CELEBRATING THE CLASS OF 2026 LIFELONG FORMATION AT WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
The Commons is published twice each year for alumni/ae and friends of Western Theological Seminary, 101 E 13th Street, Holland, MI 49423. Reproduction in whole or in part with permission only.
Have a question or idea for a future article or story?
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The Commons Editorial Board:
Betsy Maxwell
Brent LaVigne
Rachel Dober
Felix Theonugraha
Rick Capotosto
Brenda Dieffenbach
Keith Starkenburg
Special Thanks to:
Sydney Huizenga, Rayetta Perez, Spark Creative Co., and all the authors who contributed to this issue.
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Generously Reformed
Alumnline News
Commencement Highlights
Friendship House Fellows
Lifelong Formation
Semester Highlights
Staff & Faculty Updates On to Glory
FROM THE PRESIDENT’S DESK
Rev. Dr. Felix Theonugraha
In every season, the people of God are called to bear witness to the living hope we have in Jesus Christ. In a world that can so often feel marked by division, uncertainty, or exhaustion, we cling to the assurance that resurrection is not only a moment in history but a pivotal point in human history. Because Jesus Christ has died for us on the cross, is risen from the dead, and has ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God’s renewing work continues, by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the life of the Church, among God’s people, and within each of us.
This spring, as our students crossed the stage at graduation, we once again saw the reminder of God’s renewing work. Each cap and gown represents a story of calling, perseverance,
and transformation. These graduates have been shaped by prayer, study, and community, and now go forth to serve God’s Church and world with courage and compassion. Rooted in Scripture, centered in Christ, and enlivened by the Holy Spirit, our graduates carry with them the same hope that has been faithfully cultivated within the Western Theological Seminary community.
We see the fruit of our mission in every graduate, every pastor renewing their call, and every congregation strengthened by Western alumni. Their lives proclaim that light still overcomes darkness, that compassion is stronger than fear, and that the Spirit continues to breathe new life into the weary and the waiting.
To all who partner with us through prayer, generosity, and encouragement, we say thank you. Your faithful partnership makes this transforming work possible. Together we share not only in the memory of resurrection, but also in its living reality as God continues to raise up leaders for a Church and world in need of hope.
May this season of commencement remind us all that God’s story is still unfolding—and that each one of us has a part to play in carrying forward the renewing power of Jesus Christ into the world He loves.
Sincerely,
Felix Theonugraha
Generously Reformed
Dr. Todd Billings
Gordon H. Girod Research Professor of Reformed Theology
BA Wheaton College
MDiv Fuller Theological Seminary
ThD Harvard University Divinity School
Dr. Suzanne McDonald
Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology
BA University of Western Australia
MPhil University of Oxford
MA University of Cambridge
PhD University of St. Andrews
Theology Rooted Deep and Reaching Wide
J. Todd Billings
Suzanne McDonald
Alberto La Rosa Rojas
Generously Reformed: Theology Rooted Deep and Reaching Wide, a book recently published by three Western Theological Seminary faculty, presents a biblical, historic, and
Dr. Alberto La Rosa Rojas
Director of the Hispanic Ministries
Program, Assistant Professor of Theology and Ethics
BA Trinity Christian College
MDiv Western Theological Seminary
ThD Duke Divinity School
ABOUT GENEROUSLY REFORMED
You are invited into this careful but accessible conversation where the authors address common misconceptions about Reformed theology and offer nuanced clarity on key concepts that are often misunderstood or oversimplified. They explore the breadth of the tradition by drawing on its historic expressions and attending to the diverse ways it has taken—and continues to take—shape across time, cultures, and contexts. Rather than treating doctrine as a detached choice or abstraction, they center theology on the Triune God’s redemptive story of grace, as we grow in maturity in Christ by the Spirit as witnesses to God’s gospel in the world.
For alumni and supporters who care deeply about the church’s witness and the formation of its leaders, this book engages the real questions that you—and our graduates—are encountering in ministry and daily life. Each chapter focuses on questions like “What is Reformed Theology Anyway?” or “Do Reformed Christians Care About Evangelism and Social Justice?” These are just a glimpse of the questions Generously Reformed addresses.
