2023 Spring Commencement
Saturday, May 20, 2023 | 10 a.m.
Dayton Vineyard Church
4081 Indian Ripple Road
Beavercreek, OH 45440
Please turn off all cell phones and other devices which may disturb the ability of others to participate prayerfully in the liturgy.
The asterisk (*) indicates that you are invited to stand for that portion of the liturgy.
PRELUDE Oakwood Brass
*THE ACADEMIC PROCESSIONAL
*OPENING SENTENCES Dr. Tesia Mallory, Dean of the Chapel
Alleluia! Christ is risen! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUIA! Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE AND TO THE LAMB BE PRAISE AND HONOR AND GLORY AND POWER, FOR EVER AND EVER! [1 Cor. 15:57] [Revelation 5:13]
*HYMN , Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
Verse 1
Joyful, joyful, we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love; hearts unfold like flowers before thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away. Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
Verse 2
All thy works with joy surround thee, earth and heaven reflect thy rays, stars and angels sing around thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, chanting bird and flowing fountain, call us to rejoice in thee.
Verse 3
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blest, well-spring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Thou our Father, Christ our brother, all who live in love are thine; teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Verse 4
Mortals, join the mighty chorus which the morning stars began; love divine is reigning o’er us, binding all within its span. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife; joyful music leads us sunward, in the triumph song of life.
*OPENING COLLECT Dr. Elvin Sadler, Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies
Let us pray together.
Almighty God, whose blessed Son our Savior Jesus Christ ascended far above all heavens that he might fill all things: Mercifully give us faith to perceive that, according to his promise, he abides with his Church on earth, even to the end of the ages; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
[Book of Common Prayer, Ascension Day Collect]
GREETINGS AND WELCOME
LESSON FOR THE DAY
1 Corinthians 1:1-30
Dr. Kent Millard, President
Sadell Bradley, MDiv Graduate
AWARDING OF THE HONORARY DOCTOR OF DIVINITY
President Millard
Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Bishop Thomas Bickerton, Resident Bishop of the New York Annual Conference and President of the United Methodist Council of Bishops
SERMON “Redemptive Interfacing” Bishop Bickerton
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
STUDENT AWARDS
Dr. Johnson
Dr. Scott Kisker, Associate Dean for Masters Programs
The William and Carolyn Anderson Applied Theology Competition
Frederick Osei-Manu
This award is given for a paper submitted in competition that demonstrates a student’s ability to think critically on theological issues he or she applies to contemporary social concerns. It is given through the generosity of Dr. William and Carolyn Anderson.
The Ruth Pippert Core Memorial Award Sungkyoon Park
To perpetuate Ruth Pippert Core’s lifelong interest in peace, unity and the arts, Professor Emeritus Arthur C. Core established this award to provide enrichment in the arts, ecumenics and aid to exchange students.
The Robert E. and Mary Elizabeth Cramer Award
Luke Billman
The Robert E. and Mary Elizabeth Cramer Award is given each year to an outstanding student who has completed two-thirds of the required semester hours for their degree to recognize and encourage academic achievement.
The Robert M. Daughtery Award
Rudy Draper
The Robert M. Daughtery Award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional promise for pastoral ministry.
The Harry L. Eckels Award
Ashley Weyant
The Harry L. Eckels Award is given each year to a person who has completed at least two-thirds of the required semester hours for their degree and who demonstrates stewardship of time, talent and money.
The Fellowship Seminarian Award
This award is given for outstanding leadership in music and/or worship arts.
The Hoyt Hickman Award
Joel Schutte
Pat Shope
The Hoyt Hickman Award for Outstanding Liturgical Scholarship and Practice is awarded by The Order of Saint Luke. The award is given to the graduating student who, in the judgment of the selection committee, both (1) has given evidence of a high quality of scholarship in the study of liturgy, and (2) is an effective leader of Christian worship.
The Missionary Interpretation Award
Ashray Matha
The Missionary Interpretation Award is given each year to assist a student in interpreting to the American Church its worldwide Christian responsibility. The award is made possible by an endowment established by the Youth Fellowship of the Memorial United Methodist Church, Silver Spring, Maryland.
