Moravian Seminary Honors Largest Graduating Class
Topping last year’s record, the largest graduation class in the 202-year history of Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, was honored at its commencement ceremony on May 16, 2009. Twenty-seven students received master’s degrees and certificates at the service held in Central Moravian Church in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
The 2009 honorary Doctor of Divinity degree was presented to the Rev. Dr. William Willimon for his enduring contributions to the vocation of pastoral ministry. Since 2004 he has served as Bishop of the United Methodist Church in North Alabama. For 20 years prior to that appointment he served as Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke Divinity School and as Presiding Minister in the Duke Divinity School Chapel (1989-2004).
Touching lives in the classroom and in lecture halls, Dr. Willimon’s impact on pastors, religious leaders, and congregational life grows exponentially when considering the influence of his publications. Author of nearly 60 books and over 600 articles, a 2005 study by the Pulpit and Pew Research Center found that Bishop Willimon is the second most widely read author by mainline Protestant pastors. Over a million copies of his books have been sold. In 1996, an international survey conducted by Baylor University named him one of the Twelve Most Effective Preachers in the English-speaking world. His honorary doctorate from Moravian is among the many honors he has received in the US and abroad in recognition of the influence he has had on the vocation of pastoral ministry.
In honor of his upcoming retirement, senior faculty member the Rev. Dr. Glenn Asquith, professor of pastoral theology, presented the Commencement Address entitled “Our Faith Narrative.” Dr. Asquith retires this summer after 31 years of teaching at the Seminary. During his tenure he shepherded and shaped the Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling program from its beginning in the early 1980s, a program that has enriched the vitality of the Seminary’s life, increased the diversity of perspectives in the classroom, and ministered to countless lives through the graduates of the Seminary. Dr Asquith was also instrumental in developing two dual degree programs with Marywood University in Scranton — the MDiv-MSW and the MAPC-MSW. Most recently, his leadership supported the development of the new graduate certificate in Formative Spirituality. His legacy to the field of Pastoral Counseling includes a four year term as co-editor of The Journal of Pastoral Theology and serving as one of the editors of a standard reference in the field, The Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling.
Elected by her fellow seniors, Vani Pradhan from Kathmandu, Nepal, gave the Graduate Address entitled, “Gifting,” which spoke of the gift of relationships during this time of study and throughout one’s life and ministry. Vani and her husband, Shanti, have been leaders in the emerging Moravian Church in Nepal and came to Bethlehem three years ago to earn their Master of Divinity degrees. Their international perspective and insights gained from working within a culture that often discriminates against Christians raised awareness and brought a richness to the Seminary community.
Twelve Moravians received degrees and certificates:
Southern Province
Two students from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, received Certificates in Theological Studies for completing specific programs of study required by the Moravian Church. Nola Knouse, of Home Church, graduated magna cum laude and was also honored with the Faculty Academic Award for outstanding academic achievement and creative scholarship. Nola will be completing her Clinical Pastoral Education at North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem this summer and will return to her position as Director of the Moravian Music Foundation. James Demby, from the Advent congregation, completed his Moravian year after earning an MDiv from Carolina Evangelical Divinity School in High Point, North Carolina. James looks forward to serving as a pastor in the Southern Province.
Canadian District
Trina Holmberg received her Master of Divinity and has accepted a call to serve as pastor of the Unionville Moravian Church in Unionville, Michigan. Trina has roots in the Heimtal and Bruderheim congregations in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Western District
Two graduates are members of the Sturgeon Bay Moravian Church in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Josh Viste received his Master of Divinity and will be serving an internship year at Christ Moravian Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Jill Kolodziej earned the Master of Arts in Theological Studies and will continue to serve as Mission Coordinator for the congregation, working with the young people of her church and community. She also works collaboratively with staff of the Board of World Mission to facilitate short and long term mission experiences for young adults, and is a partner in the development of their new residential service opportunities for young adults in Bethlehem and the Western District, the Moravian Mission Communities.
Member of the Main Street Moravian Church in Northfield, Minnesota, Christie Melby-Gibbons received her MDiv and graduated magna cum laude. She was honored with the John David Bishop Award, which recognizes superior record in scholarship, effective participation in the Seminary community, and personal qualities suited to ministry. Christie will serve as program director for Senior High camp at Laurel Ridge (a Moravian Church Camp located in Laurel Springs, North Carolina) this summer as she awaits a call to ministry in the Moravian Church and is particularly interested in residential missional community settings.
Eastern District
Eric Renner, a member of the Schoenbrunn congregation in New Philadelphia, Ohio, received the MDiv and was awarded the Moses Homiletics prize for excellence in preaching and practical pulpit work. Eric has accepted the call to serve as pastor at Shepherd of the Prairie in Fargo, North Dakota. He is married to Katie Sterner Renner, another member of the graduating class, who earned a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling and is a member of East Hills in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. After relocating to Fargo, Katie will seek a counseling position, preferably working with children and utilizing adventure-based therapy.
Jodie Lean Harney, a member of College Hill in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, received the MDiv and awaits a call to ministry in the Northern Province.
An approved candidate for new church planting in the Northern Province, Matt Gillard received the Master of Divinity. He has ties to the Advent congregation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Kernersville Moravian Church in North Carolina.
Nepal
Husband and wife, Shanti and Vani Pradhan from Kathmandu, Nepal, received their Master of Divinity degrees. Vani was honored with the Rev. Elmer Bender Memorial Award which recognizes a graduate who is preparing for ministry and displays outstanding leadership and pastoral qualities. After three years of study in Bethlehem, the Pradhans will return home to the Moravian Church in Kathmandu. They will serve as co-pastors and also provide leadership to the music school and will support new church planting activities.
Other Denominations
Moravian Seminary has a rich heritage of fostering an ecumenical student body. Graduates from other denominations who received the Master of Arts in Theological Studies included Jan Musser (Lutheran from Port Trevorton, Pennsylvania), James Darcy (UCC from Allentown, Pennsylvania) and Nicole Melara (Presbyterian from Shawnee-on-the-Delaware, Pennsylvania).
Recipients of the Master of Divinity included Debra Hess (UCC of Nazareth, Pennsylvania), Kevin Kinsey (Church of the Brethren from Wilmington, Delaware), Margaret Knapich (United Methodist from Clifford, Pennsylvania), Ruth Mosser (UCC from Fogelsville, Pennsylvania), Michele O’Connell (Unitarian from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania), Catherine Strouse (UCC from Kunkeltown, Pennsylvania) and Lori Van Keuren (United Methodist from Andes, New York).
The Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling was presented to Chrislyn Echols (non-denominational from Reading, Pennsylvania), Dody Freed (Lutheran from Nazareth, Pennsylvania), Susan Hanson (UCC from Chester Springs, Pennsylvania), Linda Staples (Methodist from Pottsville, Pennsylvania), and Pamela Ware (non-denominational from Hilltown Township, Pennsylvania).
We commend the hard work of each of our graduates and look forward to their leadership and unfolding ministries.