Drawing on voices from across the tradition and the global church, the book invites pastors, students, and thoughtful Christians to inhabit Reformed theology as a living, generous expression of the historic Christian faith: Christ-centered, Scripture-rooted, and alive with hope.
Thank you so much to BakerAcademic.com for the generous coupon code: COMMONS40
Valid: June 1-30, 2026
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Rev. Jake Chipka
MDiv. 2021
Associate Minister at Delmar
Reformed Church in Delmar, NY
While resisting the instincts of ecclesiological exclusivism, the authors invite us to consider church in a Reformed key first and foremost as the creature of God. From there, we fill the gaps with humility and generosity.”
Rev. Chris Walker
MDiv. 2017
Current WTS Counseling Program Student
This new book, Generously Reformed, paints a beautiful picture of our faith that is deeply rooted in scripture and tradition in a way that is generative and full of life for our present day.”
Rev. Anna Anderson
MDiv. 2022
Warehouse Campus Pastor, Pillar Church, Holland, MI
“I am tremendously grateful for this book as a resource to share with college-aged friends expressing curiosity about understanding the Reformed tradition as they look at seminaries. I needed a book like this when I was new to Reformed theology and worship during my undergraduate years, and the generous spirit of the book is both invitational and clear.”
Why write “Generously Reformed”?
by Dr. Todd Billings
Writing Generously Reformed was an act of love and gratitude. Over many years, students and alumni—serving in a wide range of churches and contexts around the world—asked for a resource that could articulate the “generously Reformed” vision that had shaped them in seminary. Many had been deeply formed by this tradition, yet found it difficult to point others to a clear expression of that posture after graduating. This book grew out of those conversations. It is also an expression of gratitude to God for the gift of the Reformed tradition itself—a tradition that continually directs us to God’s Word and work, emphasizes the priority of God’s grace, and reminds us that God’s hold on us in Christ, by the Spirit, is far greater than our hold on God.
Why is now the right time?
by Dr. Alberto La Rosa Rojas
Amid growing global interest in Reformed theology, many have encountered narrowed versions that flatten its richness and foster perceptions of rigidity, gatekeeping, and combativeness. Generously Reformed speaks into this moment by recovering a deeper vision—like a tree with deep roots and wide-reaching branches, grounded yet expansive. It invites readers to inhabit the tradition as pilgrims—formed by its confessions while journeying outward in faith, hope, and love for the sake of the church and the world.
Why will the book be impactful in the current atmosphere?
by Dr. Suzanne McDonald
We hope that our book will serve to dismantle some misconceptions and caricatures about what it means to be Reformed, for those outside our tradition and those within it, too! For folks who are curious and questioning, we hope we have offered an honest and hospitable introduction to aspects of Reformed theology. For those of us who are Reformed, we hope this will be a refreshing and generative resource for engaging with the kinds of questions we have all had or heard, and for reflecting on how the deep roots of our historic tradition can help us to live well as Reformed Christians today.
ALUMNLINE NEWS
Stanley Hagemeyer ‘65
Stanley Hagemeyer (MDiv ‘65 and DMin ‘88) has published an extensive historical novel, Ground Cherries of the Prairie. The book is about his grandparents’ first 50 years of marriage, their persistence in facing the turbulent economic era starting in 1915 driven by their faith and desire to survive. He shares, “Seeing that I am the only surviving member of that generation of cousins, I felt compelled to tell my grandparents’ story.”
Jim Zinger ‘73
Jim Zinger (MDiv ‘73) has retired.
Lisa Bolton-Hunt ‘12
Lisa Bolton-Hunt (DMin ’12) recently completed two terms as the Chairperson of the American Committee of the International Congregational Fellowship, having guided her team in the planning of three International Congregational Fellowship Quadrennial Conferences. She continues her work as an oncall night chaplain at University of Michigan Health Systems’ Sparrow Campus in Lansing, MI. Lisa recently celebrated 35 years as an associate of Sparrow, 20 of which have been as a chaplain.
Matthew Erickson ‘24
Matthew Erickson (DMin ‘24) published The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry with Eerdmans Publishers. The book was released in March 2026 and can be found on the Eerdmans website.
Joshua Brown ‘25
Joshua Brown (MA ‘25) published Veiled in Flesh: Advent Devotional Year One. It was released on October 21, 2025 and it is available on Amazon.