The Kendall McCabe Award in Preaching
Steve RudisillThe McCabe Award in Preaching is given each year to a senior student in a United master's program. The awardee will demonstrate in a submitted sermon exegetical skill in interpreting the text and an awareness of the liturgical, congregational and missional context of the homiletical occasion. The award-winning sermon will serve as as exemplar of preaching as a liturgical act.
The Dr. Won Byung Roh Award Darren Jones
This award for excellence in pastoral care-giving is given to a student who demonstrates outstanding scholarship and practice in the field of pastoral care-giving and has completed two-thirds of the required semester hours for their degree.
The Dr. Hervin U. Roop Award Don Fitzgerald
Through the generosity of the late Hervin U. Roop, former president of Lebanon Valley College, an award is given to recognize and encourage students in the leadership of worship and the public reading of Scriptures.
The August Thomas Memorial Award
Anne Blasdel
The August Thomas Memorial Award is given to a student who shows special promise in church administration.
The Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel Award
Man Soon Kim
The Bishop Joseph H. Yeakel Award is presented annually to the student who shows special promise in ecumenical and social justice ministries. The award is made possible by a gift from the New York West Area of The United Methodist Church in recognition of Bishop Yeakel’s twelve years of distinguished episcopal leadership in that area.
The Corda E. Smith Award Michael Cyr
The Corda E. Smith Award is given every other year to a student who excels in the study of the New Testament in the Greek language.
DMin Outstanding Project in Church Renewal
Karynthia Phillips
The DMin Outstanding Project in Church Renewal award is given each year to a Doctoral student with an outstanding project in church renewal.
DMin Outstanding Project in Justice and Mercy
Eric T. French, Sr.
The DMin Outstanding Project in Justice and Mercy award is given each year to a Doctoral student with an outstanding project in justice and mercy.
DMin Outstanding Project in Proclamation of the Gospel
Leslie Tomlinson
The DMin Outstanding Project in Proclamation of the Gospel award is given each year to a Doctoral student with an outstanding project in proclamation of the Gospel.
ALUMNI/AE AWARDS President Millard Mrs. Harriet Watson, Director of Development and Alumni/ae Relations
Effective Ministry Award Rev. Justin Cason
Established in 1976, this award is given to a person who has developed outstanding new or unique ministries, who is engaged in a particular local expression of ministry and witness or who serves in challenging areas of ministry defined by characteristics such as geographic region or cross-cultural appointments.
Distinguished Alumna Award Rev. Dr. Vanessa Ward
Established in the mid-1980s, the Distinguished Alumnus/a Award honors those who have obtained denominational, ecumenical or professional distinction.
Outstanding DMin Alumna Award Rev. Dr. Sheila Bouie-Sledge
Established in 2012, this award honors those who have developed an outstanding program or ministry outreach as a result of effective work in United’s Doctor of Ministry program.
THE AWARDING OF CERTIFICATES
CERTIFICATE IN DISABILITY MINISTRY
Eugene A Bourquin
Patricia Duff
Elizabeth Klein
Amanda Stufflebeam
CERTIFICATE OF THEOLOGY AND MINISTRY
Steven D. Engle
Mary Jo Gould
Timothy Gurlea
James Holman
Patricha McDaid
Michelle Nelson
Christopher Trumbull
Magdalene Trumbull
Coleen Wilsdon
President Millard
Dr. Peter Bellini, Director of Non-Degree Programs
Episcopalian
Non-Denominational
Episcopalian
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
East Ohio Conference of The UMC
Western Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
Wisconsin Conference of The UMC
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
Kentucky Conference of The UMC
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
Michigan Area Conference of The UMC
THE AWARDING OF ACADEMIC DEGREES
Dr. Kent Millard, President
Dr. Vivian Johnson, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Dr. Scott Kisker, Associate Dean for Masters Programs
Dr. Elvin Sadler, Associate Dean for Doctoral Studies
Mrs. Harriet Watson, Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Mrs. Karen Clark, Registrar
MASTER OF MINISTRY
Jonathan Matthew Acord*
Marquita Elaine Batchelor
Maggie L. Burnes
Carl L. DeHaney, Jr.
