{"id":24044,"date":"2015-04-28T16:49:26","date_gmt":"2015-04-28T20:49:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/?p=24044"},"modified":"2015-06-05T15:53:58","modified_gmt":"2015-06-05T19:53:58","slug":"eastern-mennonite-seminary-graduates-33-students-the-largest-class-since-1988","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2015\/eastern-mennonite-seminary-graduates-33-students-the-largest-class-since-1988\/","title":{"rendered":"Eastern Mennonite Seminary graduates 33 students, the largest class since 1988"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Gordon Meriwether first began attending Eastern Mennonite Seminary<\/a>, he wanted to earn a master of divinity degree<\/a>. Then the United Methodist pastor, who is also a 31-year U.S. Navy veteran, discovered the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding<\/a> at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU). That inspired pursuit of another degree, and more miles to travel for Meriweather, who lives over the Blue Ridge Mountains in Culpepper, a 130-mile round-trip trek from Harrisonburg.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, April 25, he made one final trip to campus for the seminary\u2019s commencement ceremony to celebrate the earning of two degrees: a master of divinity and a master\u2019s in conflict transformation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Seth Miller, also a new seminary graduate, simply walked up the hill from the Maplewood Residence Hall, where he is residence director for EMU undergraduate students. Miller came to the seminary after several years as a teacher at Lancaster Mennonite School and in public educational settings in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n

And then there\u2019s Kathryn Fenton, of Harrisonburg, who created\u00a0seven mixed media paintings based on the principles of Mennonite faith to partially fulfill thesis requirements for a master\u2019s degree in religion<\/a>. And Misty Wintsch, a Church of the Brethren pastor from Pennsylvania, whose ministry specialization project for her master\u2018s degree in church leadership<\/a> included studying about and performing funerals for the \u201cunchurched.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are a fraction of the various stories that could be shared about this year\u2019s graduating class of 33, the largest since 1988.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is sorrow in letting go of such a large and gifted class of graduates,\u201d said Michael A. King<\/a>, vice president and seminary dean. \u201cYet the very qualities that make it hard to see them go underscore the great gifts of ministry, leadership, and authentic relating they\u2019re primed to share with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Twenty-five students received master of divinity degrees, with five of these also receiving dual master\u2019s degrees in conflict transformation or counseling<\/a>. Four students received a master\u2018s degree in church leadership and four students received a master\u2018s degree in religion.<\/p>\n

\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. L. Gregory Jones, of Duke Divinity School, gives the commencement address. (Photo by Jon Styer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Additionally, nine students received certificates in ministry leadership<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Religious backgrounds and affiliations varied, including Mennonite, United Methodist, Church of the Brethren, Presbyterian, and non-denominational. The class includes students from India, Honduras, and Chile.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is challenging to do what you are going forth to do,\u201d said L. Gregory Jones, PhD, professor of theology and Christian ministry at Duke Divinity School. His commencement address, \u201cFor Such a Time as This,\u201d was based around the Biblical book of Esther and suggested that perhaps these graduates were prepared for just this moment in the church.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod raises up people like you in order to do things you would never have done,\u201d he said. Jones encouraged graduates to practice fasting and spiritual disciplines, hospitality and peacemaking \u2013 practices that will provide spiritual sustenance in challenging times.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a responsibility to God who calls us to become what we are not yet,\u201d said Lizzette Hernandez, class president, speaking to the ongoing journey that continues after commencement. \u201cWe respond to God so that we can minister, not to the church that is, but to the church that will be.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Gordon Meriwether first began attending Eastern Mennonite Seminary, he wanted to earn a master of divinity degree. Then the United Methodist pastor, who is also a 31-year U.S. Navy ... read more about Eastern Mennonite Seminary graduates 33 students, the largest class since 1988<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24046,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4515,266,5583,12503,16077,264,265],"tags":[6681,10576,13723,6834,16653,16655,16658,12293,9525,16654],"feature":[],"class_list":["post-24044","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academics","category-alumni","category-campus-community","category-cjp","category-commencement-alumni","category-graduate-programs","category-seminary","tag-church-of-the-brethren","tag-duke-divinity-school","tag-eastern-mennonite-seminary","tag-eastern-mennonite-university","tag-gordon-meriweather","tag-kathryn-fenton","tag-lizzette-hernandez","tag-michael-a-king","tag-seth-miller","tag-united-methodist-church"],"yoast_head":"\nEastern Mennonite Seminary graduates 33 students, the largest class since 1988 - EMU News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/emu.edu\/now\/news\/2015\/eastern-mennonite-seminary-graduates-33-students-the-largest-class-since-1988\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Eastern Mennonite Seminary graduates 33 students, the largest class since 1988 - EMU News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"When Gordon Meriwether first began attending Eastern Mennonite Seminary, he wanted to earn a master of divinity degree. 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