Olivet University Enters New Academic Year with 2013 Convocation

September 14, 2013

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On September 13, 2013, Olivet University held its Fall 2013 Commencement service at 5 p.m. PST. The University's two-hour Convocation service was held in Olivet's San Francisco Chapel, which was filled with hymns of praise Friday evening as Dr. Merril Smoak, Dean of the Jubilee College of Music led the audience in song.

Convocation traditionally marks the official start of the fall quarter. The international gathering of over 200 students, staff, faculty and administrators welcomed men and women across the United States and as distant as New Zealand, Scotland, Germany, India, China, Kenya, Korea and Thailand.

After a warming Invocation Prayer by Coordinator of Olivet's Ph.D. in Global Theological Studies Program Dr. Markus Wagner, University President Dr. Tracy Davis greeted the assembly, welcoming the guests, including representatives from Olivet's Global Partner the World Evangelical Alliance, Mr. Ndaba Mazabane, Chairman of the International Council of the World Evangelical Alliance, and Dr. Bertil Ekstrom, Executive Director of the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commision.

"Convocation is time every year that God brings together the people of Olivet University from all around the world to give a service of thanks and praise to God for all that he’s done in the life of the school as we begin a new academic year," Dr. Davis said.

She recalled the history of the school, in addition to the school’s future plans and current work to establish Olivet’s permanent presence in New York.

"As we approach our 10th year since the official beginning of Olivet University, and as we begin this new and exciting academic year with our sights on the hopeful future God is unfolding for us in New York, it is my prayer at this Convocation that we could thank God for all He has done and will from now," she said.

Dr. Tony Sargent, Principal Emeritus of the International Christian College, delivered the keynote address, drawing on the scene in the Bible where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples to encourage everyone at Olivet to live out “wash basin theology,” modeling the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Sargent serves on the Olivet University faculty at the Zinzendorf School for Doctoral Studies in the teaching area of Practical Theology. He served as president of International Christian College (ICC) from 1998-2009.  Prior to his service at ICC, he was senior minister of Worthing Tabernacle Church in Worthing, England for nearly thirty years.  Dr. Sargent has held leadership positions on several well-recognized Christian organizations, including Operation Mobilisation, AIM and Elam Ministries. He is committed to various social ministries in India, and holds memberships on the Council of the Evangelical Alliance Scotland and Compassion in World Farming.

This year's Convocation coincides with Olivet University's Doctoral Colloquium hosted by the Zinzendorf School for Doctoral Studies. The Colloquium in an annual event bringing together doctoral students working on theology-related topics. It provides students an encouraging forum, an opportunity to present and discuss their ongoing research, and to receive useful feedback from those in attendance, namely senior theological researchers and experts in the field.

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