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The Path to Your Purpose
PRESIDING EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA, BISHOP EATON, PARTICIPATES IN BETHANY COLLEGE BACCALAUREATE AND COMMENCEMENT
May 30, 2019
LINDSBORG, KAN., May 24, 2019 – Bethany College welcomed Bishop Elizabeth Eaton to campus as part of 2019 baccalaureate and commencement ceremonies. Bishop Eaton, the fourth Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, earned a Master of Divinity degree from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Music Education from the College of Wooster. During commencement, Bethany College awarded Bishop Eaton an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity.
The four cornerstones identifying the ELCA, according to Bishop Eaton, are that it is church, it is Lutheran, it is church together, and it is a church for the sake of the world. In 2015, under Eaton’s leadership, Future Directions 2025, a strategic plan, was born out of an intense review of the church’s direction. Under Future Directions, the ELCA acknowledged how to work together with identified common goals in light of challenges. With Eaton’s guidance, the ELCA also launched her Leadership Initiative, which encourages all ELCA members to identify those talented people who might be called to ministry.
During the baccalaureate service, Bishop Eaton encouraged graduates to enter the world with a willingness to accept others and encouraging the graduates to step outside their “tribe” and “assimilations” that are so common to college life. Bishop Eaton also shared her intentional immersion in Lindsborg to learn everything she could about its Swedish heritage and traditions. She commended the community for embracing its heritage and referred to the circle painted on the bricks downtown for Swedish dancing as one of the many examples of the Swedish heritage exhibited in town.
“Hosting Bishop Eaton on campus was a tremendous honor and privilege. It has been more than 25 years since a presiding bishop visited Bethany College. I am grateful to her for taking a closer look at the wonderful education of the mind and heart that we offer to our students,” said President Will Jones.
Bishop Eaton ended her time on campus with a reception at the Sandzen Gallery for area pastors on Sunday evening.
Bishop Eaton also serves as the vice president for North America on the Council of The Lutheran World Federation, on the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Governing Board and Development Committee, and Religions for Peace USA Council of Presidents.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
The four cornerstones identifying the ELCA, according to Bishop Eaton, are that it is church, it is Lutheran, it is church together, and it is a church for the sake of the world. In 2015, under Eaton’s leadership, Future Directions 2025, a strategic plan, was born out of an intense review of the church’s direction. Under Future Directions, the ELCA acknowledged how to work together with identified common goals in light of challenges. With Eaton’s guidance, the ELCA also launched her Leadership Initiative, which encourages all ELCA members to identify those talented people who might be called to ministry.
During the baccalaureate service, Bishop Eaton encouraged graduates to enter the world with a willingness to accept others and encouraging the graduates to step outside their “tribe” and “assimilations” that are so common to college life. Bishop Eaton also shared her intentional immersion in Lindsborg to learn everything she could about its Swedish heritage and traditions. She commended the community for embracing its heritage and referred to the circle painted on the bricks downtown for Swedish dancing as one of the many examples of the Swedish heritage exhibited in town.
“Hosting Bishop Eaton on campus was a tremendous honor and privilege. It has been more than 25 years since a presiding bishop visited Bethany College. I am grateful to her for taking a closer look at the wonderful education of the mind and heart that we offer to our students,” said President Will Jones.
Bishop Eaton ended her time on campus with a reception at the Sandzen Gallery for area pastors on Sunday evening.
Bishop Eaton also serves as the vice president for North America on the Council of The Lutheran World Federation, on the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA Governing Board and Development Committee, and Religions for Peace USA Council of Presidents.
Bethany College, established by Swedish Lutheran immigrants in 1881, is a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The mission of Bethany College is to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to reach for truth and excellence as they lead lives of faith, learning, and service. Bethany connects its past, present, and future with distinctive initiatives like Swedes to Sweden, a free service-learning trip for the sophomore class to Sweden, and the Good Life Scholarship, presenting all local high school graduates with a four-year, full-tuition scholarship to the college. Bethany College is on the Web at www.bethanylb.edu and is located in Lindsborg, Kansas, the fine arts and crafts capital of the state.
Bethany College conferred degrees upon 99 students in Presser Hall Auditorium on April 27, 2024. The ceremony honored students who earned Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music, and Bachelor of Music Education from the college during the 2023-2024 academic year. Summer, fall, and spring graduates were honored during a Baccalaureate worship service at 10:30 a.m. in Presser Hall, followed by Commencement at 2 p.m. Campus Pastor Melissa Woeppel led the Baccalaureate Service, and Rev. Lamont Wells, Executive Director of the Network of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and Co llege and Universities (NECU). Gracelyn Gaskill '24, a chemistry and music major from Lindsborg, Kansas, provided special music for Commencement. Senior class speakers Inioluwa "Enoch" Ojo '24, a biology major from Katy, Texas, and Benjamin "Ben" Turner '24, a History and Political Science Major from Peyton, Colorado, gave thoughtful remarks on their time at Bethany College, taking time to thank their friends, faculty, and coaches. Dr. Brent Mai '85, Dean of University Libraries at Wichita State University, gave the commencement address, encouraging this year's graduates to go out into the world and exercise the four tenets of stoicism: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.
Interim President Steve Eckman commended the efforts of the faculty and staff in securing the grant, stating, "We are immensely grateful to the McPherson County Community Foundation for their incredible generosity. This grant will benefit our students and enrich the educational experiences available in the Smoky Valley community."
The newly appointed Presidential Search Committee will commence their work immediately, aiming to recommend a candidate for Bethany College's 16th president to the board by the April 2025 board meeting.