Monday, May 15, 2006
- NTS News
NTS held its 60th commencement on Sunday, May 14, at 4:00 pm at Kansas City (MO) First Church of the Nazarene.
The Class of 2006 consisted of 68 graduates, all receiving degrees as follows: 37 Master of Divinity; 8 M.A. in Christian Education; 8 M.A. in Missiology; 13 M.A. (Theological Studies); and 2 Doctor of Ministry. 6 students received diplomas or certificates, 5 of which earned them in addition to their degree. This class represented 7 countries including the United States, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, India, France, Canada.
Earlier on Sunday morning, also at KC First Church, Revs. Kyle and Jayme Himmelwright represented the class of 2006 by preaching the Corlett Senior Sermon. The late Mr. Eric A. Mabes, a prominent Kansas City Realtor, established the Corlett Senior Sermon Award in the interest of developing an incentive for more effective preaching. He sponsored the award from 1945 to 1966. In 1966, Dr. and Mrs. L. T. Corlett, as a symbol of their continuing interest in the future ministry of the church, assumed the sponsorship of this award. The award is now sponsored by R. Wesley Blachly.
Dr. Nina Gunter, General Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene, delivered the commencement address. Gunter was elected General Superintendent at the recent 26th General Assembly in Indianapolis in June 2005, becoming the first woman to be honored with this highest office in the church. At the time of her election, she was serving as general director of Nazarene Missions International (NMI), a position she had held since 1986. During her tenure, she initiated many missions programs, and the annual giving to missions increased from approximately $30 million to $62 million. She is a respected leader, motivational speaker, and inspiring visionary. An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, she served as co-pastor with her husband in Tennessee, Missouri, and South Carolina.
Dr. Gunter received her bachelor’s degree from Trevecca Nazarene University (TNU) in Nashville, Tennessee, and a master’s degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia. She was honored by TNU with a doctor of divinity degree, being the first woman to receive such recognition from the university. She was elected by TNU alumni as the Ministerial Alumnus of the Year in 1990. She was named by Nazarene Bible College as the 2005 T. W. Willingham “Preacher of the Year.” Among her writings are the following books: The Traveler’s Psalm, Our Defining Moment, and Christian Perfection.