Saturday ceremonies to be held at Princeton University Chapel
Princeton Theological Seminary will hold its 195th commencement exercises 4 p.m. Saturday at Princeton University Chapel.
Seminary president Dr. Iain R. Torrance will address the graduates. Dr. Torrance will be awarded an honorary degree (LHD) from King College in Bristol, Tenn. Dr. Gregory Jordan, president of King College, and Dr. Richard Ray, a trustee of King College, will present the honorary doctorate to Dr. Torrance during commencement.
Also to be honored at the ceremony is Princeton Seminary’s 2007 distinguished alumnus, William H. Gray III, Class of 1970.
Mr. Gray is chairman of the Amani Group, a governmental, educational, and business advisory group. He was president and chief executive officer of The College Fund/United Negro College Fund from 1991 to 2004.
Mr. Gray served in the U.S. Congress from 1979 to 1991, was the first African-American to chair the House Budget Committee, and became chairman of the Democratic Caucus. He was also the first African-American in the 20th century to become majority whip of the House of Representatives, a position he held from 1989 to 1991.
He is pastor emeritus of the nearly 7,000-member Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, as were his father, William H. Gray Jr., Princeton Seminary Class of 1953, and grandfather before him, and he has been a professor of religion and history at St. Peter’s College, Jersey City State College, Montclair State College, Palmer Theological Seminary, and Temple University.
Mr. Gray earned a bachelor of arts degree in history at Franklin and Marshall College, a master of divinity degree from Drew University Theological School, and a master of theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary.At this year’s commencement 214 students will graduate in seven degree programs. Of that number, 149 will receive the master of divinity degree, the basic professional degree for Christian ministry. One student will receive the master of arts degree in Theological Studies; five students will receive the master of arts degree; 31 will receive the master of theology degree; nine will receive the doctor of ministry degree; and six will receive the master of divinity/master of arts dual degree.
Thirteen students will be awarded the doctor of philosophy degree, the highest degree awarded by the institution.
There are 19 international students in the graduating class, including students from Myanmar, Ghana, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, India, Kenya, Scotland, Japan, and Slovakia.
Jessica and Troy Hauser Brydon and Brandon and Kristin Willett, both married couples, will graduate together with the master of divinity degree.
Princeton Theological Seminary was founded in 1812 as the first seminary established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. It is the largest Presbyterian seminary in the country, with more than 700 students in seven graduate degree programs. For additional information, contact the Communications/Publications Office at (609) 497-7760.