Selected Faculty Activities for 2020-2021

Dr. Russell Haitch, professor of theology and human science, has published Eyes of the Heart: Seeing God in an Age of Science (Fortress, 2021). Haitch continues to present academic papers in the area of youth ministry and science.

Dr. Joelle Hathaway, assistant professor of theological studies, is introducing new courses that make connections between spirituality, ecology, theology, and the arts.

Dr. Scott Holland, Slabaugh professor of theology and culture, has contributed a chapter on public theology to a new book entitled Political and Public Theologies, forthcoming from University Press of Leuven, Belgium. Holland’s article, “Moncure D. Conway’s Baltimore Exit, 1862,” was published in the Unitarian Universalist Journal of History.

Dr. Denise Kettering-Lane, associate professor of Brethren studies published an essay in the book, Brethren Intersections: History, Identity and Crosscurrents. The volume is the proceedings of the sixth Brethren World Assembly, hosted by Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana in 2018, and is published by the Brethren Encyclopedia, Inc.

Dr. Dawn Ottoni-Wilhelm, Brightbill professor of preaching and worship, has been appointed senior editor of Homiletic, the leading journal of the Academy of Homiletics. She also published Preaching the Fear of God in a Fear-Filled World: Proceedings from the conference of Societas Homiletica, Durham 2018 (Zurich: LIT Verlag, 2020). She edited the volume and contributed the Presidential Address entitled: “Fearing God in a Fear-Filled World? Homiletical Expressions.”

Dr. Dan Poole, assistant professor of ministry formation, collaborated with colleagues at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey to offer a shared Zoom gathering for students enrolled in ministry formation courses at each institution. The session, held days after the 2020 presidential election, focused on ministry during a time of extreme political division. He also helped coordinate Zoom sessions focused on ministering during Covid-19.

Dr. Ken Rogers, professor of historical studies, has published a recent sermon in Brethren Life and Thought and continues his research into the historical, social, and theological contexts for the origins of the early Brethren.

Dr. Dan Ulrich, Wieand professor of New Testament, has published a hymn text entitled, “Young Mary’s Boy Filled Her Heart with Joy,” set to the tune of “Coventry Carol.” Ulrich also collaborated with Dr. Mitzi Smith of Columbia Theological Seminary as she taught an August Intensive on African American interpretation of the Gospel of Luke. Ulrich and Smith received a grant from the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion to support their reflection and writing about their collaboration.

Academic Commencement

Ceremony

MAY 8, 2021

11 :00 A.M.

NICARRY CHAPEL

Gathering Music

*Processional, “Alleluia! Song of Gladness”Tune: “Dulce Carmen,” melody from 1782..............Robert J. Powell

*Theopoetic Invitation, “Flourish” ............by Julia Baker-Swann

*Call to Worship .................................................... Katherine Peterson

One: We join together to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates and all they have endured.

All: We celebrate the gifts of the mind, heart, soul, and spirit.

One: As a Seminary, we have traveled together in this uncommon journey; sustained by our spiritual engagement, inspired by faith-filled thought, and transformed by our practice as we seek to transform the world around us.

All: We are witnesses to the work of the Seminarythrough the lives we know best; seeing our students’ effort, hearing the impact and inspiration from lessons learned, and feeling God’s spirit at work, in and through this time and season.

One: May we enter this time with grateful hearts for this day and all it represents.

All: AMEN. AMEN!

*Invocation ............................................................Dr. Steve Schweitzer

Musical Interlude“Children of the Heavenly Father” .......Arranged by Larry Visser

President’s Welcome .............................................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter

Musical Interlude“Beautiful Savior” .......................................Arranged by Larry Visser

Scripture ReadingRuth 1:6-22 .............................Raul G. Rivera Arroyo and Amy Lutes

Commencement AddressRev. Amy Gall Ritchie........................................................ (Shaddai) שדי

Prayers of the People ........................................................ Karen Duhai

Musical Response“Come Down, O Love Divine” .......................................(15th Century)Tune: “Down Ampney”

Theopoetic Proclamation “Journey of I”.........................by Carol Davis (Read by Tim Harvey)

CLASS OF 2020

CERTIFICATE IN THEOPOETICS AND THEOLOGICAL IMAGINATIONEric William Bader (Columbia, Missouri)Amy Beth Lutes (Nashville, Tennessee)Joanna Davidson Smith (McPherson, Kansas)Rachel Ulrich (Richmond, Indiana)

MASTER OF ARTS Duane Edwin Crumrine (Martinsburg, Pennsylvania)Area of Concentration: Peace StudiesPortfolio: “Shalom in the Good Life: Millennialism and Life”

Paul Bala Samura (Freetown, Sierra Leone)Area of Concentration: Peace StudiesThesis: “The Perils of Undocumented Immigrants in the U.S.A. and Lessons Learned for Sierra Leone American Dreamers: A Challenge for Peacemakers”

