Cheryl Sanders
Eastern Mennonite Seminary will hold its 55th annual commencement exercises 3 p.m. Saturday, Apr. 24, in Lehman Auditorium at EMU.
The seminary will confer 12 three-year master of divinity degrees, two two-year master of arts in religion degrees and one master of arts in church leadership degree.
Cheryl J. Sanders, senior pastor of Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C., will give the commencement address.
Dr. Sanders is also Professor of Christian Ethics at Howard University School of Divinity. She has written numerous articles and several books, including “Ministry at the Margins” (InterVarsity Press, 1997); “Saints in Exile: The Holiness-Pentecostal Experience in African American Religion and Culture” (Oxford, 1996); “Empowerment Ethics for a Liberated People” (Fortress, 1995); and is the editor of “Living the Intersection” (Fortress, 1995). For several years, she has been a contributing guest editor for “Leadership,” a journal for pastors.
Sanders completed her undergraduate work at Swarthmore College and received a master of divinity degree, cum laude, from Harvard Divinity School in the field of applied theology. In 2002, she was awarded an honorary doctor of divinity degree by Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. She is married to Dr. Alan Carswell and is the mother of two children, Allison and Garrett.
The Northeast Community Choir, directed by Richard A. Pannell, will provide special music during the ceremonies.
Nathan E. Yoder, associate professor of church history at EMS, will give a meditation at a baccalaureate service 7:30 p.m. Friday, Apr. 23, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building. Daphna Creek, a local gospel-bluegrass band that includes graduating student Ben Risser, will provide special music.
The public is invited to both events.