The Words of the Hendricks Family
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The Words of the Hendricks Family |
The Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) held its thirty-third Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 23 at 2 pm in the Interfaith Chapel in the main building. The featured speaker was Reverend In Jin Moon, President of the Family Federation in America. The chapel was filled to capacity with family members of the graduates, friends and other well-wishers.
A total of forty-five graduates -- thirty-four men and eleven women -- from the main campus at Barrytown and the N.Y.C. Extension Center received their degrees, including the first UTS Doctor of Ministry degree, which was awarded to Michael Balcomb. Eight graduates received their Master of Divinity degree, thirty-five the Master of Religious Education degree and one was awarded the Certificate in Unification Leadership.
In her Commencement Address, Rev. In Jin Moon shared her deep experiences on the campus while growing up, apologizing for the noise she and her siblings might have made as they enjoyed the beautiful grounds. She lifted up the interfaith dimensions of UTS education, and envisioned the spirit of UTS flourishing as the form evolves. She affirmed the vision of one family under God, inspiring graduates to reach beyond traditional boundaries to serve humanity with the heart of True Parents.
The UTS Service Award for outstanding service to their fellow students was given to Lean Monyrith from Cambodia and Saboru Sekiguchi from Japan. Students, faculty and administration alike recognized their selfless efforts to volunteer in many capacities. The UTS Outreach Award was given to Chipo Muzorewa, niece of former Zimbabwe Prime Minister Abel Muzorewa, for her internship work with the United Nations office of the Universal Peace Federation and in the office of a US Congressman.
An honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa was awarded to Dr. Douglas Johnston, founder and president of International Center for Religion and Diplomacy.
Dr. Johnston has edited and authored several books, including Religion, the Missing Dimension of Statecraft (Oxford University Press, 1994); Foreign Policy into the 21st Century: The U.S. Leadership Challenge (CSIS, 1996); and Faith-based Diplomacy: Trumping Realpolitik (Oxford University Press, 2003) and co-author of Madrasa Enhancement and Global Security: A Model for Faith-Based Engagement (ICRD 2008). Dr. Johnston has a broad range of executive experience in government, academia, the military, and the private sector.
Most recently, Dr. Johnston served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Johnston founded the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy (ICRD) eight years ago “because he saw religious faith as a catalyst for peacemaking, instead of a basis for conflict. Johnston has learned that Muslims will listen more closely to a Christian than to the typical secular Westerner. ‘If you can operate on a faith-based basis, you find that, particularly with Muslims, they really open up’ said Johnston to Christianity Today.
CT reported that “ICRD is working with madrassah leaders in the North West Frontier Province to reform these training centers of Islamic militancy. By appealing to the schools' centuries-long tradition of education and scholarship, Johnston hopes to add mathematics, science, and literature to their curricula. And he hopes to inspire critical thinking.”
In his comments to the graduating class, Dr. Johnston inspired them and the audience with his experiences in Afghanistan and with the Taliban. Believing that interfaith dialogue is key to understanding and bringing peace to that region, he held talks with Taliban leaders deep in Taliban controlled territory. At one point, one of the religious leaders asked him if he was Muslim, implying that if he wasn’t and wouldn’t convert, he might be killed. His quick response was “I am a Muslim because to be a Muslim means to be submissive to God and I am submissive to God.” His comment defused a potentially dangerous situation and the talks could go on.
In September, 2007, UTS began a new and exciting international interfaith program, designed to attract leaders from all the major religions, to educate and prepare them for peacemaking roles throughout the world, in NGOs, international corporations, major international non-profit organizations, as well as various organizations within their own faiths. At that time UTS accepted 27 Interfaith Program students from 20 countries around the world. This past year we had four Ambassadors for Peace attending UTS. A Muslim woman from Turkey, a protestant minister from India, a Lutheran woman from Moldova and a protestant woman from Kenya. It was inspiring to see how they -- and all our students -- not only dedicated themselves to our interfaith vision through classroom participation, but how they worked hard at putting into practice in their daily life on campus the idea of understanding and loving others from different religious faiths and practices.
Watching a Jewish woman from Israel arm in arm with the Muslim woman from Turkey showed that students can build loving relationships on campus, as they go out into the world and attempt to bring peace to troubled regions where religion and culture divide people.
In the morning before graduation, Paul Rajan, an Anglican student born in India and a citizen of New Zealand -- organized a Pre-Parliament event with Dr. Johnston as guest speaker. This event is a precursor to the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions, which will be held on December 3-9, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The Barrytown event included an invocation from Pundit Shashidhara Somayaji, head priest at the Hindu Samaj Temple in Wappingers Falls, a delightful dance by two girls from the Temple, and songs by Cecilia St. King.
Dr. Johnston’s address covered the genesis of the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, and hallmark work the Center has accomplished in, among numerous other places, the Sudan, Pakistan and the holy land. Dr. Michael Mickler offered a response representing the faculty, suggesting that the ICRD’s work might serve as a ground for a theological framework for peace. Dr. Johnston then took a number of questions from the floor. A lively discussion ensued taking everyone well past the closing time.
To celebrate the graduation of several students from Africa, local graduates and colleagues from Africa created an African Community Reception after the Commencement. They shared food and drink, décor and dance from their countries, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere. We were blessed with the participation of a good showing of Chipo Muzorewa’s family, some of whom flew in from Zimbabwe for the occasion.
Capping the weekend was the 30th Reunion of the Class of 1979. Organized by Linda and Frank Zochol, with assistance from Daniel Davies, some twenty members of the third graduating class shared memories, hugs, news, songs and a delicious meal gifted by a donation from the UTS Alumni Association president. The sharing went long into the night.
A new feature of this year’s graduation weekend was a Board-Alumni Forum on the Future of UTS. On Friday evening, following a meal together, Bishop Ki Hoon Kim, Rev. Michael Jenkins and Dr. Hendricks shared with some forty alumni about the future of the seminary. Many alumni came to the open microphone to share their heart, vision and practical ideas for the future. The evening concluded with a delightful talk from the seminary’s first president, Dr. David S. C. Kim, now 95 years old but full of energy.
It was a rich and wonderful event for all concerned, and deep thanks go to all whose hard work made it happen.