Commencement Ceremonies to Be Held

On Saturday, May 7, Bethany Theological Seminary will hold its commencement activities for 2016. The academic ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. in Nicarry Chapel with thirteen expected to graduate from the master of divinity, master of arts, and Certificate of Achievement in Theological Studies programs.

This year’s commencement speaker will be Rev. David Witkovsky, who has served as campus chaplain at Juniata College since 1999. The title of his address will be “Deep Calls to Deep,” drawing from the story of Jesus and the demon-possessed man among the tombs in Mark 5:1-20. Witkovsky is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, having earned a master of divinity from Bethany in 1983.

Prior to his position at Juniata, Witkovsky served in pastoral ministry at Roaring Spring and Williamsburg Churches of the Brethren in Pennsylvania. He is also a graduate of Elizabethtown College and has done postgraduate work in the field of psychology. He is currently vice chair of Bethany’s board of trustees and has periodically taught courses for the Brethren Academy for Ministerial Leadership. On the denominational level, Witkovsky has provided leadership for the Middle Pennsylvania District and convened the Voices for an Open Spirit Coordinating Council. In 2015 he completed a three-year term on the executive committee of the National Association of College and University Chaplains.

Admittance to the academic ceremony is by ticket only. However, the public is invited to attend a worship service that afternoon at 2:30, also in Nicarry Chapel. Planned and led by the graduates, the service will be on the theme of anointing for ministry, including a ritual of blessing for the graduates. Steve Schweitzer, academic dean, has been chosen by the graduates to speak.

The academic ceremony will be webcast live, and both events will be available to view as recordings. Those interested in watching the academic ceremony can login to Livestream, and the recordings will be available on our webcasts page.