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June 2015 a PUBLICATION of WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY the Commons

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June 2015 a PUBLICATION of WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY the Commons June 2015 A PUBLICATION OF WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY The Commons Dr. Justo L. González, one of the most influential voices in The Class of 2015 stands to state their promises. the theological world, gives the commencement address. 139th Commencement The seminary’s second-largest graduating class received their degrees on Monday evening, May 11, in Dimnent Memorial Chapel on the campus of Hope College. Western Theological Seminary awarded 42 Master of Divinity degrees, five Master of Arts degrees, three Master of Theology degrees, three Doctor of Ministry degrees, and President Brown congratulates M.Div. graduate Phil Quinn, three Graduate Certificates in Urban Pastoral Ministry. the youth pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Holland, MI. Prominent church historian Dr. Justo L. González was the commencement speaker. He spoke to the graduates about the Ascension of Christ, emphasizing Christ’s absence and Christ’s victory. He stressed that there is love in Christ’s absence, allowing us to steward creation and God’s people with the help of the Holy Spirit. “The victory,” he said, “is that Christ is seated with God where we will join Him someday. Like a mother teaching her child to walk, who is waiting around the corner for him, Christ is absent from us, allowing us to learn to walk towards him until the day he will finally embrace us.” Master of Theology graduate Elizabeth Hernández receives a hood from Board of Trustees Moderator Kent Dale. Amy Clemens, Master of Arts graduate, offers a prayer. GCUPM graduates Sergio Reyes and Eric Nichols celebrate with friends. Class of 2015 Benito Aguilera III Jonathon Austin Carole Barber Larry Barber James Beezley Rus Blondin M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. Dec ‘14 M.A. Redlands, CA Hudsonville, MI Mission Viejo, CA Mission Viejo, CA Muskegon, MI Holland, MI Rev. James Croom Alissa Davis Daniel DeVries Curtis Dixon Isaias D’Oleo Ochoa Ryan Donahoe D.Min. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. Holland, MI Midland, MI Byron Center, MI Bronx, NY San Jose, Costa Rica Spokane, WA Jonathan Gabhart Mark Groen Michelle Gross Calandra Hackler Elizabeth Hernández Yeomyeong Jeon M.Div. M.Div. Dec ‘14 M.Div. M.Div. Carrillo M.Div. Spencer, IA Lennox, SD Oostburg, WI Valparaiso, IN Th.M. Kyungkido, Korea Mexico City, Mexico Rode Molla Elizabeth Muyskens Blanka Muza Eric Nichols Jacob Parks David Penning Th.M. M.Div. Dec ‘14 Th.M. GCUPM M.Div. M.Div. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Holland, MI Nyireyháza, Hungary Detroit, MI Carlisle, OH Schoolcraft, MI 2 A PUBLICATION OF WESTERN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY JUNE 2015 Graduates of Western Theological Seminary Annastasia Bonczyk Jenna Brandsen William Brooks Allison Card Amy Clemens Paige Convis M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.A. M.Div. Fremont, MI Holland, MI Amityville, NY Sheboygan, WI Kalamazoo, MI Flushing, MI Class verse: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 NSRV Ryan Donahoe Nicholas Dorland Rev. Travis Else Jill English M.Div. M.Div. Dec ‘14 D.Min. M.A. Spokane, WA Rochester, NY Sioux Center, IA Grand Haven, MI Dr. Fred Johnson III Sarah Juist Wendy Kolakowski Bryan Kunz Adam Lorenz Zachary Lysdahl M.Div. M.Div. Dec ‘14 M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. Cape Charles, VA Fulton, IL Plano, TX Oskaloosa, IA Cedar Falls, IA Rockford, MI Peter Pinkowski Albert Plat Lori Pollitz Phillip Quinn Ronald Radcliffe Sergio Reyes M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. M.Div. GCUPM Schererville, IN Athabasca, Alberta, Mason, MI Cedarville, MI Mt. Prospect, IL Federal District, Mexico Canada M.Div. = Master of Divinity Th.M. - Master of Theology M.A. = Master of Arts D.Min. = Doctor of Ministry GCUPM = Graduate Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry 3 Class of 2015 Carolyn Ryberg Barbara Sanders Luke Soderstrom Quinn Tirrel Luis Torres Avila Jonathon VanderWall M.A. M.Div. Dec ‘14 M.Div. M.Div. GCUPM M.Div. Dec ‘14 Warwick, NY Wyoming, MI Madison, CT Omaha, NE Bayamón, Puerto Rico Grandville, MI Photos by deVries Photography, Zeeland, MI Austin Vondracek Rev. Matthew Dan Westveer Kristine Zweering Bradly Zwiers M.Div. Dec ‘14 Waterstone M.A. M.Div. Dec ‘14 M.Div. Swisher, IA D.Min. Zeeland, MI Holland, MI Grand Rapids, MI South Holland, IL Graduate Spotlight On May 12, the day after graduating, they are. He is passionate about sharing M.Div. recipient Benito (Ben) Aguilera the gospel with the un-churched and with was ordained at Christ Memorial Church those on the