West Virginia Conference of The UMC
Non-Denominational
Non-Denominational
Baptist
Derrick Lyshan Fields Baptist
Daisy Sarah Nyahei Gbloh*
Chaena Hollist
Amy Jo Longfellow*
Joseph Ndala Mulongo*
Gary Lewis Pemberton
Casey Swadley
Heather Renee Trahan
Sierra Leone Conference of The UMC
Non-Denominational
Non-Denominational
North Katanga Conference of The UMC
Non-Denominational
Missouri Conference of The UMC
Full Gospel Baptist
Karen Lynn Hunnicutt White Baptist
MASTER OF ARTS
Christine Doren
Charles E. Harper III
Michael Anthony King
David Seitz
The Global Methodist Church
Mississippi Conference of The UMC
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Western Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
MASTER OF ARTS IN CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES
Lynne Ann Foreman
Jacob Penvose
Mary Elizabeth Thomas*
MASTER OF THEOLOGICAL STUDIES
David Michael Coons
George S. Morrison
Samuel E Osborn IV
Curtis Alan Springer*
MASTER OF DIVINITY
JaNita J. Portis-Aikens
Luke Jason Billman
Melissa Sadell Bradley
Elizabeth E. Brake*
Kimberly Rose Bury
Keith Lawrence Collins
Jonathan Michael Cordle
Mark Johansen Crawford
Michael Napoleon Cyr
Kathryn-Cristina Elizabeth Dinkelacker
Rudy Lee Draper III
Jennifer Louise Dyer
Kelly Lauren Everling*
Donald A. Fitzgerald, Jr.
Melanie Rachel Hauser
Oaunwell Carrlo Heard
Darren W. Jones
Todd Wesley Jones
Rio Texas Conference of The UMC
Western Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
Assemblies of God
Vineyard Christian Fellowship
North Texas Conference of The UMC
Non-Denominational
Lutheran
Pentecostal/Apostolic
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
Susquehanna Conference of The UMC
Michigan Conference of The UMC
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Western Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The UMC
The Global Methodist Church
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
Non-Denominational
East Ohio Conference of The UMC
Florida Conference of The UMC
Baptist
Iowa Conference of The UMC
Baptist
Pentecostal
Michigan Conference of The UMC
Man Soon Kim Presbyterian
Karen Waters Moore
Jonathan E. Morris
Christina Diane Moyer
Atticus Trinity O’Brien*
Sungkyoon Park
Steven Smith Parker
Martin Larue Parr
Ja’Alycia LaNae Richmond
Marian Anjeanne’ Royston
John S. Rudisill
Joel M. Schutte
Patricia E. Shope
Steven D. Small, Jr
Ashley Nicole Weyant
RC White, Jr.
Yolanda White-Oliver
African Methodist Episcopal Church
Non-Denominational
Susquehanna Conference of The UMC
Arkansas Conference of The UMC
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
Western North Carolina Conference of The UMC
Susquehanna Conference of The UMC
East Ohio Conference of The UMC
North Alabama Conference of The UMC
West Ohio Conference of The UMC
The Global Methodist Church
Susquehanna Conference of The UMC
Susquehanna Conference of The UMC
Western Pennsylvania Conference of The UMC
Baptist
Great Plains Conference of The UMC
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Fresh Expressions and Church Renewal
Faculty Mentors: Michael Beck, DMin; Rosario Picardo, DMin
Jorge Agustin Acevedo
Lead Pastor, Grace Church, Cape Coral, Florida
Congregational Vitality: The Church’s Journey from Heroic Solo Leadership to Generative Team Leadership
Susan N. Arnold
Director of Congregational Development, The Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church, Alcoa, Tennessee
Cooperative Ministry: From Declining Multi-Church Congregations to Missional Partnerships
Larry David Frank, Jr.
