• William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music, and the speaker gives a word of prayer (00:00-02:06). Lolley declares the beginning of the 35th academic year, and he recognizes some of the emerita faculty present in chapel (02:07-04:54). Dean Morris Ashcraft presents the Award for Faculty Excellence to Delos Miles, professor of Evangelism (04:55-08:05). John R. Morsette, Chairman of the Seminary Development Counsel, presents a check to Miles for his teaching service, and Lolley speaks about how Miles has remained headstrong through the death of his two brothers (08:06-10:45). Ashcraft delivers the Scripture reading from Matthew 19:16-20:16 (10:46-13:43). A soloist sings a song of worship (13:44-17:31). Lolley delivers an expository convocation address on the story of the rich young ruler and the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, and he reminds the audience of Christ’s generosity and his covenantal promises (17:31-37:48). Lolley concludes with a word about the Peace Committee in the Southern Baptist Convention, and he offers his theological solution in four words: Jesus Christ is Lord (37:49-41:44). The service ends with a word of prayer (41:45-42:27).
Vernon Thompson was a Master of Divinity student and pastor of Calvary First Baptist Church in Durham, NC. The service begins with piano music (00:00-03:32). The speaker reads from the Scriptures, and he gives a word of prayer (03:33-04:48). Announcements are given about the student revival, and Master of Divinity students Cathy Maynard and Vernon Thompson are introduced as the revival speakers (04:49-06:06). Cathy Maynard shares her testimony (06:07-11:30). Master of Divinity student Mike Gibson sings a song on the piano (11:31-14:43). Thompson reads from 2 Chronicles 7:14, and he speaks on the requirements of God, to seek justice and mercy (14:44-27:31). The service ends with a word of prayer (27:32-28:44).
Sara Ann Hobbs was the Director of the Division of Missions for the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. The service begins with a responsive reading (00:00-01:10). The speaker gives a word of prayer (01:11-05:10). Sara Ann Hobbs is introduced as the chapel speaker (05:11-07:00). The choir sings a song of worship (07:01-11:21). Hobbs’ sermon is about being called to ministry, and she says that the call of God is relational, a daily response, and does not require location or preconditions (11:22-24:27). Hobbs ends the service with a word of prayer (24:28-25:00).
Jack G. Green was a missionary to Korea. The service begins with President Randall Lolley delivering a Scripture reading from Philippians 4, and he gives a word of prayer (00:00-02:52). Jack G. Green is introduced as the chapel speaker (02:53-05:10). The choir sings the anthem (05:11-08:53). Green delivers a sermon on the importance of witness bearing without fear, and he shares the story of a girl who potentially shared the gospel before her plane was shot down (08:54-31:44). Green ends the service with a word of prayer (31:45-32:36).
The guest speaker for the SEBTS Convocation on Women in Ministry was Letty M. Russell who was Professor of the Practice of Theology at Yale Divinity School (00:00-03:41). The title of Russell’s convocation speech is “Woman in Ministry: Problem or Possibility,” and she states that her attention will be focused on what has been called the “Strasbourg Shift” (03:42-12:05). Russell believes that men in the church view the creation order as a pyramid of domination with men above women in the hierarchy, and this domination has been masked by the label of maintaining orthodoxy even though both sexes have been called into one ministry and one baptism (12:06-19:51). She examines the abuse of the hierarchical structure of Reformed ecclesiology, and she offers other paradigms that celebrates diversity, humility, and inclusiveness and creates order through a synergetic spectrum (19:52-28:48). Russell states that ministry should be defined through servanthood, specifically the humble posture of Christ as the servant and liberator (28:49-37:56). Russell concludes her convocation speech by speaking on the pinnacle complex, and she says, “we must let Pharaoh go and embrace the rainbow” (37:57-47:15).