Linda Morgan was a Master of Divinity student who went on to become a United Methodist minister. She briefly speaks on the idea of commencement and how it is connected to change (00:00-06:43). She closes the service with a benediction (06:44-07:25).
John H. Westerhoff was Professor of Religion and Education at Duke University and an Episcopal priest. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:06:10). The speaker reads from the Scriptures and gives a word of prayer (0:06:11-0:07:29). John H. Westerhoff is introduced as the Spring Lecturer (0:07:30-0:09:17). Westerhoff begins his lecture by thanking God for everyone, and he introduces his topic of the process of education for catechetics (0:09:18-0:14:56). He believes that education should be modeled after a journey or pilgrimage with the right understanding of conversion and nurturing (0:14:57-0:20:05). Westerhoff begins with conversion, and he defines it as the opening of a new way of seeing the world and an ongoing process (0:20:06-0:37:12). Westerhoff speaks at length of remembering baptism and our perfection in Christ, and he argues that the gospel begins with grace and faithful living, not sin (0:37:13-1:00:55). The service ends with a benediction (1:00:56-1:01:31).
Archie Lee Nations was Professor of New Testament Interpretation. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:09:24). President Randall Lolley speaks about the publishing of a new book by a faculty member, and he gives a word of prayer (0:09:25-0:11:43). Lolley welcomes everyone to convocation, he gives some introductions for guests and the visiting and adjunctive faculty, and he makes announcements about evening classes (0:11:44-0:16:09). Dr. Robert Culpepper presents the Middler Theology Award to two students (0:16:10-0:18:57). Archie Lee Nations is introduced as the convocation speaker (0:18:58-0:22:51). The theme and title of Nations sermon is “Participation in Pauline Theology,” and he critiques two recent theories on the subject and concludes that Paul’s theology of participation with Christ is apocalyptic and symbolic in nature (0:22:52-1:05:15). Lolley declares the beginning of the Spring semester, and he ends the service with a word of prayer (1:05:16-1:05:55).
Leila and Paul Stennett were Master of Divinity students. The service begins with the song “Jesus Paid It All” being played on the organ (00:00-02:07). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading from Psalm 95, and a word of prayer is given (02:08-03:43). A song of worship is performed (03:44-07:23). Leila Stennett reads Psalm 139, and she reads a prayer about her spiritual growth towards God (07:24-12:58). Paul Stennett reads from John 14, and he delivers a sermonette about spiritual growth and knowing God (12:59-18:18). Leila Stennett ends the service with a benediction (18:19-18:47).
B. Elmo Scoggins was Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament. The service begins with organ music (00:00-03:11). The speaker gives a word of prayer (03:12-04:50). The choir sings a song of worship (04:51-10:30). Scoggins sermon is about the Holocaust and the humanity of the Jewish people, and he encourages the audience to not forget the evil committed in the Holocaust and to love the Jewish people as members of humanity (10;31-25:17). Organ music is played, and the service ends with a benediction (25:18-28:00).
William P. Clemmons was Associate Professor of Christian Education. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Psalm 139 (00:00-02:46). The speaker leads the audience in a responsive reading (02:47-04:36). Another speaker reads from John 15 (04:37-06:20). William P. Clemmons reads a prayer from the monk Thomas Merton, and he speaks on the importance of identifying ourselves with Christ, the one who emptied himself for us (06:21-16:01). Clemmons leads the audience in a moment of silence and a word of prayer (16:02-19:25).