICAL STUDIES: (picture)
Elise Nance Bridges, Due West, S.C.; Russell David
Hendrix, Taylors, S.C.; Young Jun Kim, Norcross, Ga.;
and Anthony R. Locke, Duluth, Ga. MASTER OF DIVINITY:
Tommy C. Alderson, Pittsburgh, Penn.; Thomas Richard
Bailey, Chesnee, S.C.; John C. Brown, Bristol, Va.;
Kenneth Neal Carter, Camden, S.C.; Vonda Massingill
Cooley, Easley, S.C.; Eugene Desir, Evans, Ga.;
Clinton Edwards, Jr., Augusta, Ga.; Melvin Dave
Garner, Jr., Great Falls, S.C.; Renee Kirven
Garrison, Florence, S.C.; Oliver Julius Hadden, Jr.,
Cope, S.C.; James Reitz Hamrick II, Bostic, N.C.;
Darren Cleveland Hook, Seneca, S.C.; Paul Gene
Humphrey, Bristol, Tenn.; Sarah Bedenbaugh Jenkins,
Mauldin, S.C.; Michael Anthony Kelly, Columbia, S.C.;
Abraham Kim, High Point, N.C.; Sandra Smith King,
Sparganburg, S.C.; Steven Michael King, Spartanburg,
S.C.; Robin Rogers Kingston, Asheville, N.C.; Roye
Lynn Kulik, Charleston, S.C.; Jeffrey Andrew Lahman,
Aiken, S.C.; Kenneth M. LeBon, Simpsonville, S.C.;
Dale Gilbert Maffit, Covington, Ga.; Carolyn Rampley
Malphrus, Hartsville, S.C.; Curtis Glenn Marshall,
Chester, S.C.; Louis M. Mims, Jr., Greenville, S.C.;
Godwin Muberwa Mwiruki, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;
Michael E. Newton, Gastonia, N.C.; Pa N. Pan, Inman,
S.C.; Bruce G. Pierce, North Augusta, S.C. (presented
posthumously); William Douglas Pryor, Hendersonville,
N.C.; Norris Van Rouse, Hephizibah, Ga.; George
William Scott, Simpsonville, S.C.; Gerald Wyman
Shealy, Lexington, S.C.; Mi Sook Song, Seoul,
Korea;Andrew W. Thomas, Columbia, S.C.; Frederick N.
Treaster, Saluda, S.C.; Tommy Layne Tucker,
Greenwood, S.C.; Robert Joseph Vale, Springfield,
Ga.;Angeleen Ellis Walker, Hephzibah, Ga.; Christine
MacDonald Wechsler, Vaucluse, S.C.; James Roy White,
Sardis, Ga.; Charles Kemith Wilson, Kingstree, S.C.
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY: (picture)
Wesley Leroy Baker, Sanford, Fla.; Lawrence C.
Dennis, Elgin, S.C.; Timothy Arvaniti Erskine,
Newberry, S.C.; Edward Keith Harrill, Jr., Florence,
S.C.; Robert Edward McAuley, Newberry, S.C.; Thomas
D. Phillips, Canton, Ga.; Cheryl Martin Bass Rhodes,
Chapin, S.C.; Thomas L. Rogers, Cherryville, N.C.;
Jong Sup Song, Seoul, Korea; David Raymond Wike,
Florence, S.C.; Hershel Don Yancey, Martinez, Ga.
Seminary
Graduates During Graduation Ceremony
