Class of 2005

Bill Adams preaches and 42 graduate at seminary Commencement May 17

Links of interest

Commencement sermon

Honorary degree citation for Jerry Adams

Retirement Party for Bill Adams

Photo pages

A retiring seminary professor preached the sermon as 42 persons received degrees and certificates at the Seminary of the Southwest's fifty-second commencement on May 17.

The Rev. Dr. William Seth Adams, professor of liturgics and Anglican studies, presented the commencement sermon at the invitation of graduating seniors.

Professor Adams reminded graduates not to hold on to anything too tightly -- "It's not matter or things that concern Jesus. It's not 'stuff' per se. What concerns Jesus, truly, in these hard sayings, is the loss of God. Holding on, owning, possessing, having so tightly, with such force and persuasion, that God is lost, holding so fiercely that God cannot be held. Hence the admonition to let go."

He urged them to "think about whatever there is in your life that is underneath all the other things. What supports everything else? When 'eventually' comes, what do you want to have, who do you want to have? It's to this level that Jesus want us to get. The 'underneath,' 'before everything else,' 'eventually' stage -- and then he wants to talk to us about the loss of God."

"You see, it's not about cold and principled things that Jesus wants to talk to us. No, he wants our attention about the things that matter no matter what. And he reminds us that God matters more. Whatever we hold most dear in this life, this life of things and love and deepest meaning, whatever we hold most dear, Jesus wants us to hold God more dearly; to know and to admit that everything in life has a past tense. Every good house, every lover, every grandchild, every 'thing,' every life -- they all come to an end. So, hard as it is to say, they must all be held very lightly, very lightly indeed. Everything in life has a past tense, except God. And finally and at the end, our future is with God."

Well-know in the Austin area, especially in the congregation of St. James' Church, Professor Adams retires at the end of June after teaching 23 years at the seminary. He and spouse the Rev. Amy Donohue-Adams '93 are long-time members of St. James.

Jerry Adams awarded honorary doctorate

Adams' brother pictured below, Jerry Adams, of Conway, Arkansas, was honored for his lay leadership with an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. Member of the executive council and commission on ministry within the Diocese of Arkansas, Jerry Adams has been senior warden at his parish -- St. Peter's, Conway -- five times. Past chair of the board of regents of the University of the South, Adams "lives out baptismal ministry in every arena of his life," says the Rt. Rev. Larry Maze, bishop of Arkansas and a 1972 ETSS graduate.

Adams and his brother, John, established a scholarship to honor Professor Adams on his retirement with a contribution of $26,000 to the seminary. Persons interested in contributing to the William Seth Adams scholarship should contact Nancy Springer-Baldwin at the seminary by email or phone 512.472.4133.

Services reflect Episcopal & Lutheran seminary links

The shared common life of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest and the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest was reflected in the liturgy of the Evensong and Commencement Eucharist services. A selection of hymns, canticles and a post communion acclamation from the Lutheran Book of Worship were incorporated into the previous all-Episcopalian liturgy. The liturgical leadership of the Commencement Eucharist mirroed this melding. The Reverend Ray Tiemann, Bishop of the ELCA Southwest Texas Synod, was Assistant Bishop at Commencement. The site of annual Commencements will alternate between Lutheran and Episcopal churches when this fall's entering Class of 2008 graduates. Bishop Tiemann, in photo to left, with ETSS board chair and Eucharist celebrant Bishop Don Wimberley, pictured left.

The promises inherent in the Called to Common Mission accord for full communion between the Lutheran and Episcopal churches have long been a reality in Austin. Just across the street from each other, the Lutheran Seminary Program in the Southwest and the Seminary of the Southwest have been intertwined in theological education, community worship and student life for more than 25 years.

Offertory supports work of ETSS graduate

Proceeds of the Commencement Eucharist Offertory honored the ministry of Master of Arts in Counseling graduate Edwardo Mendoza who works in Victim Offender Mediation/Dialogue in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice's Victim Services Division. He crafted its Hope for Healing Ministries, Inc., a holistic movement to honor, remember and minister to the victims of violent crimes in Texas. Future plans include the establishment of a Victim Memorial and Ministry Center in Huntsville, Texas.

With more than 25 years of experience in criminal justice from probation officer to mediation training, Mendoza (pictured left with daughter Analia at Commencement) directs a program unique in the United States. Well-known for leading the United States (and most other countries throughout the world) in death penalty executions each year, Texas was the first state (1993) to develop a statewide program of mediation dialogue for violent crimes. About 120 mediations have been held in the past six years -- most dealing with violent crimes with a life or a death sentence, as well as DWI manslaughter. Fifteen other states now have some form of mediation but most deal with misdemeanor crimes and no other program includes all the prisons in its state.

Class of 2005 reflects geographical and ecumenical diversity

ETSS graduates came from 18 dioceses -- from Los Angeles and Montana to North Carolina and Southeast Florida. There were five Lutheran graduates and three Methodist graduates. Breakdown of degrees include -- 33 Master of Divinity -- 1 Diploma in Sacred Theology -- 4 Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry -- 4 Master of Arts in Counseling -- 3 Certificate of Individual Theological Study -- and, 2 Certificate of Special Studies. Lutheran graduates received four Master of Divinity degrees and one Certificate of Theological Education for Emerging Ministries.