Columbia 5eminory VantoQ Dr. George Thomp6on Brown Qddre56e6 Graduates COMMENCEMENT END6 148th YEPR June 6, 1976, marked the 148th Commencement Exercises of Colum- bia Theological Seminary. J. Erskine Love, Jr.. Chairman of the Board of Directors, awarded 38 degrees upon recommendation of the Faculty. Stu- dents receiving their degrees repre- sented 10 states and 3 countries or territories outside the United States. Dr. George Thompson Brown, Di- rector, Division of International Mis- sion of the General Executive Board of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.. de- livered the commencement address titled, "The Four Billion" at the exer- cises in the Columbia Presbyterian Church adjacent to the Seminary Campus. Commencement was preceded by a Baccalaureate Service Sunday morn- ing at the Decatur Presbyterian Church with Dr. J. Phillips Noble, pastor of the First (Scots) Presby- terian Church of Charleston, South Carolina, preaching. Graduates Andrea Eddings Pfaff Ahlers, Joan Standridge Gray and Henry Duval Gregory, IV, were awarded their degrees "with distinc- tion" due to their outstanding aca- demic achievement. Graduates Ahlers and Gray also received the Alumni Fellowships for further graduate study and Leslie Alice Andrews received the Fannie Jordan Bryan Fellowship, also for further graduate work. Joan Standridge Gray also received the Wilds Book Prize for graduating with the highest academic rating in the class. The Abdullah Award, for the best paper submitted designing a pro- gram for the development of moral 1Q76 WONOR GRPDUQTE6 V, ^ Gray Gregory Watson and spiritual values in the public- schools, was awarded to Marion Thomas Norwood, Jr., a Middler. Olin Marsh Whitener, Jr., received the Florie Wilkes Sanders prize for his work in Theology; first year stu- dent Jacalyn W. Thomas received the Paul T. Fuhrmann Book Prize in Church History and Cody Usry Wat- Whilener son, Jr., received the American Bible Society award for his Greek exegesis work. President J. Davison Philips charged the Graduating Class with appropriate passages of Scripture, a tradition of long standing, and retir- ing Dean Jack B. McMichael pro- nounced the Benediction. WITW OUR QLUMNI ALUMNUS ESTABLISHES MEMORIAL TO WIFE The Rev. Roy W. Cokcr, pastor of the Pincvillc, North Carolina, Church (Columbia '48) has established a Memorial to his late wife, Anne Gra- ham Coker, who was one of the founders of the Columbia Friendship Circle. As we extend our sympathy to Mr. Cokcr we also rejoice in this appro- priate manner of continuing Christian service in her name. GRADUATES EARN DOCTORATES The Rev. Victor E. Makari, who earned his Th.M. degree from Colum- bia in 1965, has attained his Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Temple University, Philadelphia. Dr. Makari was born and reared in Egypt, receiving his undergraduate education there. His doctorate was earned in the field of Islamic studies. He is currently the Associate PastOl of the Overbrook Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ohio. The Rev. F. Harry Daniel, Colum- bia '66 has recently received his Ph.D. from Vandcrbill University in Religion. His dissertation is entitled "The Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13 and parallels): A Redaction-Critical and Traditio-Historical Study." CHAPLAIN RECEIVES SERVICE MEDAL Chaplain (Col.) John L. Edwards. who has served the past six years in Anniston's 405th Civil Affairs Group, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. A 1945 Columbia graduate, he has had a 25 year mili- tary career, serving in Korea as well as the National