A Grand Celebration

Over 200 alumni, students, faculty, staff, and their spouses celebrated the Seminary’s bicentennial in grand style on October 5th. Johnston Hall was transformed into a candlelit banquet hall where attendees shared a meal, program and dancing.

Glen Stoudt ‘77, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology (pictured to left), hosted the program and throughout the night shared anecdotes taken from the Seminary’s 200-year history.

Dean Frank Crouch greeted the audience and spoke of the many ways that each person in the room had helped to shape the history of the Seminary — as a student, alumni, faculty, spouse.

He also recognized the Seminary’s connection to the larger church by honoring the judicatories that have historically sent students to MTS. Representatives were present from the Moravian Church Northern and Southern provinces and the following local judicatories: Lutheran, UCC, United Methodist, Episcopal, and Presbyterian. Students presented the representatives with chalices embedded with the Seminary’s seal. To the judicatory representatives Crouch said, “we offer a gift that symbolizes our partnership, our fellowship in Christ. These chalices, specially made for our bicentennial, stand as gifts that symbolize our joint mission. Even if we are not in a place of official full communion with all of you, we work in full communion with you in Christ every day, and we rejoice in that.”

Bringing an historial perspective to the program was “a visitation” by Count Ludwig von Zinzendorf, made possible when David Schattschneider, former Dean and professor of Church History, reprised his role as the Moravian Church founder. Equipped with a quick wit and thick German accent, “the Count” told stories of his travels to America, naming of the town of Bethlehem and founding of the Seminary. His keen observations of life at Moravian brought many laughs and finally elevated to iconic status the role of the ping pong table in the lives of Moravian Seminarians!

Emeritus Kay Ward ’80 presented the keynote speech entitled “Recollections and Reflections,” paying special attention to the number 1397 — the number of names of graduates that appear on the 14 posters in Bahnson Center that trace the history of Moravian Theological Seminary from 1807–2007. She honored that great cloud of witnesses by recognizing the ever-widening circle of lives touched by the ministries of the graduates and faculty of Moravian Seminary. (An abridged version of her speech is found here.)

Kay’s speech sequed into a slideshow retrospective displaying images and photographs of Moravian Seminary life from the past two centuries. The background music included a version of “Ye Who Called,” recorded by a quartet of Seminary students and staff.

President Christopher Thomforde closed the program by ushering us into “A New Century.” He challenged the group to consider the legacy that their ministries will leave behind. The final benediction came in the form of a rousing chorus of “Sing Hallelujah, Praise the Lord,” a hymn written by one of Moravian Seminary’s first professors, John Bechler (1807-13).

The energy did not wane after the program had concluded, as there was still much visiting to be done. Alumni were invited to help identify individuals in old black and white photographs, and well wishes could be written on a perpetual tablecloth created by Pam Weiss ‘91, Assistant Director of Seminary Advancement. Those who weren’t visiting kicked up their heels to the Sounds of Sinatra performed by Michael Scherer.
The evening was summed up by Don Esslinger ‘82, “It was a wonderful event from beginning to end and an uplifting way to celebrate the Seminary’s history. I’m so pleased to be a part of it!”