Suzanne M. Davis was Associate Director of Student/Field Ministries. The speaker and audience read from John 1:1-14, and the speaker gives a word of prayer (00:00-02:24). The choir leads in a song of worship (02:25-06:57). Davis reads from Song of Songs 8:6-7 and John 13:34-35 (06:58-08:25). She warns against the use of mind games, and she explains that Jesus is calling us to a deeper love of neighbor and family (08:26-18:58). Davis ends the service with a benediction (18:59-19:40).
Thomas Albert Bland was Professor of Christian Ethics and Sociology. The service begins with a word of prayer and the singing of the doxology (0:00:00-0:01:47). Two speakers deliver the Scripture readings from Isaiah 6 and Acts 26 (0:01:48-0:12:33). President Randall Lolley welcomes all the guest to commencement, and he recognizes two international guests who have come to see their children graduate (0:12:33-0:15:51). Wayne Brown, representative of the senior class, announces the endowment of a fund to help and support students with physical handicaps in honor of Wes Williams, a former student (0:15:52-0:17:25). Thomas Albert Bland is introduced as the commencement speaker (0:17:26-0:17:52). Bland’s commencement address is about God’s call and its relation to missions and ministry, and he challenges the graduate to be faithful to Christ and to the gospel (0:17:53-0:30:44). Lolley recognizes the friends and relatives of the graduates, and he announces the conferment of the degrees (0:30:44-0:32:06). The Associate of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:32:07-0:34:17). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (0:34:18-0:36:21). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:36:22-0:52:13). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (0:52:14-0:54:39). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:54:40-0:59:14). The service ends with a word of prayer (0:59:15-1:01:41).
George W. Braswell, Jr. was Professor of Missions and World Religions. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:15). George W. Braswell, Jr. is introduced as the faculty lecturer (01:16-02:55). The choir sings a song of worship (02:56-07:02). Braswell begins his lecture by giving a summary of his topic about Islam in Iran (07:03-10:05). Braswell spends the majority of the first half of his lecture speaking about the checkered history of Christian-Muslim interactions, and he gives a list of perceptions Iranian Muslims have of American Christians (10:06-28:44). Braswell speaks about the future of Christian-Muslim relations in the second part of his lecture, and he discusses the political and religious changes taking place in the Middle East and the growing Muslim community in the United States (28:45-44:00). Braswell ends the service with a word of prayer (44:01-44:33).
Donald Hustad was the V.V. Cook Professor of Organ at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (00:00-06:34). The speaker gives a word of prayer (06:35-07:50). Donald Hustad is introduced as the Page Lecturer (07:51-10:20). The choir sings the anthem (10:21-12:08). The title of Hustad’s lecture is “Sing Unto the Lord an Old Song.” Hustad speaks about hymns and worship in the evangelical tradition, and he walks through the problematic history of abandonment of historic worship for newer songs and styles as a reaction against traditionalism and liberalism (10:21-48:20). Hustad leads the audience in the reading of a hymn, and he gives the scriptural and historical background of the hymn (48:21-51:09). Hustad ends the service with a recommendation for reading hymnals (51:09-53:01).
Robert T. Handy was Professor of Church History at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:34). The speaker gives a word of prayer (04:35-05:32). Robert T. Handy is introduced as the Carver-Barnes Lecturer (05:33-06:52). The title of Handy’s lecture is “Faith in Higher Education: Partners or Enemies.” Handy begins his lecture by narrowing his focus to Christian faith (06:53-07:51). Handy examines the tension of both the negative and positive relationship in history between faith and education, the sting of religion breaking into secular education, and the uncomfortable tension between faith and education in the individual (07:52-50:35). The service ends with a benediction (50:36-51:10).
Dr. Samuel Eugene Balentine was Associate Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament at SEBTS. The scripture reading came from Genesis 22:1-14 and 1 Corinthians 10:13. The theme of Dr. Balentine's message is God's provision, especially through his place as the God of Mount Moriah.