Robert T. Handy was Professor of Church History at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The service begins with organ music (00:00-06:55). Glenn T. Miller gives a word of prayer (06:56-07:31). Robert T. Handy is introduced as the Carver-Barnes Lecturer (07:32-08:10). Handy begins his lecture by stating his theme of religious liberty and the dynamics of history (08:11-10:06). Handy examines the history of religious freedom from English Baptist Separatism to the establishment of the First Amendment, and he speaks about the challenges facing religious freedom today (10:07-52:36). Miller ends the service with a few announcements (52:37-53:45).
Audio quality is choppy and poor in certain parts. Louis McBurney was a clinical psychiatrist and leader of the Marble Retreat. The service begins with organ music (00:00-07:04). The speaker gives a word of prayer (07:05-08:28). Louis McBurney is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (08:29-12:28). The theme of McBurney’s lecture is “The Need for Intimacy in Ministry.” The first part of the lecture is about the many aspects of regular human intimacy, and the second part is about the ministry navigation of intimacy between the minister and their congregants (12:29-48:17). The service ends with a word of prayer and a benediction (48:18-49:23).
Bob Spinks was an administrator at Southeastern Seminary and the founding Director of Development for the Wake Forest University Divinity School in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The service begins with a Scripture reading from Romans 12:9-18 (0:00-1:23). Prayer is asked for seminary friends and their needs, and the congregation is lead in prayer (1:24-4:18). Spinks reads Scripture from Isaiah 9 and Romans 14 (4:19-6:01). Spinks shares about the past season of his life (6:02-15:42). Spinks about the prioritizing spiritual peace above political or cultural peace (15:43-23:50). Spinks ends the service with a moment of prayer (23:51-24:20).
Neal Jones was a pastor at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church, VA. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:30). The speaker gives a few announcements, and Neal Jones is introduced as the chapel speaker (05:31-07:48). Jones delivers the Scripture reading from Luke 19:1-10 (07:49-09:41). The choir sings the anthem (09:42-13:12). Jones looks at the call and conversion of Zacchaeus, and he speak about the experience of being born again while asking the audience to recommit their lives to Jesus (13:13-38:00).
Chauncey Rakestraw Daley was editor of The Western Recorder in Kentucky. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:01:24). The speaker reads from Psalm 139 and 2 Timothy 2, and he gives a word of prayer (0:01:25-0:06:53). Another speaker announces the giving of a gift from the 1981 class to former professor Roy B. Wyatt (0:06:54-0:07:55). President Randall Lolley welcomes everyone to the second December commencement in the school’s history, and he introduces Chauncey Rakestraw Daley as the commencement speaker (0:07:56-0:13:56). Daley opens his sermon with a word of gratitude to the seminary (0:13:57-0:18:30). Daley shares the story of a man who tried to be a witness at every opportunity, and he reads Jeremiah 12:5 (0:18:31-0:24:47). Daley’s sermon speaks about the new challenges of ministry in Baptist life, and he tells the graduates that their first responsibility will be to be in the word and preach the gospel faithfully (0:25:48-0:41:46). Lolley recognizes all the family and friends of the graduates (0:41:47-0:42:43). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (04:42:44-0:44:56). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:44:57-0:54:38). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (0:54:39-0:56:55). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:56:56-0:59:19). The service ends with a word of prayer (0:59:20-1:01:05).
Audio quality is poor in some parts of the recording. E. Eugene Puckett was Editor of the Biblical Recorder. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:01:26). The speaker delivers the Scripture readings from Joel 2:28-32 and Acts 2:1-8, and he gives a word of prayer (0:01:27-0:07:55). President Randall Lolley welcomes everyone to commencement (0:07:56-0:09:50). One of the graduates, Patty Tillman Simpson, gives an announcement, and Lolley presents Dean Morris Ashcraft to present awards (0:09:51-0:11:08). Ashcraft presents awards for outstanding academic achievements (0:11:09-0:19:33). Lolley introduces two students, Mike Dean and Harold Johnson, for a special presentation (0:19:34-0:20:24). Dean and Johnson present a $1000 endowment in the name of James H. Blackmore for the Southeastern Library (0:20:25-0:21:55). The James H. Blackmore scholarship fund is presented (0:21:56-0:29:55). R. Eugene Puckett is introduced as the commencement speaker (0:29:56-0:33:22). The choir sings the anthem (0:33:23-0:37:50). Puckett delivers a sermon entitled “Where the Spirit of the Lord Is,” and he gives four observations on Acts 2:1-8: the Spirit of the Lord produces unity, the Spirit of the Lord gives understanding, the Spirit of the Lord gives right attitude, and the Spirit of the Lord produces lasting results (0:37:51-0:59:12). The service ends with a word of prayer (0:59:13-1:00:30).
Daniel Carro was the Professor of Philosophy, Greek, and Hermeneutics at the International Baptist Theological Seminary in Buenos Aires. The service begins with organ music (0:00-2:29). There is a moment of prayer (2:30-4:49). Daniel Carro is introduced as the chapel speaker (4:50-5:41). The choir sings an anthem (5:42-8:12). Carro reads Scripture from I Corinthians 13 and has a moment of prayer (8:13-9:35). Carro speaks about the importance of a minister to place wisdom above knowledge, “to know how to be the right person in the right moment” (9:36-16:25). Carro argues that faith links one to his past and helps him recognize his heritage (16:26-20:41). Carro speaks on how hope links one to his future, and he uses historical accounts to show that God cannot be mocked (20:42-25:17). Carro argues that love links one to his present (25:18-30:21). The service closes with a benediction (30:22-30:49).
J. W. Hutchens, Jr. was Director of Evangelism for the North Carolina Baptist Convention. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:12). The speaker delivers a call to worship, and he gives a word of prayer (04:13-05:46). J.W. Hutchens, Jr. is introduced as the chapel speaker (05:47-06:34). The choir sings a song of worship (06:35-10:37). Hutchens begins his sermon by reading from Mark 10:46-52 (10:38-12:38). His sermon is about the healing of Blind Bartimaeus, and he says that the questions Jesus asked Bartimaeus are the same questions he is asking of those who follow him in as they go about their daily lives in service to others (12:39-28:25). Hutchens ends the service with a word of prayer (28:26-29:22).
Robert D. Dale was Associate Professor of Pastoral Leadership and Church Ministries. Dale opens the service with a word on the importance of building altars through memories (00:00-06:38). M.Div graduate Keith Taylor speaks on the memories he has made at Southeastern and the importance of bringing sacrifices to the Lord (06:39-11:09). M.Div graduate Paul Joseph sings “To God be the Glory” as a way of showing gratitude to God for his guidance through seminary (11:10-16:07). Dale closes the service with a final word on meeting God at altars and a word of prayer (16:08-19:21).
Claude Y. Stewart Jr. Was the Professor of Theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-3:20). An announcement is made for the cantata (3:21-3:40). There is a Scripture reading and a word of prayer (3:41-5:20). There is a Scripture reading from the New Testament (5:21-7:33). The congregation is led in the Lord’s Prayer (7:34-8:12). Stewart speaks of the confession of Christ being the Son of God, saying the church uses Scripture to remember not to confess (8:13-11:12). Stewart discusses the various confessions, namely the confessions that Christ and His message are agelessly the same (11:13-30:40). The choir sings a song of worship (30:41-33:24). There is a benediction to conclude the service (33:25-34:06).