MASTER OF DIVINITYRaul G. Rivera Arroyo (Vega Baja, Puerto Rico and Kettering, Ohio)John Andrew Fillmore (Caldwell, Idaho)Susan K. Liller (New Carlisle, Ohio)Thomas Michael McMullin (Minburn, Iowa)Katherine Lynn Polzin (Defiance, Ohio)Jack Richard Roegner (Davenport, Nebraska)M. Elizabeth Ullery Swenson (Olympia, Washington)

CLASS OF 2021

CERTIFICATE IN BIBLICAL PEACEMAKINGSunday Aimu (Jos, Nigeria) Sanamo Kpanah (Demsa, Nigeria) Maina Pindar (Jos, Nigeria)Esther Zira (Kwarhi, Nigeria)

CERTIFICATE IN INTERCULTURAL BIBLICAL INTERPRETATIONVivek Ashokbhai Solanky (New Delhi, India and Naperville, Illinois)

CERTIFICATE IN JUST PEACE AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATIONNolan Ryan McBride (Elkhart, Indiana)

CERTIFICATE IN THEOPOETICS AND THEOLOGICAL IMAGINATIONTimothy Paul Harvey (Roanoke, Virginia)Steven Troy Headings (Bay City, Michigan)Meridith Anne Owensby (Cincinnati, Ohio)Alexandra Elizabeth Thorpe Toms (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)

MASTER OF ARTSPatricia Doka Amos (Jos, Nigeria)Area of Concentration: Peace StudiesThesis: “Religious Violence in Nigeria: A Conflict Shift from Non-Violence to Perennial Armed Conflict Behavior”

Jack Richard Roegner (Davenport, Nebraska)Area of Concentration: Theological StudiesThesis: “Communicating the Gospel with the Nones and the Dones”

Rachel Elizabeth Ulrich (Richmond, Indiana)Area of Concentration: Peace StudiesThesis: “Noticing what Enriches Queer Faith Communities: A Call for Belonging and Empowerment”

MASTER OF ARTS: THEOPOETICS AND WRITINGJulia Baker-Swann (Fresno, California)Thesis: “Where Fire and Water Are One”

Gene George Bradbury (Sequim, Washington)Thesis: “Living the Holy Possible: Theopoetics for Daily Living with an Uncommon Lectionary for the Church Year”

Carol Diane Davis (Canton, Illinois)Thesis: “The Word Made Fresh: Theopoetics in Public Performance”

Somer Brady O’Neill Eckert (Alexandria, Louisiana)Thesis: “Exploring the Human-Nature Interface through Theopoetics and Nature Writing”

MASTER OF DIVINITYAmanda Sheree Bennett (Rancho Cucamonga, California)Mary A. Garvey (Huntingdon, Pennsylvania)Steven Troy Headings (Bay City, Michigan)Charles D. Jackson (Champaign, Illinois)Katherine Ruth Peterson (Middletown, Ohio)Vivek Ashokbhai Solanky (New Delhi, India and Naperville, Illinois)Alexandra Elizabeth Thorpe Toms (Chambersburg, Pennsylvania)

Academic CeremonyRecognizing the Class of 2020

Presentation of Candidates ......................................Dr. Steve Schweitzer

Presentation of Diplomas ..........................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter and Dr. David McFadden

Conferral of Degrees ........................................................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter

Recognizing the Class of 2021 Presentation of Candidates ......................................Dr. Steve Schweitzer

Presentation of Diplomas ..........................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter and Dr. David McFadden

Conferral of Degrees ........................................................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter

Presentation of the 2020 and 2021 Graduates .......................................................Dr. Steve Schweitzer

Prayer of Blessing .............................................................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter

*Benediction .............................Dr. David McFadden, Board of Trustees

One: We have much to celebrate!All: A learning community committed to each student, the

church, and the world.One: We have much to expect!All: Lives offered in the service to others; to preach, to

teach, to transform the world.One: Go now in joy and expectation!All: Thanks be to God!

*Sending .................................................................................Rev. Dr. Jeff Carter

*Recessional“Agnus Dei” ..........................................................................Michael W. Smith

*Please stand as you are able.

A professional photographer will be taking photos during parts of the ceremony. We ask that you refrain from taking flash photos during this event.

About our speaker:Amy Gall Ritchie, M.Div. ‘93, is the founding Spiritual Director at Persimmon Studio. She is also on the pastoral staff at Manchester Church of the Brethren, focusing on worship, pastoral care and preaching. Amy served Bethany for 15 years in student development. Life is at its best for Amy when she is talking with people, over coffee or Zoom. She takes Jesus’ words as recorded in the Gospel of Mark, as the foundational tone to her lifelong ministries, “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul, all of your mind and all of your strength. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

Organist .........................................................................................Carolyn Duning RippCeremony coordinator ......................................................................... Karen Schroeder Technical assistance ...................................................................................Kevin Poole Live stream production ....................................................................... L!VE Productions

Honored Graduates