GETTYSBURG HOLDS COMMENCEMENT MAY 16TH

(Gettysburg, PA) The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg will recognize the work of nearly 50 students in its formal commencement ceremony on Friday May 16th, at 3pm in the Seminary chapel.

Master of Divinity diplomas will be given to 30 graduates who have completed preparation for ordained ministry as pastors of congregations. Three persons will receive the Master of Sacred Theology degree, and four will receive the Master of Arts in Religion degree. Nine students preparing for special service ministries in the church will receive the Master of Arts in Ministerial Studies.

These students join more than 5200 persons who have graduated from the seminary since its 1826 beginning. Gettysburg Seminary is the oldest of the eight seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Currently, the Seminary has 263 full and part time students enrolled its program.

Among the students completing their work at Gettysburg, ten will be recognized for completing their work with a concentration in Town and Country ministry and another 14 will be honored for particular excellence in specific areas such as theology, preaching, education, stewardship and biblical studies.

President Michael Cooper-White will address and preside over the graduation and Dean Norma S. Wood will assist in the administration of the diplomas. A festival Holy Eucharist, open to the public, is scheduled for the evening of the 16th in the chapel beginning at 7:30pm. The service will be preceded by a concert of special music at 7pm. Seating is reserved for the afternoon graduation ceremony.