fringes of society. in Holland, MI, where he has accepted “I always tell people I’m from the a position as Pastor of Community and best of both worlds,” he says. “I’m from a Global Missions. charismatic background but also have this Ben grew up in Southern California strong biblical foundation that I love in the and didn’t become a Christian until RCA. It challenges me. It challenges the high school. His first church was a non- way I think; it challenges the way I walk denominational charismatic congregation with God, and I think it’s really important where he learned about the Holy Spirit, that I always have those two be a part of gifts and strong leadership. There he my life and my ministry.” Ben and Hannah Aguilera developed a deep passion for sharing Ben has been working as the director the gospel. When Ben got to his first chapel service at of community development at Christ Memorial, where his job Northwestern College in Iowa, he was in for a culture shock. has been to maintain relationships with 20+ non-profits and “It was interesting, it was different, it was new,” he says. ministries in Holland. One of his goals is to get the church out “I began to see the beauty in liturgy, in the tradition that of the pews and into the community. the RCA has, but I also saw some of the challenges that the Ben and his wife Hannah will be staying in Holland for the RCA faces, for example—diversity.” foreseeable future, but they are open to the Lord’s direction. Ben has dedicated his studies and his ministry to Ben has a heart for urban ministry and hopes someday to be- understanding and appreciating different cultures outside come a church planter. and within the church and learning to meet people where 4 JUNE 2015 Our Loss, but a Gain to the Wider Church Dr. Leanne Van Dyk will be Columbia Theological Seminary’s Next President Dr. Leanne Van Dyk, academic “I will miss Western deeply,” says dean and vice president for Leanne. “I will miss our daily chapel academic affairs, has been chosen services, especially Friday morning by Columbia Theological Seminary communion. I will miss laughing with my in Decatur, GA as their next colleagues and sharing the ups and downs president. The seminary is part of life. There is a lot I will miss!” of the Presbyterian Church (USA), “We are mighty proud of Dr. Leanne has a faculty of 30, five degree Van Dyk,” says President Brown, “and programs, and 350 students. we pledge to her our abiding love and “Columbia’s great gain is continuing prayers.” Western’s deep loss,” says WTS President Timothy Brown. “Leanne has given our school boundless In their words... energy and lavish joy as she has guided our academic well-being “We are so proud of you, Dr. Leanne Van Dyk! You with remarkable wisdom. We all are going to be missed by IBE! We are so grateful wish she wasn’t leaving but clearly for your hard work in favor of our Latino commu- nity here in Holland. Thank you for your support understand why Columbia has and belief in our ministry.” chosen her. “ —Gretchen Torres With degrees in music and Instituto Biblico Ebenezer, Holland, MI early childhood education, Leanne’s career began as an elementary school teacher in DeMotte, IN and Kalamazoo, MI. Although she “You are a theological powerhouse, academic rock star, and a minister who moves in this world with much grace. Reading your enjoyed what she was doing, she began to sense a strong call to essay on Reformed theology and feminist theory was the first ministry. time I reconciled both of these identities in myself as a first year “At that time women were not welcomed into ordained student at WTS. How grateful I am to have studied under you.” ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, but I was convinced that —Jessica Kast-Keat ‘11 Associate Pastor, West End Collegiate Church, NY, NY I was obeying a call from God,” she says. She earned an M.Div. from Calvin Theological Seminary and a “Working with Leanne over the last years has been a joy. She has Ph.D. at Princeton Theological Seminary before going on to teach exemplified and taught me that being a friend and mentor is so at San Francisco Theological Seminary. During that time she grew much more than a casual interaction. She cares deeply for all as a teacher and theologian, and in 1998 former academic dean aspects of a person’s well-being: physical, emotional, and spiritual. No matter how busy life makes her, she takes time for people.” Jim Brownson invited her to join the faculty at WTS. —Pat Dykhuis Dr. Van Dyk first taught Reformed theology and then moved Registrar, WTS, Holland, MI into administrative roles such as dean of the faculty (2002-05), academic dean (2005-15), and finally the vice president of academic “Dr. Leanne Van Dyk is a great scholar who taught me to think theologically as a student at Western Theological Seminary.” affairs (2006-15).
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