Lead Pastor, Tremont United Methodist Church, Tremont, Illinois
Temples, Synagogues, and Tents: Toward a Wesleyan Ecclesiology of the Blended Ecology
Heather McIntyre Jallad
Fresh Expressions Specialist, The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Catalyzing Effective Discipleship: Fresh Expressions of Church in Post Christendom North Georgia
Aaron B. Kesson
Pastor, Durand First United Methodist Church, Durand, Michigan
Embracing the Digital Frontier: Equipping the Local Church to Cultivate Online Fresh Expressions
Blossom Victoria Matthews
Pastor, First United Methodist Church, and Assistant Director of Congregational Vitality, New Mexico Annual Conference, Hobbs, New Mexico
Spirit-Empowered Ministry: Liberating Ordinary Followers of Jesus to Participate in the Supernatural
Jeffery Dow Van Dyke
Lead Pastor, Nokomis United Methodist Church and Morrisonville United Methodist Church, Nokomis, Illinois and Morrisonville, Illinois
Abiding in Christ Through Prayer: The Pathway to Joy-filled Life
Sarah Beth Mayfield Wanck
Lead Pastor, Christ Church Quad Cities, East Moline, Illinois
Let Them Lead: Activating Young Adults as Innovators, Leaders, and Pioneers for Fresh Expressions and Church Renewal
Supernatural Ministry
Faculty Mentor: Frank Billman, PhD
Faculty Consultant: Scott Kisker, PhD
Terri Lynn McCarson
Teacher, Non-Profit Christian School, Lake City, Florida
Hearing the Holy Spirit: Teaching Youth the Ways the Holy Spirit Communicates
Prophetic Preaching and Praxis
Faculty Mentor: Brenda Braam, DMin; Kenneth Cummings, DMin; Robert Walker, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Al Kennon, DMin
Alverta Mae (Robbin) Boozer
Associate Minister / Special Projects Coordinator, The Tabernacle Baptist Church, Dayton, Ohio
A Ministry of Motherhood: Strengthening Marginalized Single Mothers Within the Church Relating to Grief, Parenting, and Leadership
Engaging and Growing Congregations through Creative Pastoral Preaching and Leadership Models
Faculty Mentor: Danielle Brown, DMin; Charles Goodman, DMin; Philip Pointer, DMin Faculty Consultants: Wendy Deichmann, PhD; Ian Edwards, DMin
Anthony Maurice Atkins, Jr.
Senior Pastor, Hebron Missionary Baptist Church, Longview, Texas
Let the Church Roll On: A Model for Congregational Stability in the Prescence of Pastoral Presence
Darlene D. Cook
Associate Minister, Little Zion Baptist Church, Oak Grove, Virginia
A Path to Better Health: A Self-Care Model on Burnout Through Leadership Training
Le'Roy F. Davenport
Senior Pastor, 16th Section M.B. Church, Starkville, Mississippi
Cultivating Community: A Model for Developing Interconnected Congregations in the 21st Century
Terrence Andre’ Evans
Pastor, Greater Ward Chapel AME Church, Columbus, Georgia
Grieving and Growing Together: The Significance of Relationship and Ritual in a Model on Congregational Communal Grief Practices
Micah Richard Gaines
Senior Pastor, Greater Christ Baptist Church, Detroit, Michigan
The Church Has Left the Building: A Model for Virtual Ministry in the Twenty First Century
Robert Tylonnie Jones
Assistant to the Pastor for Young Adults, Alfred Street Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia Building an Intergenerational Pastoral Support System: A Case Study of Pastor Robert C. Jones, Jr.
