The official 2008 WSC commencement report is online. As a faculty member things look a little different than they do from the audience. For one thing we see the back of heads of those on the platform in front of us and, for another, we see the faces of the graduates. It’s always exciting to see students finishing their trials successfully and ready to begin fulfilling the vocation for which they were training. I’ve often wondered why I am not more unhappy at graduation. After all we form strong bonds with many of the students. We work together. We pray together and we eat and fellowship together almost every day. The best explanation I have is that the sense of accomplishment is so strong it mitigates the sadness at seeing good friends leave. We’ve been training them and praying for them to go and do what they are about to go and do. The work is so important. There are so many congregations that need gospel preachers. There are so many fields that need missionaries. There are so many schools that need good teachers that the goal is always before us.
This year was a particularly special commencement. More about that later.
R. Scott Clark
R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.
More by R. Scott Clark ›
Is the guy all the way to the right in the third row Zack Olson?
I think it’s Zach, but yup, thar he is.
Zach is a good friend of mine. We went to Reformed Bible College together. I am glad to see he graduated.
He spoke at the Fri night grad reception and did a fine job. He had a nice sunburn so he was especially colorful.