Bishop Marcus Matthews Brings Commencement Address

ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Bishop Marcus Matthews challenged graduates of Northeastern Seminary’s masters and doctoral programs, as well as certificate of ministry recipients, in his commencement address titled “In Times Like These.” The Cultural Life Center on the Roberts Wesleyan College campus was the site for the Saturday, May 14 ceremony.

Bishop Matthews, who has served as Resident Bishop of the Upper New York Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church since 2004, is president of the Church’s General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. A 1971 graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary in 1981. Bishop Matthews has spent much of his career of ministry and service in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. areas.

The NES graduating class included 14 masters’ degree students and one doctoral student from the Seminary, as well as nine certificate recipients from affiliated certificate-of-ministry programs. Most of the degree graduates are already working in ministry, and are either ordained or seeking ordination in their respective traditions. A historic moment occurred when for the third year in a row a member of the same family received her degree from Northeastern Seminary. Master of divinity graduate Lynn Scarpine joins her husband Charlie (M.Div., 2009) and daughter Lacy (M.A., 2010) in the ranks of alumni.

Other highlights included graduate Hisashi Ishitobi of Venice, Calif. who offered a student reflection and special music by current Master of Arts student Mary Van Houten of Rochester who sang He Has No Body Now But Yours. A certificate of advanced pastoral studies was awarded posthumously to Joseph Timlin. His wife Genett accepted the certificate for Joe who passed away last year in the midst of his doctoral work at the age of 84. A reception for family and friends followed the ceremony.

About Northeastern Seminary:

Since opening its doors in 1998, Northeastern Seminary on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College has continued to grow in prominence as a significant training center for the church community in upstate New York. NES is an independent, multi-denominational seminary in its approach to theological training leading to an academically and professional accredited Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies or Doctor of Ministry degree.  It now has more than 30 different Christian faith traditions represented among 130 students and 290 graduates ministering in 21 states and five foreign countries.  For more information visit www.nes.edu or call 1-800-777-4792.