William Seth Martin
Lead Pastor, The Brook Community Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Willingness After What Has Been Witnessed: A Paradigm for Preaching on Justice and Reconciliation Following Social Unrest
Bonginkosi Siphosenkosi Mhlanga
Student Pastor, Saint Mark Baptist Church, Little Rock, Arkansas
Parental Discipleship: Equipping Parents with the Necessary Resources to Have the Confidence to Disciple their Students at Home
Jeremiah Lee Parks
Pastor, Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Owensboro, Kentucky
We Need You To: Strengthening Ministry Participation at the Temple Church, Nashville, TN
Leroy Rose, III
Senior Pastor, New Covenant Baptist Church, Orlando, Florida
Addressing Unhealthy Help Through Pastoral Preaching’s Impact on Grieving Congregants
Dairl L. Scott, Jr.
Pastor, Walls Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Charlotte, North Carolina
Developing a Discipleship Culture for Current Leaders in the Walls Memorial African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church
Bryant Lloyd Smith
Senior Pastor, Shiloh Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio
Organizational Unity: A Study on the Synergistic Relationship Between Pastor and Ministry Leaders
Jonathan Michael Smith Tennial
Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Good Grief: A Model for Pastoral Transition and Congregational Spiritual Health
Eddie Robert Williams, III
Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church, Chicago, Illinois
Say Bruh: A Model for Black Men Sharing Their Faith
Innovative Leadership: Building Leaders and Congregations for Effective Change
Faculty Mentor: Dexter Cannon, DMin; Charles Jackson, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Anthony Le Donne, PhD
Cassius Levan Barclay
Lead Pastor, Mount Zion AME Church, Winnsboro, South Carolina
The Development of a Training Model that Promotes Unity Among Multiple Generations in the Local Church
Tracey Patrice Fletcher
Reverend/Pastor, First St. Peter AME Church, Atlanta, Georgia
Developing a Church Administration Manual for Future New Pastors in the African Methodist Episcopal Church
Karynthia Glasper Phillips
Elder/CEO, Echoes of Hope, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee
A Culturally Congruent Mentoring Model for Innovative Black Women Efficacy in Leadership
Pastoral Care and Counseling
Faculty Mentor: Anita Coleman, DMin; Jonathan McReynolds, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Reggie Abraham, PhD
Sandra King Black
Conference Director of Christian Education, Leake Temple AME Zion Church, Anchorage, Alaska
Equipping Grandfamilies with the Tools That Will Bring Healing in a Discombobulated Family System
Sheena Marie Cameron
Pastor, Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church, Cleveland, Ohio
Increasing Awareness of Trauma-Informed Care Practices in The Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church
Jacqueline Yvonne Lynch
Pastor, Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church, Port Washington, New York
Empowering and Affirming Women of the AME Church Toward Serving in Leadership Roles in the Conference
Mario Kenyon Murphy
Chaplain, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), Norfolk, Virginia
Spirituality as a Coping Mechanism to Decrease Suicide Within the Military
Kathy Newton-Dunton
Pastor, Local United Methodist Church, Oxford, North Carolina
Staying Connected: Empowering the Local United Methodist Church to Thrive in the Face of Pastoral Itineracy
Van Lal Cung Nung
Pastor, Amarillo Falam Christian Church, Amarillo, Texas
The Value of Awareness: Biblical Youth Care and Counseling to Cross Culture Among the American Myanmar Community