Gordon Laman ‘59
Gordon Laman (MDiv ‘59, ThM ‘70, and DMin ‘83) recently published A Clear Vision: The Motivation for Gordon D. and Evon Laman to Serve as Missionaries to Japan, 1959-2002 (The Missionary Memoirs Series of the Van Raalte Press). The book is available on Amazon, through Hope College, or from the author.
Jim DeVries ‘76
Jim DeVries (MDiv ‘76) retired n 2016 after 40 years in ministry. He served three years as pastor at New Baltimore Reformed Church in upstate New York, as Director of Pastoral Care for 37 years at hospitals in New York, Michigan, and New Jersey (23 of those years in Catholic sponsored hospitals).
David Grooters ‘86
David (MDiv ‘86) and Cindy (Pell) Grooters have been married 27 years. They raised two abandoned Chinese infant girls and just got their bathroom back this year!
Calvin VandeZante
‘76
Calvin VandeZante (MDiv ‘76) wrote, “Charlotte and I have been living in Grapevine, Texas since our retirement in 2015. We have three of our four children and all nine of our
grandchildren living nearby. We are very involved in our church and have had the opportunity to take several mission trips abroad, including two terms as dorm parents at a boarding school in Kenya.”
Darwin
VanderWal ‘76
Darwin VanderWal (MDiv ‘76) began his ministry in Zeeland, MI and throughout his career also served in Des Moines, IA, Munster, IN, and Kalamazoo, MI. Dar retired from ministry in December 2019, and now he and his wife, Kathy, live in Kalamazoo and spend their winters in Arizona. They have four children and 11 grandchildren who are the delight of their life.
Michael Van Buren ‘77
Michael Van Buren (MDiv ‘77) recently published Sustainable Church Growth: Identifying Success and Removing Barriers. This book helps answer the common question: “Why can’t we move beyond our current level of membership and influence in the community?” It emphasizes the partnership of connecting scriptural and organizational methods and the strategies to implement them successfully. (Available on Amazon.)
NERVOUS SYSTEMS
Sara Billups (DMin ’24, Peterson Center Sacred Art of Writing) has expanded her cohort writing project into Nervous Systems , weaving stories and sterling prose into a compelling invitation for us all to live well amid a world riddled with anxiety and fear. In a time when our nervous systems are constantly on edge, from personal struggles to cultural chaos, this book offers practical guidance and gentle wisdom to re-center our lives, and remind us of how hope is not fragile optimism but a sturdy anchor. Sara’s work equips us to embody Jesus’ resilient hope so we can navigate fear with clarity, courage, and Christ-centered calm.
Scan the QR Code to Learn More
THE SACRED THREAD
WTS Alumni Brad Gray and Brad Nelson, along with their team at the non-profit organization, Walking The Text, recently released a beautiful, new seven-part documentary series titled The Sacred Thread: Season 1 on Angel Studios.
We praise God for the outstanding work of our alumni throughout the country and the world. We pray that the Holy Spirit uses this series to build up the faith of those who choose to watch. Please feel free to pass this along to friends, family, your church group or congregation, and anyone else who may enjoy and grow from it.
COMMENCEMENT 2026
Like Paul with the Philippians, we have prayed with joy for you (1:4), we are confident that God will perfect his good work in you (1:6), and we will continue to pray that your love may overflow with knowledge and insight so that you may be pure and blameless (1:9-10).
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DR. JOHN BROGAN
“
Remember it’s not what we know but who we know. Our hope is that the courses you have taken and the community you have experienced here at Western have not coerced you into some type of groupthink but rather formed you toward a deeper love of God as well as a theological humility and curiosity about how to live out the gospel in our deeply divided world.”
- DR. JOHN BROGAN
Would you consider supporting our future pastors and ministry leaders by keeping their tuition at a manageable level?
SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE
“
Remember your seminary days, remember your classmates, remember your professors and classes, remember the staff members who helped you through, and remind yourself that you are called to have the same mind as Christ Jesus, that you are called to be of the same mind with your sisters and brothers in Christ, and that you are called to form communities of Christians who have the mind of Christ.”