Guard and Army Reserve. He is the pastor of the First Pres- byterian Church in Piedmont, Ala. He was cited for outstanding service while serving as chaplain and staff officer in the 405th. PRESBYTERIAN CHAPLAIN ASSIGNED TO AUSTRALIA U.S. Air Force Chaplain (Maj.) Donald L. Wilson, originally of Sa- vannah, Ga., has been assigned to duty with an Air Force unit in Woomera, Australia. Major Wilson. a member of the Aerospace Defense Command, was previously assigned at Malstrom AFB, Montana. He is a Columbia graduate of 1961. RICHARD DODDS ACCEPTS SEMINARY POST I he Rev. Richard Dodds, currently pastor of the Pines Presbyterian Church. Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and formerly pastor of the St. Andrews WMERE TWERE'6 P WILL- A will is one of the most important documents one will ever sign. It can be an instrument to carry out our own plans to: Care for those people close to us whom we love; Extend our personal efforts to meet others' needs through the Church and charitable agencies; Express in practical terms the be- liefs we cherish. Failure to write a will simply means we are satisfied to have an imperson- al court of law make decisions about guardianship of minor children and the distribution of our estate through a mechanical formula. To die with- out a will results in unnecessary court costs and taxes, and in reducing the amount to be distributed to heirs and causes that reflect our own values and beliefs. Church in Tucker, Ga., has accepted the post of Director of Seminary Re- lations at Columbia, beginning Sep- tember 1 . A full story will appear in the next issue of Vantage. FROM the PRE6DENT Amid the many duties of a Semi- nary President is the marvelous privilege of participating in the Com- mencement of our Seniors. This June Columbia sent 38 graduates, whose pictures and accomplishments are noted in this issue of Vantage, on their way to varied and challenging futures. Even as we are reluctant to release them, we are confident of their com- petence and dedication to ministry and commend them to you and the whole Church. The Church always stands just one generation from extinction, yet as we look toward the future we are certain that these men and women will carry the Gospel fully and faithfully to one more generation, and through their ministries affect the life of the Church for decades to come. The strength of the Church resides not only in the commitment of its members, but also in the quality of its leadership, and it is our responsi- bility to help maintain and increase that leadership quality in the minis- try. It is to this end that we dedi- cate our efforts and the more than $1 million we spend each year. In effect our graduates are Colum- bia's report card to the Church; they are the 148th such reporting to the Church of our stewardship of time, effort and resources. We pray that as they carry out their ministries and we continue our efforts, both they and we shall be found to be faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Faithfully yours, U J. Davison Philips Andrea Eddings I'fajj Ahlers Ernest William Dav Htnry Duval Gregory, H Albert Franklin Masters, III James l)n\ id Anderson Hugh Dickson Druary Madison Maxwell Highfill Millie B. Mattison Leslie Alice Andrews Dennis Rav Bennett Linda Lorraine Blessing Jtrrv C. Bustle COLUMBIA 6EMINPRY GRPDUQTE6 1Q75 Dinesh S. Jerome ) William Woodland Johnson, Jr. Alplionso Nathaniel McLean William Oliver Nisbet, Jr. Etta Carlton Rossman Charles Edwin Van Devender Victor Albert Varkonyi Milford Bradley Walters Cody Usry Watson, Jr. Winona Millicent Jones Bennett Lanneau Scott