Commencement 2009 2nd webpage
May 12, 2009
Graduating class enters St. Matthew's sanctuary
Dr. Russell Schulz led music
Rev. Canon Robertson presenting sermon
Name of each graduate like Liz Powell was called out
Roxanne Ruggles and Bp. Wimberly - friends from Lexington
Barbara Rusling - first MCPC graduate
Gayle McCarty - one of ten MDiv graduates
Rev. Charles James Cook - honorary DD degree
J. Keith Miller - honorary DHL degree
Carrielu Christensen - Trustees' Award 2009
Retired Bishop Don Wimberly's last Commencement
Doug & Robi Lasiter with Everett & Kristin Lees
Billy & Laura Tweedie with Laura's parents
LSPS graduates with faculty, staff & bishop
Seminary of the Southwest faculty
Theology Professors Tony Baker and William B. Green
"You are gifts to one another."
"You are not God and don't have to try to be. What you are is God's beloved," said the Rev. Canon C.K. Robertson, Ph.D., to graduating students of Seminary of the Southwest during their May 12 commencement.
The Canon to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church cited Scripture - "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger." "How difficult this is, and yet make no mistake, whatever your ministry will be, wherever God's work leads you, that listening, that bridge-building is part and parcel of that work," he said.
Robertson concluded his commencement sermon ("Look Back, Face Front, and Give Thanks!") by reading the name of each graduate and asking those in attendance to "say out loud in words and phrases what it is you are thankful for in that person."
Southwest graduated 26 seminarians including Barbara Rusling - the first to receive the seminary's master of arts in chaplaincy and pastoral care (MCPC) degree. That program precedes the newest addition to the Southwest curriculum - the master of arts in spiritual formation degree that debuts this fall. Ten of her classmates were awarded other lay master's degrees in counseling and pastoral ministry. Ten other seminarians received master of divinity degrees and five completed course work for a diploma in Anglican or theological studies.
Two residents of Austin received honorary doctoral degrees.
The Rev. Charles James Cook, who retired from full-time teaching at Southwest last December, received the doctor of divinity degree. "Passionate educator, exemplary servant leader and folksy Texas Panhandle prophet, you have nurtured countless ministries while enriching Seminary of the Southwest for nearly a quarter century," read the citation that accompanied Cook's honorary degree. "Servant leadership is foundational to your teaching as well as your life ... The relationship between faith and books of fiction - especially in the writings of Southern authors like Walker Percy - also informs your teaching. You celebrate and delight in sharing the joyful link between what is said through fiction and the study of theology and relationship between God and humankind. When you begin a sentence by saying "In the words of the great Southern writer" an epiphany always follows. read entire citation
J. Keith Miller, author of books such as The Taste of New Wine and A Hunger for Healing, was honored with the doctor of humane letters degree. "Passionate Christian, eclectic writer, marketplace apostle, dynamic public speaker and gifted counselor, you thrive on leading people to God," read his citation. Miller wrote "the immensely popular The Taste of New Wine - that has sold two-and-a-half million copies and been translated into eleven languages," the citation continues. "Since then you have written or co-authored another twenty-three books on topics ranging from Christian living, addiction/co-dependence and self-realization to spiritual formation, devotion and entrepreneurial business. While your writing and speaking are impressive, your ability to fully accept and love people - all people - is phenomenal. Authentically humble with bedrock honesty, you live out and model the Christian life everywhere with everyone. You truly care for and want to help all you come to know." read entire citation
Veteran trustee Carrielu Christensen, also of Austin, received the 2009 trustees' award for her three decades of "energetic, faithful, forthright and generous" service to Southwest. Her citation continues - "Two particular skills personify you, Carrielu. You adeptly practice hospitality on behalf of the seminary. You share the enthusiasm you have for Southwest by introducing the myriad folk you know to our seminary and its people. Your legendary gifts of interior design shine in the new Scott Field Bailey Center at Rather House. You led the renovation project's decorating team and devoted countless hours from designing rooms to the minutiae of hanging framed photographs, dusting shelves and cleaning up after construction was done." read entire citation
James Avery, the noted designer of a range of religious jewelry, returned to the Southwest campus to present seminary crosses to graduating students during the Evensong that preceded commencement day. The seminary has been giving Avery crosses to its graduates for decades and conferred an honorary doctor of humane letters degree on the designer two years ago.