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DR. JOHN BROGAN
CALLED AND THRIVING:
Honoring
the
Inaugural Fellows’ Journey of Formation, Discernment, and Service
In 2020 Western Theological Seminary expanded on the faithful work of the Friendship House by launching the Friendship House Fellows Program. We now celebrate the graduations of our inaugural class.
When asked what the most formational aspect of seminary has been for her, Inaugural Friendship House Fellow Ms. Megan Kidulas states:
“Seminary normalized discerning the voice of God for me… most people assume that I cannot discern God because of my disability. However, and maybe this is even more important than believing that I can, seminary has been a community in which I could learn how to [discern God’s voice] through classes and community in a way that is supported by Scripture and upheld by people who are part of Jesus’ body with me.”
Ms. Kidulas then goes on to assert that “when you live your life vulnerably, when you live your life embracing
that
you need others, you also can live life more aware of God through others.”
Perhaps this is a crucial part of the worldview that we are invited into through the writings of St. Paul when he admonishes Christians to, “belong to one another” as “members of the body of Christ.”
During her time as a Fellow, Ms. Kidulas’ classes and internship experiences equipped her to discern a call to serve both college students and young children. Thus, after graduation, Ms. Kidulas intends to retain the job she secured during her time in seminary with Hope Dining Services. This work enables her to serve, befriend, and minister to local college students. Additionally, Ms. Kidulas hopes to continue serving in Pillar Kids ministry at Pillar Church (Holland, MI) where she serves as an intern.
The Friendship House Fellows Program is a six-year seminary program in which students with intellectual/developmental disabilities along with students with no diagnosable disabilities commit to making the Friendship House home by sharing life there together in Christ. On a daily basis, this involves surrendering to the ebb and flow of daily life around the rhythms of scriptural meditation, prayer, shared community meals, pursuing Jesus, taking seminary classes, creating theological resources and scholarship together, undertaking internships in local churches or para-church organizations, and discerning Christian vocation, together. All of this is understood to be a part of Christian mutual discipleship and the outworkings of a life radically committed to learning to belong to one another in Christ.
Inaugural Friendship House Fellow Mr. Kurtis Cunningham offered the following reflection
when asked about the most formative aspect of seminary life: “Seminary taught me the importance of asking questions and
believing that I can come to know the answers if I don’t quit.”
He continues: “This is not just true about homework, confusing parts of books, you know things like that… but about God, too. God is complicated, for sure. But God’s love is not. We are supposed to love people and love God and believe that God loves us too. Seminary reminded me of that. That loving the person in front of me is what I should do. But, in order to do that I must remember to pray before I do anything. God knows how I am supposed to love people… even when it is hard. Like he did with Jonah. I remember that from Hebrews.”
For Mr. Cunningham, the belief that one can ‘know’ the truth has led him to the belief that one can know something deeply without understanding it logically. He has come to believe that part of his calling is to help people become more comfortable with mystery so they can know God more intimately. As a result, Mr. Cunningham plans to remain involved at Community Reformed in Zeeland, MI, where he interned as a Fellow.
Mr. Cunningham also believes that seminary has prepared him to facilitate Bible studies with his roommate at his new home near the seminary as a way of ministering to people who live near downtown Holland. For Mr. Cunningham, Christian ministry is inseparable from Christlike presence and embracing one’s need for God is inseparable from one’s need of others. When asked to reflect on this, Mr. Cunningham states, “to look at other people, to see them rightly, is to see God honestly… to not resist my need for others just makes sense because I also believe that God works through others… If I need God, I need others.”
PROGRAM UPDATES Vita Scholars Expansion
The previous issue of The Commons highlighted our accelerated pastoral degree program with Hope College. As Vita Scholars, students combine some elements of their BA and MDiv degree requirements to earn both degrees in five or six years.
Now, we’re expanding! We’re pleased to announce two new partnerships with undergraduate institutions in Northwest Iowa: Dordt University and Northwestern College. Students majoring in Biblical and Theological Studies at either institution can receive advanced standing upon admittance to WTS, earning their MDiv in two years in residence instead of three or more. This will eliminate some redundancy in their coursework, saving students time and money. Dean and Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Keith Starkenberg shares: “We are excited to enter into these new partnerships with both Dordt University and Northwestern College, both of whom we count as sister institutions dedicated to forming students for the sake of God’s kingdom.”
