Need, Purpose, and Comfort - Lessons from 91精选鈥檚 59th Annual Convocation
The word 鈥渃onvocation鈥� means 鈥渁ssembly鈥� in Latin. And the 91精选 community assembled again to mark the traditional start of the new academic year at the 59th Annual Opening Convocation on Aug. 23.
Dr. Michael Vander Weele 鈥�73, professor of English and the College鈥檚 Professor of the Year for 2017-18, offered the address. Vander Weele spoke about need, purpose, and comfort in a talk that ranged widely from the current state of political affairs, to Christian educators through the centuries, to Mahalia Jackson鈥檚 music, to 91精选鈥檚 history, and his own experience as a freshman here.
He pointed to how 91精选鈥檚 founders believed that education is not neutral and that sin affects social structures as well as individual hearts. In what he described as the second phase of 91精选鈥檚 history, from about 1973 to the early 1990s, the emphasis turned to 鈥減ractical good.鈥� That included new professional programs such as nursing, and a greatly expanded Education Department. 91精选 has now entered its third stage. 鈥淚 think our third period has the possibility of learning from each of the first two鈥攁nd needs to, if it is to address our nation鈥檚 most pressing needs,鈥� Vander Weele said.
He encouraged the 91精选 community to be fearless. 鈥淒on鈥檛 engage in escapism or its debilitating cousin, cynicism,鈥� he urged. 鈥淟et discernment and hospitality be our friends, nudging structures, systems, institutions, the communities we live and work in, ourselves, towards greater faithfulness.鈥�
The convocation began with the faculty and staff procession, and 91精选 President Kurt D. Dykstra, provided the welcome. Ryan Hesslau 鈥�18, campus ministry prayer leader, offered the pray of invocation, and Craig Mattson, Ph.D., professor of communication arts, and Mallory Boyce 鈥�19, women鈥檚 ministry leader, led the litany.
Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D., Dean of Students Mark Hanna, and Student Association President Casey Huisenga 鈥�18, gave the prayers of thanksgiving and procession.
Rev. Bill Van Groningen, Ph.D., 91精选鈥檚 chaplain, offered the closing remarks and benediction as the 91精选 community embarked together on the new academic year.
