William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service opens with President Lolley giving a word of prayer (00:00-01:15). Lolley opens Southeastern’s 31st academic year (01:16-02:19). Professor Daryl Trotter reads from Isaiah 6 and Ephesians 4 (02:20-05:27). Morris Ashcraft and Delos Miles are presented to sign the Abstract of Principles, and Lolley introduces the adjunctive faculty (05:28-10:56). A woman sings a song of worship (10:57-16:45). Lolley reads from John 8:32, and he begins his sermon by speaking about the metaphor of “holding onto the moonbeam” (16:46-27:30). Lolley argues that Jesus Christ has come to transform religion, and he concludes his sermon by talking about Baptists as free church people (27:31-38:56). The service ends with a word of prayer (38:57-39:38).
Lloyd Elder was the President of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The service begins with organ music (00:00-02:17). President Randall Lolley delivers the Scripture reading from Matthew 6, and he gives a word of prayer (02:18-03:48). Lloyd Elder is introduced as the chapel speaker (03:49-06:42). The choir sings the anthem (06:43-10:18). Elder begins his sermon by giving a word of appreciation to the leaders of Southeastern for the invitation to speak, and he reads Matthew 7:24-27 to set up the theme for his message, “Foundations for Ministry” (10:19-14:15). Elder gives five foundations that those in ministry are supposed to live out, and they are to hear the words of Jesus Christ, be obedient to the words of Jesus Christ, build our lives wisely on the solid rock of Jesus Christ and his word, realistically face the hardships of life, and let Christ build character (14:16-41:24). Elder ends the service with a word of prayer (41:25-42:16).
Carl E. Brinkley Jr. was the pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The service begins with a call to worship and a Scripture reading from Exodus (0:00-1:54). There is a moment of prayer (1:55-3:27). Someone shares a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. (3:28-6:52). Carl Brinkley is introduced as the chapel speaker (6:53-8:14). Brinkley begins his presentation by reading the verses from “To God Be the Glory” (8:15-9:25). Brinkley expresses his thanks for the opportunity to speak and the impact that Southeastern has had on him (9:26-11:44). He desires for the congregation to welcome each other (11:45-12:26). Brinkley reads from Acts (12:27-13:30). There is a moment of prayer (13:31-14:04). Brinkley speaks of celebrating the dream of Martin Luther King Jr. Voluntarily, understanding the dream and the dreamer (14:05-29:42). There is a prayer of benediction (29:43-31:02).
Rev. Dr. David Haxton Carswell Read was the senior pastor of Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, served as a chaplain during World War II, and was a National Radio Pulpit preacher. The service begins with a Scripture reading from John 1 and a word of prayer (0:00-1:23). A welcome is extended to the guests and attendants, and David H. C. Read is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (1:24-11:58). The choir sings an anthem (11:59-16:03). Read speaks about the definition of and theology of preaching (16:04-26:45). Read speaks about the Bible being the word of God, a way He communicates with man (26:46-40:03). Read speaks about the sacramental view of preaching, which means to use ordinary language to preach the profound truths of Scripture (40:04-46:38). The service is closed in prayer (46:39-47:10).
Raymond F. Allen was pastor of Blacksburg Baptist Church in Blacksburg, VA. The service begins with the speaker reading from John 4:27-42 (00:00-02:33). A word of prayer is given (02:34-04:55). Allen begins his sermon by giving a retelling of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 (04:56-13:43). He uses this story to talk to the pastors in the room about ministering to people like the Samaritan woman, and his main idea is Jesus knows everything about you and loves you for who you are (13:44-22:27).
Willard A. Brown, Jr. was pastor of Wake Forest Baptist Church. The service begins with the Lord’s Prayer and a responsive reading (00:00-01:09). Brown says the two greatest commandments while choir sings to the Lord, and it ends with a word of prayer (01:10-06:00). The choir sings multiple songs of worship while Brown does a responsive reading from selected passages in the Scriptures (06:01-11:50). Multiple songs are performed by the choir (11:51-17:44). Organ music is played (17:45-21:18).
B. Elmo Scoggin was Emeritus Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-5:52). There is a call to worship and a moment of prayer (5:53-7:19). Scoggin speaks about antisemitism in Germany (7:20-11:43). He discusses the moral topics of the view of the Jews, or God’s people, and the truth about God that they taught to the world (11:44-19:59). The service concludes with a blessing (20:00-20:40).
Morris Ashcraft was the Professor of Theology and the Dean of Faculty at Southeastern Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-3:18). There is a Scripture reading and a moment of prayer (3:19-9:15). Ashcraft speaks about Jesus’ inclusivity in His ministry contrasted with the exclusivity of the Pharisees and other religious leaders, and what God expects from Christians (9:16-30:48). Ashcraft closes the service with a moment of prayer (30:49-30:55).
Adrian L. Van Kaam was a Roman Catholic priest from Duquesne University. Susan Muto was the Director of the Institute of Formative Spirituality. The service begins with the reading of a hymn (0:00-0:52). There is a moment of prayer (0:53-1:30). The guests are welcomed, and announcements are given (1:31-3:10). Father Adrian L. Van Kaam and Susan Muto are introduced as the chapel speakers (3:11-6:24). Muto introduces their presentation by sharing the topic of spiritual formation and shares that they will use meditative reflection, an ancient practice for spiritual formation, giving examples (6:25-14:25). Muto has a moment of prayer (14:26-15:20). Muto shares about the usage of time in meditating on Scripture, emphasizing a separation from the political and worldly aspects of the world (15:21-17:49). Van Kaam speaks about the beauty of poetry, such as the Psalms, that cause one to have an experience (17:50-19:45). Van Kaam speaks about the term “formative spirituality” and the need for a continual reformation of the church (19:46-21:09). He explains the obstacles of formative spirituality, such as urgency instead of a prayerful presence of contemplation and argues that the whole of Christianity is a practice of listening to the Lord (21:10-29:02). They have a moment of stillness (29:03-29:20). Muto speaks of the film Van Kaam mentioned earlier, speaking about “knowing the external rules of religion” with a lack of deep spirituality (29:21-32:35). Muto walks through meditating as an example for the congregation, sharing that it takes weeks for one to become quiet enough to learn something about the Spirit (32:36-39:36). Van Kaam speaks about those who leave the church to pursue psychology or similar pursuits and the efforts of formative spirituality to prevent such a falling away (39:37-52:57). The service closes in a moment of prayer (52:58-53:57).
Thomas Furman Hewitt was the Professor of Christian Ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-7:17). There is a moment of prayer (7:18-8:02). A welcome is extended to the guests in chapel and new students are recognized (8:03-10:25). There are Scripture readings from Isaiah and Philippians (10:26-13:28). An award is presented to David Alan Sweat (13:29-14:58). Fred A. Grissom is inducted into ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (14:59-18:51). The visiting professors are recognized (18:52-21:02). Thomas Hewitt is introduced as the chapel speaker (21:03-23:29). Hewitt speaks of the technology of the time and humanity’s search for perfection (23:30-29:29). He speaks of the visions that ministers have of pastoral peace (29:30-30:32). Hewitt states that people do not live in such a world, as it is affected by evil (30:33-37:07). He speaks of the hope Isaiah had and the way one can have a hopeful perspective amid an imperfect world (37:08-48:30). There is a benediction from Numbers 6 (48:31-49:07).