Rev. Dr. Katlyn DeVries, Director of Accelerated MDiv Partnerships, is eager to support these students as they pursue vocations in pastoral ministry. “Young people have such gifts to offer our churches. I look forward to guiding students in our accelerated programs on their journey to pastoral ministry, or helping them build the skills and gain the experiences they will need to flourish.”
Rev. Hannah Stevens Director of Lifelong Formation
Why Develop Lifelong Formation at Western Theological Seminary?
Our approach to theological education at Western Theological Seminary is rooted in whole person formation. We seek to be steeped in Scripture, shaped by the wisdom of the Church, and attentive to the Holy Spirit. Scholarly accomplishment is not an end, rather its significance lies in how it deepens and sharpens our formation as followers of Christ. As President Emeritus Rev. Dr. Timothy Brown often reminded students in his preaching course, “Our job is not to master the text, but to be mastered by the text.”
This same commitment shapes how we serve the broader Church. As we offer resources beyond the seminary classroom, whole person formation remains our guide and highest priority. Education is the vehicle, but not the final goal.
Lifelong Formation exists to equip and support the ongoing faithful formation of the Church by sharing the expertise, practices, and theological resources of Western Theological Seminary.
How
does Lifelong
Formation
strengthen the mission of WTS?
Lifelong Formation is a direct outcome of the mission of WTS: to form women and men for faithful Christian ministry and participation in the Triune God’s ongoing redemptive work in the world.
We recognize that not all ministry leaders are able to pursue a traditional seminary degree. Also, many pastors who have completed their degrees continue to seek thoughtful engagement with theological resources that speak to the realities of ministry today.
Lifelong Formation helps bridge the gap between the seminary and the church. Through accessible courses and practical resources, we seek to support pastors, leaders, and congregations as they live into God’s call for the sake of the world.
For whom is Lifelong Formation intended?
Lifelong Formation resources are designed primarily for two groups: Ministry leaders and Christians who desire to engage theological education in their everyday lives.
Some resources are created specifically for pastors and ministry leaders—offering tools they can use for their own development or to equip leaders within their congregations.
Other resources are designed for Christians who may never pursue formal theological degrees but desire deeper understanding of biblical, theological, and contextual topics. We continue to develop new resources for both audiences as we listen to the needs of churches and ministry leaders.
WTS GOES TO PELLA
As we seek new ways to make the resources of WTS available to the Church, we are piloting a hybrid seminary course in Pella, IA.
The course, New Testament Foundations, is taught by Dr. John Brogan, Professor of New Testament, and includes thirty-eight students living in and around Pella. Students are engaging through online lectures and readings while also gathering locally to share what they are learning together.
Twice during the semester, Third Church in Pella hosts the students and Dr. Brogan for an in-person class. The first gathering on February 28 was filled with laughter, prayer, rich reflection, and insightful conversation.
The students represent a wide range of vocations— pastors, lay leaders, and congregation members who share a deep hunger to learn and to be shaped by Scripture.
This partnership has created a unique opportunity for WTS to learn alongside students who may not pursue a theological degree but are eager to grow in faith, deepen their understanding of Scripture, and participate more fully in God’s work in the world.
Scan the QR code to learn more about Lifelong Formation at Western Theological Seminary
SEMESTER HIGHLIGHTS
WESTERN SHOWCASE
Western Theological Seminary was thrilled to welcome 24 prospective students to campus for the 2026 Western Showcase, a vibrant sign of the future leaders God is raising up for the church. Over two days, these guests were immersed in the life of our learning community. They joined us in chapel worship, shared in community coffee time, attended classes, and engaged with students, faculty, and staff as they discerned their call to ministry. Their questions, energy, and openness to God’s leading made us excited to see how the Spirit will continue to guide them, and the WTS community, as together we serve Christ and his church.
BETWEEN THE EXTREMES: HOPEFUL WITNESS IN DISTRESSING TIMES
Stoutemire Lecture
The Western Theological Seminary community gathered on Friday, March 6 in Mulder Chapel and online for this year’s Stoutemire Lecture in Multicultural Ministry: “Between the Extremes: Hopeful Witness in Distressing Times,” with Dr. Vincent Bacote as the keynote speaker. The lecture is an annual heartbeat in the life of the seminary, especially for those committed to forming leaders for a diverse and often divided world.