Gardner C. Taylor Scholars: Prophetic Leadership – Social Justice and Political Action
Faculty Mentor: Leroy Cothran, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Harold Hudson, DMin
Richard L. Davis
Pastor, NuVision Community Church, North Chesterfield, Virginia
The Evolution of the Black Church: A Bold Methodology, From Enslavement to Self-Actualization
Tijuan “TJ” Debnam
Associate Pastor / Chaplain, Hospice, Nashville, Tennessee
Remembering Others: A Model for Prison Ministry Through the Love of Community in the Wake of Mass Incarceration
Pamela Peoples Haith
Chaplain, Union Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
From Brokenness to Wholeness: A Restoration Model to Assist Emotionally Abused Women Toward Wholeness
Randy Clark Scholars: Presenting the Gospel as Jesus Intended – In Love, Authority and Signs and Wonders
Faculty Mentor: Ian Dunn, DMin; Robert Sawvelle, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Andrew Park, PhD
Mina Attia
Senior Pastor and Founder, Celebrate Freedom Ministries, Miami, Florida
The Effectiveness of an Online Inner Healing Discipleship Program
Netra Eleanor Newkirk Boykin
Prophet, Koinonia Christian Center Church, Greenville, North Carolina
Principles and Protocols to Strengthen the Relationship Between the Pastor and Prophet in the Local Church
Seung Mok Choi
Senior Pastor, Albany Sarang Fellowship Korean Church, Albany, New York
Toward a Holy Spirit Movement in a Sub-Group of Cessationists in a Korean Immigrant Church
Patricia C. Friel
Supply Pastor, Crouse Chapel United Methodist Church, Chillicothe, Ohio A Look at Wesleyan Holiness: Help for a Hurting Community Today
Oyinkan Kokoricha
Teaching Assistant, Global Awakening Theological Seminary, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
An Examination of the Effectiveness of Discipleship Structures and Strategies Curriculum in Renewal Practices
Prophetic Activism: From the Cross to the Community
Faculty Mentor: D. Anthony Everett, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Xavier Johnson, PhD
Kymberley Clemons-Jones
Principal, The Restored Life Group, Valley Stream, New York
Encouraging Black Women to Embrace Their Legacy of Prophetic Activism Through Sharing the Faith Stories of Prophetic Women
Catina Joy Blackmon Jackson
Associate Minister, First New Birth Baptist Church, Somerset, New Jersey
Prophetic Activism: Bridging the Gap from Adolescence to Adulthood Through Spiritual Mentorship for Black Youth in Franklin Township
Enacting Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Beloved Community
Faculty Mentor: C. Anthony Hunt, PhD
Faculty Consultant: Lisa Hess, PhD
Eric T. French, Sr.
Pastor, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Louisville, Kentucky
A Personal Asset Development Program for Low-Income Families: A Pathway Out of Poverty Towards a Beloved Community
Walter Daniel Jackson, III
Reverend, Chase United Methodist Church, Chase, Maryland
Building Healthy Relationships Between the Church, Community, and the Police
Theodore R. Rollins, Jr.
Senior Pastor, Suwanee Worship Center United Methodist Church, Suwanee, Georgia
Growing Churches and Creating Beloved Community in a Post Covid World
Living the Historic Faith: Christian Wisdom for Today’s Church
Faculty Mentor: Justus Hunter, PhD; Bishop Michael Lowry, DMin; David Watson, PhD
Faculty Consultant: Vivian Johnson, PhD
Leslie Smith Tomlinson
Associate Pastor, First Methodist Church, Temple, Texas
Teaching Christian Theology of the Human Body for Education of Disciples in the Local Church
Effective Leadership for Creative Ministry in the Post-Modern Church
Faculty Mentor: Sir Walter Mack, Jr., PhD; Herbert Miller, II, DMin
Walter Scott Thomas, Jr.
