Fletcher Farrar, Bethany Commencement Speaker

Bethany Theological Seminary Commencement speaker Fletcher Farrar, Moderator-elect of the Illinois-Wisconsin District, gave an address entitled “Nicodemus at Dawn,” based on the biblical texts of Isaiah 59:9-19 and John 3:1-10, at the academic ceremony. Farrar is the owner and editor of Illinois Times, a weekly newspaper in Springfield, Illinois, and the former editor of Messenger, the denominational magazine for the Church of the Brethren. Three members of the graduating class spoke at the afternoon service: Anna Lisa Gross, Kimberly Koczan Flory, and Larry Taylor. Their presentations were be based on the texts Proverbs 8:1-12 and Luke 1:76-79.

Ten students received master of divinity degrees, eight students received Master of Arts degrees, and two students received a certificate of achievement in theological studies.

On Saturday, May 7, Bethany Theological Seminary will celebrate her 106th commencement. Two observances will mark the occasion. A ceremony for conferring degrees took place in Bethany’s Nicarry Chapel, 615 National Road West, Richmond, at 10:00 am. A worship service, open to the public, was also held in Nicarry Chapel at 2:30 pm.