Each year, the Stoutemire Lecture calls the community to listen to Christian leaders who are practicing this work on the ground, across cultures, races, and social locations. Named for Rev. Leonard Foster Stoutemire, whose multi-racial ministry in Holland continues to challenge and inspire, the program highlights that multicultural ministry is not an add-on to the gospel but part of its very fabric. It invites Western to keep asking how classrooms, congregations, and communities can become places of belonging, honesty, and mutual transformation, aligning the seminary with its vocation to form women and men who serve the whole church in all its diversity with courage, humility, and hope.
Dr. Bacote is an internationally recognized scholar, speaker, and author as well as Professor of Theology and Director of the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL.
WTS FACULTY LEADING
COMMUNITIES NEAR AND FAR
KISSING THEODICIES GOODBYE: Chronic Illness and the Gift of Baptismal Vocation
In a keynote address at Baylor University titled “Kissing Theodicies Goodbye: Chronic Illness and the Gift of Baptismal Vocation,” Dr. J. Todd Billings explored how Christians respond when healing does not come as hoped. Drawing on Scripture (especially Job, John 9, and the Psalms of lament), personal experience, and pastoral observation, he challenged tidy explanations for suffering and instead emphasized honest prayer, protest, and hope before God. Engaging disability theology, Dr. Billings
affirmed the dignity of disabled persons while asking how the church can also make space for lament when the body becomes a site of pain and loss. He concluded by drawing on 16th- and 17th-century liturgies to cast a baptismal vision of vocation in which those with chronic illness are not sidelined until healing comes, but called even now to bear witness to Christ’s presence and the hope of the crucified and risen Lord in the midst of weakness.
ESCHATOLOGY
Dr. Suzanne McDonald
In February, Dr. Suzanne McDonald visited two partner congregations in Florida. At First Presbyterian Church of Naples, she led a midweek series on eschatology, gently addressing the confusion and fear many Christians feel about “the end times” and pointing instead to Scripture’s promise that
Christ will make all things new. At First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, she spoke on “Dealing Faithfully With Dementia,” using the often-overlooked day of Holy Saturday as a scriptural “space” to name God’s presence in seasons of waiting, loss, and ambiguity.
STAFF & FACULTY UPDATES
Retiring
CHERRI WESTHOUSE
Administrative Assistant
With hearts full of gratitude, we announce the retirement of Cherri Westhouse at the end of June.
Cherri joined WTS in August 2014 as an administrative assistant, later supporting Dr. Rienstra and the chapel program with warmth, hospitality, and a deep love for worship. By 2017, she was partnering with the President’s Office to coordinate events with excellence and an unwavering spirit of service. She continuously shared her gifts on many committees bringing a Christ-centered heart to the community.
As she looks ahead to retirement, Cherri shares: “My retirement plans are to spend as much time as I can with my brothers’ families as well as my many nieces and nephews. They are all a rich blessing to me. I also look forward to spending time with the amazing friends I have, near and far.”
Retiring
DR. JOHN BROGAN
Dean of Faculty, Professor of New Testament, Director of the Master of Divinity Program, Director of the Master of Art Program
We will deeply miss her presence and send her with our prayers, asking that God bless her with rest, joy, and the companionship of loved ones. Cherri, thank you for your years of faithful service. You are a true gift to the Western Theological Seminary community.
Western Theological Seminary gives thanks for the faithful service of Dr. John Brogan as he enters retirement after many years of shaping students, colleagues, and the wider church through his teaching and leadership. Since joining Western in 2013, Dr. Brogan has served in a variety of roles, including Dean of Faculty, Professor of New Testament, and Director of the Master of Divinity and Master of Arts Programs, always with a deep love for the church and for forming the next generation of Christian leaders.
Dr. Brogan’s commitment to the New Testament vision of God’s kingdom marked by diversity, justice, and reconciliation has inspired countless students and enriched the life of the seminary community. As he retires, we celebrate his scholarship, his pastoral presence, and the many ways he has walked alongside alumni in their journeys of ministry and service, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude and prayers for this next season of life and vocation.
DR.