Pastor, First Baptist Church of Steelton, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Developing Lay Leaders for Transitional Leadership at the First Baptist Church of Steelton
Sadler Fellows: Embracing the Shift: 21st Century Leadership Development for Innovation and Transformation
Faculty Mentor: David M. Nelson, DMin; J. Elvin Sadler, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Madeline Henners, DMin
Tajuan Kyles
Pastor, Ebenezer AME Zion Church, Waxhaw, North Carolina
Leadership in Reverse: A Model for Revitalizing Elderly Congregations
Marlene Peterson Lawson
Associate Minister, First Baptist Church of Highland Park, Landover, Maryland
A Model for Sabbath Rest: For Leaders Who Suffer from Compassion Fatigue
Rooted: Church Planting and Church Revitalization in Our Diverse World
Faculty Mentor: Rudolph Rasmus, DMin; Vance Ross, DMin; Lillian Smith, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Joni Sancken, PhD
Camisha Ayana Chambers
Associate Minister, IV-CHARIS, Cincinnati, Ohio Spiritual Cultivation and Trauma Healing Through Music Therapy
Joyce Ellen Lamison Hoile
Pastor, Henrietta United Methodist Church, Amherst, Ohio
A Faith That Lives: Awakening an Active Faith Through Innovative Technology
Angela M. Shadd Kittrell
Senior Pastor, Bowie United Methodist Church, Bowie, Maryland
A Shared Promised Land: The Church as Advocate for Just and Equitable Practices Around Community Revitalization and Gentrification
Femrono S. Wood
Assistant Pastor for Women and Mission, Bowie United Methodist Church, Bowie, Maryland
Transformative Ministry: Equipping Leaders Beyond the Pew for Transformation and Liberation
The Harold Hudson Scholars: Building Bridges for Church and Community Wholeness through Preaching, Christian Education, and Visioning Leadership
Faculty Mentor: Carl Solomon, DMin; Lisa Weah, DMin
Faculty Consultant: Kevin Taylor, DMin
Yolanda Ray Bethea
Associate Minister, New Psalmist Baptist Church, Baltimore, Maryland
From Alienation to Harmony: A Model in Family Reconciliation
Salome Daleng
Co-Founder / Director of Programs, Peniel Outreach Ministry International, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria Literacy Awareness as a Means of Economic Empowerment for Widows in Northern Nigeria
Ernest Hugh Dandrige
Senior Pastor, Union Baptist Church, Zanesville, Ohio
Becoming Fully Free: A Model for How the Church Can Mentor Ex-Offenders Through the Re-Entry Process
CERTIFICATE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT President Millard
Mary Louise Evans (1948-2023)
Lawrence Elliott Spann (1964-2022)
*HYMN God of Grace and God of Glory
Verse 1
God of grace and God of glory, on thy people pour thy pow’r; crown thine ancient Church’s story, bring her bud to glorious flow’r. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour.
Verse 2
Lo, the hosts of evil round us scorn thy Christ, assail his ways. Fears and doubts too long have bound us free our hearts to work and praise. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the living of these days, for the living of these days.
*DISMISSAL AND BLESSING
Verse 3
Cure thy children’s warring madness; bend our pride to thy control; shame our wanton, selfish gladness, rich in things and poor in soul. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal, lest we miss thy kingdom’s goal.
Verse 4
Save us from weak resignation to the evils we deplore; let the gift of thy salvation be our glory evermore. Grant us wisdom, grant us courage serving thee whom we adore, serving thee whom we adore.
Bishop Bickerton President MillardGlory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever.
Amen.
[Ephesians 3:20-21]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore.
Amen. [2 Corinthians 1:14]
*THE RECESSIONAL
Please remain at your seats until all the graduates have recessed.
Acknowledgments
Dayton Vineyard Church for hosting United’s 2023 Commencement
Steadi Readi for streaming the commencement festivities
Oakwood Brass for their gift of music
United’s Alumni/ae Association for sponsoring the graduating student reception
All the staff and faculty who contributed to the planning of Spring Commencement
Biography of Speakers
Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton was elected to the episcopacy in 2004 by the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference of The United Methodist Church. He is currently the Resident Bishop of the New York Area, which includes the New York Conference in the Northeastern Jurisdiction. In addition to his episcopal assignments, he is President of the Council of Bishops of The United Methodist Church.
Tom is a graduate of West Virginia Wesleyan College (BA degree in Sociology/Psychology), a graduate of Duke University Divinity School (MDiv), and a graduate of United Theological Seminary (DMin).
Tom was ordained elder in the West Virginia Annual Conference by Bishop William Boyd Grove in 1985. Following seminary, he served the Perry Memorial UMC in Shady Spring, West Virginia, for six years. During his time there the congregation grew from an average worship attendance of fifteen to 150. He then spent the next nine years serving as the Senior Pastor of Forrest Burdette Memorial UMC in Hurricane, West Virginia. During his tenure there, the congregation grew from 575 members to nearly 1,400. In 1998, he became the District Superintendent of his home area, the Northern District. He had just begun his seventh year as District Superintendent when the Northeastern Jurisdictional Conference elected him to the episcopacy in 2004.
