79th Commencement!

May 21, 2008

May 22nd, Westminster held its 79th Commencement with 110 students receiving their diplomas. Dr. Stephen Tong, one of our honorary doctorate recipients, spoke boldly for the reformed faith proclaiming Christ in the Westminster tradition.

Each year commencement is surrounded by a group of events leading up to the actual service.  The first event was the Banquet on the evening of May 21st.

During the Banquet, our alumni office recognized some of our 50 and 60-year alumni who attended the dinner.  Dr. Lillback shared briefly about each of those alumni’s ministries for the past 50 & 60 years.

On the morning of commencement, two seminars were held in Rust Auditorium of Van Til Hall, one by Dr. Donald Macleod, our other honorary doctorate recipient for this year, and one by Dr. David B. Garner, Vice President for Alumni Relations and Educational Advancement. 

The Commencement Service itself began at 2pm on the campus of New Covenant Church of Philadelphia, with Rev. George Cottenden presiding over the services. Special music was provided by Ronald Matthews and the Westminster Brass.  Dr. Richard B. Gaffin Jr., Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology Emeritus offered the charge to the graduates.

It was a momentous occasion celebrating God's blessing of our graduates' academic achievement and calling on Him to bless their future ministries, for it is by His grace alone for His glory alone that they serve!