WESLEY HILL
Associate Professor of New Testament
It has been a blessing to have Dr. Wesley Hill with us at Western Theological Seminary since 2021. As Associate Professor of New Testament, Dr. Hill didn’t just teach, he inspired us all with a deep love for Scripture, published works like The Lord’s Prayer and Easter: The Season of the Resurrection of Jesus , and his gentle way of weaving scholarship with heartfelt pastoral care. His classes sparked real curiosity in our students, strengthening their call to ministry and leaving a lasting mark on our community that we’ll cherish for years.
Dr. Hill will conclude his service at Western Theological Seminary after completing a midJuly course with InterVarsity, then will step into a new chapter at Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto.
NEW TO STAFF
Syndi Copeland
Development Team
Administrative
Assistant
Jonathan Geidel
Clinical Training
Coordinator
NEW TO FACULTY
Dr. Pauline Buisch
Assistant Professor of Old Testament
Dr. Dana Harris
Professor of New
Testament
Dr. Hanny Wuysang
Assistant Professor of Counseling
On to Glory
DR. JAMES V. BROWNSON (MDIV ‘80)
Former Dean, James and Jean Cook Professor Emeritus of New Testament
Western Theological Seminary gives thanks for the life and legacy of Dr. James V. Brownson (’80), whose teaching, leadership, and pastoral compassion shaped generations of ministers. For more than 32 years, he opened the world of the New Testament to students and, as dean, championed the launch of Western’s distance-learning MDiv program in 2003, helping make Western an early leader in accessible theological education. An ordained RCA minister and General Synod Professor (later Emeritus), he played a vital role in preparing ministers of Word and Sacrament. His legacy endures in every WTS graduate and church leader who proclaims the gospel with clarity, gentleness, and hope. His scholarship further enriched the wider church through several influential works, including The Promise of Baptism, Speaking the Truth in Love, Questions Christians Aren’t Supposed to Ask, and Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church’s Debate on Same-Sex Relationships.
ROBERT ‘BOB’ BOS (‘55) D, February 4, 2026
THOMAS L. BOS (‘74)
June 2, 1939January 24, 2026
MARY E. BOS (‘90)
November 9, 1940February 17, 2026
WESLEY CROCKER (86)
June 23, 1933November 15, 2022
ARTHUR DEHOOGH (‘58)
May 14, 1933February 8, 2026
ROBERT EGGEBEEN (‘60)
April 26, 1935May 10, 2026
DOUGLAS J. KIEL (‘00)
September 25, 1966March 30, 2026
RICHARD KOERSELMAN (‘69)
November 9, 1943May 6, 2025
DAVID W. SCHREUDER (‘81)
March 8, 1948December 23, 2025
DR. FRED L. JOHNSON III (MDIV ‘15)
Historian, Teacher, Veteran, Alumnus, Friend
Dr. Fred L. Johnson III , a historian, teacher, veteran, alumnus, and cherished friend of Western Theological Seminary is remembered with deep gratitude. His life embodied faith in action, compassionate intellect, and a commitment to service that enriched every community he touched. After early careers in business and the military, he followed a call to become a historian, attending Hope College and completing his MDiv at Western in 2015. His experience and education played a key role in the Hope-Western Prison Education Program, where he helped students confront America’s deep racial and social divisions with honesty and hope. As a successful, eloquent scholar, he mentored and inspired countless students, especially students of color, modeling intellectual excellence, integrity, and courage. He served on the WTS Board of Trustees and continued his ministry of leadership and service. Though he has gone home to his Lord and Savior, he remains part of the call to pursue justice and embody inclusion in all we do.
GEORGE D. BOERIGTER (MDIV ‘66)
2026 Distinguished Alumn
Western Theological Seminary gives thanks for the life and witness of George D. Boerigter, who died on February 23, 2026, in Holland, Michigan, at age 87. A committed Christian leader, pastor, and businessman, George sought to integrate faith and work and invested generously in the institutions that formed him, including Western. Together with his wife, Sibilla, he became an enthusiastic supporter of Western’s mission and was known as a generous advocate for Hope College and WTS. His legacy of love for Christ, pastoral care, entrepreneurial vision, and steadfast generosity continues to bear fruit in students, pastors, and communities.
