Carroll Institute Graduates 17 Students at its May 23rd Convocation
B. H. Carroll Theological Institute celebrated its eighth Convocation and Graduation ceremony on May 23, 7:00 p.m., at First Baptist Church, Arlington, Texas. Five doctoral degrees, 11 master’s degrees, and one certificate diploma were awarded during the evening.
Carroll’s new president, Dr. Gene Wilkes, delivered the graduation message entitled “Apart from Faith in Christ…” based on the passage Colossians 1: 24-27 in which Paul identified himself as a servant of the church, commissioned by God. The title of the message comes from an epitaph inscribed on a gravesite in Cairo, Egypt of a 25-year-old American man who died in 1913 — Apart from faith in Christ, there is no explanation for such a life. This was the epitaph of William Borden, heir to the Borden dairy estate, who chose to give away tens of thousands of dollars to mission causes and eventually gave his life as a missionary. Borden was defined by his relationship with Christ, and Dr. Wilkes encouraged the graduates to be known in the same manner.
You will receive this evening the degree you have envisioned receiving and have worked to receive for several years . . . This degree will open doors not available to you before, and the completion of your degree tells of your discipline and intelligence to others who may employ or engage you in ministry.
But this degree does not define you. It is not your epitaph. It will not be the final statement of your obedience of God’s call on your life. What will define you is your relationship to the One who called you to serve Him in the diverse and global ministries of his church.
The Singing Men of North Central Texas, directed by Don Blackley, served as the choral group for Carroll Institute’s Convocation. Once again they inspired the audience with four musical selections that included vocal soloist Anthony Croff and cellist Josh Cogan.
The President’s Award is given each year by Carroll Institute as a way to thank and honor significant persons who have demonstrated commitment to the Institute and have inspired and encouraged the Institute in the Lord’s work. This year’s recipient,Mrs. Fran Wilson, has dedicated her life and expert administrative skills to theological education for 32 years, the last ten of those being at B. H. Carroll Theological Institute. The founding Senior Fellows of BHCTI brought on Fran to assist them with the formation of the school. Dr. Bruce Corley presented the award to Fran Wilson and stated, “I want you to know that none of Carroll could have happened without you. I trust that the tribute we make today will be a small evidence of the debt we owe and the gratitude we have to God for you.”
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B.H. Carroll Theological InstituteConvocation & Graduation 2014See On
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Doctor of Ministry
Lawrence Clayton Hopkins (Rowlett, Texas) – Supervisor: William R. O’Brien
Project: As You Go: Equipping Campus Ministry Leaders to Understand and Teach Missional Living -
Doctor of Philosophy
Hurley Clayton Jr. (Beaumont, Texas) – Supervisor: Robert Campbell
Dissertation: An Analysis of the Imago Dei in Black Theology and Ecclesial Praxis for the 21st CenturyShelly L. Melia (Burleson, Texas) – Supervisor: Scott Floyd
Dissertation: The Development of a Faith-Based Instrument to Measure Capacity for Resilience in ChildrenJames N. Ndung’u (Fort Worth, Texas) – Supervisor: Jim Spivey
Dissertation: Recolonizing Theology? A Critical Analysis of the Development of Sub-Saharan African Theology since the Ecumenical Association of Third World Theologians, 1977Scott Edwin Shiffer (Midlothian, Texas) – Supervisor: Robert Williams
Dissertation: A Hermeneutical Analysis of the Sermon “Who is the Rich Man that Shall Be Saved?” by Clement of Alexandria -
Master of Arts in Religion
Matt Hollingsworth (Belton, Texas)
Jason Huddleston (Elgin, Texas)
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Master of Arts in Counseling
James Gregory Davis (Burleson, Texas)
Felicia Mongo-Areloegbe (Fort Worth, Texas)
Madeline Doherty Nieman (Keller, Texas)
Jessica Schneider-Watson (Aledo, Texas) IN ABSENTIA
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Master of Arts in Worship
Donald W. McCann II (San Antonio, Texas)
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Master of Divinity
John Douglass Hibbard (Almyra, Arkansas)
Adam Dwight Pardue (Lubbock, Texas)
Joshua Pinkston (Arlington, Texas)
Zachary Scott Wright (Waxahachie, Texas)
- One student received the Certificate in Advanced Ministry Trainingthrough the Hispanic Theological Education program directed by Dr. Adlin Cotto: Marcos Silva (Fort Worth, Texas)