Harry I ink ChrOnli m James Slaughter Dunovant Walter O'QuIn Kelly Cary Gough Speaker Robert Donald Cooke Joan Standrldge Gray Homer 1 1 mini Kimmons David Dane Troutman Olin Marsh Whitener, Jr. Barry Edward Wilborn Raymond Michael Winters, III Mary Leslie Young 1Q76 CQQDUPTE DEGREE6 MASTER OF THEOLOGY Larry Jack Holt Decatur, Georgia B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute M.Div., Union Theological Seminary in Virginia Sidney S. Macaulay Decatur, Georgia B.A.. Erskine College B.D., Erskine Theological Seminary James O. Maner Brazil B.S., University of Mississippi B.D., Columbia Theological Seminary Benjamin Franklin Wright Jackson, Georgia B.A., Georgia State University B.D., Candler School of Theology GRPDUPTE PLPCEMENT6 1Q76 ANDREA EDD1NGS PFAFF AHLERS JAMES DAVID ANDERSON LESLIE ALICE ANDREWS. DCE. Christian and Missionary Alliance Church. 1313 N Druid Hills Rd Atlanta, Ga. 30329 DENNIS RAY BENNETT, Associate Pastor, Memorial Prcsbvterian Church. 1300 S. Olive Avenue West Palm Beach. Fla. 33402 LINDA LORRAINE BLESSING, Pastor. First Presbyterian Church. P. O. Box 87. Cohutta. Ga. 30710 JERRY C. BUSTLE. Pastor. Keystone Presbyterian Church. Rt. I, Box 35. Odessa. Fla. 33556 HARRY LOCK CHRONIS. Pastor. Falls View Presbyterian Church. Box 147. Charlton Heights West Va. 24040 ROBERT DONALD COOKE, Office of Information and Development, Missionary Aviation Fellowship P. O. Box 2828. Fullerton. Calif. 92633 ERNEST WILLIAM DAVIS. Graduate work, Columbia Theological Seminary. Decatur. Ga. 30031 HUGH DICKSON DRUARY. Associate Pastor. First Presbyterian Church. 5300 S. Main St Houston Tex. 77004 JAMES SLAUGHTER DUNOVANT, Pastor. Peterson Presbyterian Church. Brooklield Dr. Columbia S. C. 29206 JOAN STANDRIDGE GRAY. Pastor. Mountain View Presbyterian Church (UPUSA). Sandy Sprints Road, Marietta, Ga. 30060 HENRY DUVAL GREGORY, IV, Pastor. Lickville Presbyterian Church. R. 2. Pelzer, S. C. 29669 MADISON MAXWELL HIGHFILL DINESH S. JEROME WILLIAM WOODLAND JOHNSON, JR.. Pastor, First Presbyterian Church. P. O. Box MS, Highlands N. C. 28741 WINONA MILLICENT JONES WALTER O'QUIN KELLY. Pastor. Gretna and Woodland Presbyterian Churches. Box 450. Gretna, Fla 32332 HOMER LAMAR KIMMONS. Pastor, Ft. Gaines and Cuba Presbyterian Churches. Blakely. Ga. 11723 ALBERT FRANKLIN MASTERS. III. Pastor. Shearer Presbyterian Church. Rt. I, Box 385. Moons ville. N. C. 28115 MILLIE B. MATTISON ALPHONSO NATHANIEL McLEAN WILLIAM OLIVER NISBET, JR., Pastor. Fairview Presbyterian Church. 1949 Harper Ave.. S.W.. Lenoir, N. C. 28645 ETTA CARLTON ROSSMAN. Virginia Council of Pastoral Care. Richmond. Va. BENNETT LANNEAU SCOTT CARY GOUGH SPEAKER DAVID DANE TROUTMAN, Pastor. Hewitt Memorial Presbyterian Church. Box 892. Mansfield. La. 71052 CHARLES EDWIN VAN DEVENDER. Pastor, Lyons Presbyterian Church, 500 S. Washington St.. Lyons, Ga. 30436 VICTOR ALBERT VARKONYI, Associate Pastor, Green Acres Presbyterian Church. 3135 Hanley Ave.. Portsmouth, Va. 23703 MILFORD BRADLEY WALTERS, Pastor. Christian Church, Monroe, Ga. 30655 CODY USRY WATSON, JR.. Division of International Mission, I year appt.. Chungju. Korea OL1N MARSH WHITENER. JR.. Pastor. Shiloh-Dixon Presbyterian Churches. Box 76. Grovcr. N. C. 28073 BARRY EDWARD WILBORN RAYMOND MICHAEL WINTERS, III, Pastor, Bremen and Tallapoosa Presbyterian Churches. 4 Talia- ferro St., Tallapoosa, Ga. 30176 MARY LESLIE YOUNG COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, DECATUR, GEORGIA 30031 Vol. 70, No. 4 / Summer, 1976 Eugene H. Tennis, Editor Published Quarterly Colunnbb Theological 6eminory Second Class Postage Paid at Decatur, Ga.