Seminary Honors Bishop J. Michael Lowry at Spring Commencement
DAYTON, OHIO, May 21, 2019 — United Theological Seminary held its Spring Commencement on May 18, 2019, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dayton, Ohio. The Seminary celebrated 92 women and men who have completed their theological education and are going out to serve as faithful, fruitful leaders of the Church.
Among the graduating class were 48 receiving master’s degrees, 31 receiving the Doctor of Ministry degree and 5 completing the Course of Study for United Methodist licensed local pastors. During the ceremony, the Seminary also presented special awards to 16 current and graduating students who have demonstrated academic excellence, outstanding leadership skills or promising ministerial work.
Bishop J. Michael Lowry, leader of the Fort Worth Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church (UMC), delivered the commencement address, encouraging graduates to keep Jesus at the center of their lives and ministries.
In recognition of Bishop Lowry’s longstanding commitment to supporting vibrant churches and communities through practices such as evangelism, stewardship and service, and for his outstanding leadership in The UMC, United awarded him the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree during the commencement ceremony.
Elected a bishop of The UMC in 2008, Bishop Lowry now oversees approximately 164,000 United Methodists in 320 congregations across the Forth Worth Episcopal Area. He also serves as a member of the Texas Methodist Foundation Board, trustee for Texas Wesleyan University and trustee for United Theological Seminary.
Bishop Lowry holds a Master of Theology from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University and a Doctor of Ministry from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. At the time of his election to the episcopacy in July 2008, he was serving as executive director of New Church Development and Transformation in the Southwest Texas Conference in San Antonio, Texas. Prior to that, he was senior pastor at University UMC, a congregation in San Antonio that grew from 4,800 to 5,700 members during his tenure. Churches under Bishop Lowry’s pastoral leadership have received a number of awards and recognitions for their evangelistic outreach and missional involvement in their communities.
“We thank God for the faith and commitment of our graduating students, for the inspiring leadership of Bishop Michael Lowry and for our generous donors who make this all possible,” said Dr. Kent Millard, President of United.
About United
United Theological Seminary is a graduate professional school of The United Methodist Church offering masters and doctoral theological degrees and continuing education with programs offered on campus and online. United’s goal is to prepare faithful, fruitful leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ.