Tom was first elected to Jurisdictional Conference at the age of 30 in 1988 and again in 1992. He was first elected to General Conference in 1996 and then to successive General Conferences in 2000 and 2004. He twice served as the Head of the West Virginia delegation. He served on the General Commission on the Status and Role of Women (1976-1980), the General Commission on Archives & History (1980-1988), and the General Commission on United Methodist Communications (2000-2004).
He enjoys golf, movies, professional baseball and football, college basketball, and travel opportunities with his family.
Sally Forbes and Tom Bickerton were married on August 16, 2003. They have four children: Elizabeth Anne, Thomas James II (“T.J.”), Ian Robert, and Nicholas Bruce.
Justin Cason is a graduate of the United Class of 2019. He is madly in love with Jesus, his beautiful wife Sarah, and two girls, Alaina and Chloe. He is passionate about reaching people for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and doing anything short of sin to bring people back into relationship with God. In following this, he has been exploring on-line and digital presence for Jesus to reach those afraid, hurt, or disillusioned with the traditional church. He doesn’t believe this to be an either-or but a both-and exploration. He longs for all communities to have phygital ministry!
Similar to the printing press, voice amplification, and the organ, Justin believes that innovation is not something to be excluded from the church, but instead something to be used to reach new people with the Gospel message. Through MUMC Online, The Couch Service, and Living Room Church VR, he seeks to use technology to connect digital natives to the God who loves them.
In his very little spare time, you might find him disc golfing, participating in ren faires, hanging out with his girls, or reading. He enjoys good conversation and helping others, so look him up if you want to discuss any of the above.
Reverend Vanessa Oliver Ward is the President of the Omega Community Development Corporation (Omega CDC) and Pastor Emerita of the Omega Baptist Church.
As President of the Omega CDC, she oversees the organization’s mission of providing services that help to develop and improve the lives of the youth, the families and the community of Northwest Dayton. Under her leadership, the Omega CDC served as co-developer with MVAH, aka Pivotal, in the construction of a 81-unit, $13 million dollar affordable senior housing facility, Omega Senior Lofts, and as developer of the $11 million dollar Hope Center for Families which focuses on 2-Generation whole family wellness in Northwest Dayton.
Partners of the Hope Center for Families include Dayton Children’s Hospital, Sinclair Community College, Mini University, and Omega CDC. Omega CDC was recently awarded a $28.7 million Promise Neighborhood Grant from the U.S. Department of Education, which will serve as a major accelerator to the work Omega CDC has led, driving improved educational and social outcomes specifically for children and families in Northwest Dayton, where the need for investment is great.
Rev. Dr. Sheila Bouie-Sledge an ordained minister in The United Methodist Church (UMC), is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, where she is Senior Pastor of North Park United Methodist Church.
Her natural talents in speech and theater led her to study at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree and toured Europe in USO programs. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resources from St. Louis University, a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. She was a recipient of the Rosenbaum Fellowship of Transformative Kabbalah.
Prior to her appointment to North Park UMC, she served as Associate Pastor at Salem UMC in the Ladue community for twelve years. In this role, she established two new initiatives, The Many Faces of Fashion and Salem's Justice Ministry Team.
As her doctoral project at United Theological Seminary, she founded the non-profit organization "My Diversity Circle, LLC" in response to the 2014 Ferguson riots in St. Louis. "My Diversity Circle" promotes the creation of a circle of friends of various ethnic, racial, religious, age, and gender backgrounds.
Rev. Dr. Sledge served as the Chairperson for the Commission on Religion and Race (Values Team) for the Missouri Conference of The UMC. Additional work in justice ministry includes membership in Arts and Faith, a sub-committee of the Interfaith Partnership Inc. of St. Louis. Through her membership, she participates in partnerships across lines of religion while fostering understanding and respect of all ethnic communities.
Thank you for attending the Commencement Celebration for 2023 Graduates
Graduates and guests are invited to a reception immediately following the ceremony.
