Recently, was the time of year that graduation ceremonies are held at schools across the nation. Two members of the Center for Congregational Health’s faculty, Dr. Marvin L. Morgan and Dr. B. Leslie Robinson, Jr., celebrated the completion of their work with students at The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC).
ITC is located in Atlanta, GA. It was chartered in 1958 through the mutual efforts of four seminaries that came together to form one school of theology, in cooperation as an ecumenical cluster. The collaborative later added two additional schools. Today, the graduate seminary operating on the unique ITC Consortia Model, houses five denominational seminaries and an ecumenical fellowship that serves at-large students:
Gammon Theological Seminary(United Methodist)
Morehouse School of Religion(Baptist)
Turner Theological Seminary(African Methodist Episcopal)
Phillips School of Theology(Christian Methodist Episcopal)
Charles H. Mason Theological Seminary(Church of God and Christ)
Selma T. and Harry V. Richardson Ecumenical Fellowship
ITC is the largest free-standing African American theological school in the United States and the world’s only graduate theology program with this unique model that is unapologetically African American but inclusive to all people. The current student body is comprised of several ethnic groups and includes a number of individuals from foreign countries.
The 2019 commencement service was held on Saturday, May 11, at Friendship Community Church, located not far from the campus. It began with the procession of 48 students who would soon receive their Master of Divinity and/or Master of Art in Religious Education degree. They were followed by 23 students who were receiving their Doctor of Ministry degree. The doctoral students represented two cohorts: Interim Ministry (first time offered at ITC) and Social and Environmental Justice. We know of no other theological school that currently offers a D. Min. degree in Interim Ministry.
Dr. Morgan and Dr. Robinson served as the Interim Ministry cohort faculty for 13 students during this two-year degree program. The students came from California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Virginia. Morgan and Robinson had the honor of presenting these students with their doctoral hoods.
The Center for Congregational Health also issued certificates recognizing these individuals as Intentional Interim Ministry Specialists.
We express congratulations to, and pray God’s blessings upon, these newly trained Interim Ministers:
Dr. Lamont Duane Brown,
Dr. Miles Richmond Clarke,
Dr. Lakara Ernetta Foster,
Dr. Ricky Wayne Georgetown,
Dr. Keenan Dewayne Hale,
Dr. Jacquelyn Brown Hurston,
Dr. Jeremy Dwayne Jackson,
Dr. James Reginald Johnson,
Dr. Kevin Torrance Moore,
Dr. Lyle Patrick Pointer,
Dr. Donald Kerwin Sadler,
Dr. Michael Hubert Sands, and
Dr. Emmett Stanley Young, III