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Plans for 2008 Commencement & Baccalaureate Exercises Announced

The 2008 Baccalaureate Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at the Wilson Chapel on the Andover Newton campus.  The faculty speaker, chosen by the 2008 graduating class, is Dean of Students Nancy Nienhuis.  All graduates will gather at 6:30 p.m. in Davis Hall room 201 to prepare for the processional. Graduates should wear their gowns.  The Faulty Marshall, Professor Greg Mobley, will direct this process, along with student and staff ushers.   A coffee and dessert reception will follow the service under the tent on the Andover Newton quadrangle.   This event is free and open to all graduates, their guests, and members of the Andover Newton community.

Commencement will take place on Saturday, May 17, at 2:00 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, Newton Centre.  The Commencement speaker will be Rev. Dr. Mary Luti, Senior Minister of the historic First Church in Cambridge (UCC). Also being recognized in the ceremonies will be three international guests, Rev. Huitung Chan from Tao Fong Shan Christian Center in Hong Kong, China and Rev. Maung Maung Yi, Academic Dean of the Myanmar Institute of Theology in Myanmar/Burma, and Dr. Mohan Larbeer, Principal of Tamilnadu Theological Seminary, Madurai, India. President Carter said, "Mary Luti is a great example of innovative pastoral leadership and spiritual vitality for which our churches are so hungry. The school is honored to invite her to address our graduates." Carter added: "The three international guests are each distinguished leaders in their own countries and, given Andover Newton's remarkable history in mission, I am thrilled that we can celebrate that history in the midst of our 200th Anniversary year by their presence at our commencement."

The Rev. Dr. J. Mary Luti is the Senior Minister of First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, UCC, one of the oldest continuing Protestant congregations in North America. Mary is recognized as one of the leading pastors in New England. Her abilities in congregational revitalization, innovative worship, preaching, and spiritual formation have been widely celebrated. The former Associate Dean of Andover Newton Theological School, Mary also taught in the Department of the History of Christianity at the Andover Newton until leaving to serve her parish in 1998. In addition to her service at First Church, she has for many years engaged in a ministry of speaking, workshop leadership and consultation in local congregations and with church leaders. She has written on subjects of Christian life and spirituality, and is the author of Teresa of Avila’s Way, a volume in the series, “The Way of the Christian Mystics” (Liturgical Press). Dr. Luti holds two masters degrees (English and Theology) and a PhD (Theology) from Boston College.

For the comfort of everyone please make sure to have lunch prior to the Commencement ceremony!  The ceremony can be lengthy, and no lunch is served that day.  Graduates should check their Andover Newton email address for updates.  All information, deadlines, and any updates or changes will be sent to Andover Newton email addresses.  A light reception under the tent on the Andover Newton quad will follow the Commencement Ceremony.  Graduating seniors will each receive 4 tickets to this reception (one for the senior, and 3 for guests).  Additional tickets may be purchased at the Business Office for $5.00 each. Following commencement graduating seniors need to return caps, gowns, and hoods to Ms. Nayda Aguila, the Registrar, who will be collecting these items outside the church and in the Registrar’s Office in Worcester Hall. 

Please RSVP for both the Baccalaureate and the Commencement receptions so we can give the caterer an accurate count.  To RSVP please e-mail Ms. Amelia O’Dowd at by Monday, May 5th and tell her the number of persons (including you) who plan to attend both events.   

Graduating seniors must complete the Andover Newton Senior Exit Survey.  The survey is required of all graduating students.  A link to the survey has been sent to seniors’ Andover Newton email addresses.  If you did not receive this link or if you have any questions about these events please contact Dean of Students Nancy Nienhuis at .

BACCALAUREATE & COMMENCEMENT 2008 CHECK LIST FOR GRADUATING STUDENTS

_____  Check your Andover Newton email address regularly for updates on these events.

_____  Turn in “Thank you” page, the last page from Senior Exit Survey to the Registrar’s Office.  The survey will soon be sent to your Andover Newton email address.  Please note: This survey is required in order for you to pick up your Commencement tickets and gown!

_____  Pick up cap and gown from Registrar’s Office (required)

_____  Pick up invitations and luncheon tickets from Registrar’s Office (tickets are required for the post Commencement reception!).  Each graduate receives 4 free.  Additional tickets are $5.00/each and may be purchased at the Business Office.

_____  RSVP by May 5 to Amelia O’Dowd () for Reception following Baccalaureate

_____  RSVP by May 5 to Amelia O’Dowd () for Luncheon following Commencement

_____  Return cap, gown, and hood to Nayda Aguila after Commencement in the Registrar’s Office

Bios of speakers at Mission Ingathering Event/Convocation

Brief bio for Rev. Huitung Chung
Huitung directs the Bridge and Dialogue program at the Tao Fong Shan Christian Center in Hong Kong, China. He is a graduate Andover Newton, a member of the Jonathan Edwards Society. Huitung is finishing his study with Dr. Mark Heim for a PhD in the ANTS-Boston College joint doctoral program. He is a research associate at Chinese University of Hong Kong and an adjunct faculty member at Chung Chi College Divinity School. He was ordained as a preacher at Hong Kong Tsung Tsin Mission in 1994 and now serves as a pastoral consultant for that denomination. He is married and lives with his wife Sophia Lee and three children in Hong Kong, China.

The Bridge and Dialogue program is focused on promoting peace through religious dialogue and understanding. They offer a series of regular educational programs on interfaith issues and special retreats for spiritual formation. They maintain a Christian guesthouse called Ascension House, serving travelers from around the world, hold ecumenical Sunday worship services, and offer prayer times using the Taize style of meditation and chants.

Bio for Dr. Maung Maung Yin
Dr. Yin is currently the Academic Dean of the Myanmar Institute of Theology (MIT). He is a scholar in New Testament and Christian Ethics with four degrees, one of which is a DMin from Andover Newton.  The Myanmar Institute of Theology was founded in June 1927, on Seminary Hill, Insein. In 2003 MIT created the Judson Research Center whose primary purpose is to study the relations of Christianity to Theravada Buddhism, and to the primal religions of the ethnic peoples to bring about dialogue

ANDOVER NEWTON SCHEDULE OF EVENTS COMMENCEMENT 2008 

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