COMMUNITY: ACTIVITIES & ORGANIZATIONS
Activities and Organizations
ACTIVITIES
Chapel
The daily chapel service is one of the most important periods of the day. A majority of
the reflections and readings in chapel are shaped by the theme for the year (see page 3 of the catalog). Both
students and faculty assist in planning programs that help to create a community of faith and
service. The quiet reverence of the devotional periods and the thoughtful consideration of
vital questions in human living provide memorable worship experiences that are cherished
throughout the student’s life. These services are held in the beautiful Pittman Chapel,
named in honor of a beloved preacher, Sam Pittman, and in memory of his lifetime of distinguished
service to the church and to Christian education.
The chapel seats approximately 100 people. In addition to its use for chapel services, forums and lectures by the school, it provides a setting for many weddings.
W.B. West Jr. Lectures
Through the initiative of the 1976–77 Student Association, students, alumni and friends
began an endowment for the W.B. West Jr. Lectures for the Advancement of Christian
Scholarship in honor of Dr. W.B. West Jr., founding dean of the Graduate School. Dr. West
served the Graduate School as dean until 1972 and as professor of New Testament until his
retirement in 1978.
These lectures bring outstanding Christian scholars to the campus to speak on subjects of current interest in the church.
Annual Ministry Forum
The Graduate School conducts a ministry forum each spring on some area of interest to
church leaders. Alumni Association officers choose topics and presenters for this forum.
ORGANIZATIONS
Student Association
Since its formation in 1967, the Student Association (SA) has become an essential means
of fostering unity and fellowship among the student body. SA has close ties with
the administration, nominating members for standing committees of the school and making
recommendations concerning policy. In addition to planning chapel devotionals and initiating
various student activities, the SA sponsors the annual W.B. West Jr. Lectures for the
Advancement of Christian Scholarship each fall and six academic awards at graduation. The
six awards are: the M.Div. Academic Award, the M.A. Academic Award, the M.A.C.M.
Academic Award, the Jack P. Lewis Ministry of Study Award, the Hebrew Award and the
Velma R. West Greek Award. The SA publishes a student newsletter and coordinates informal
athletic activities throughout the year. The SA also hosts banquets, devotionals, picnics
and campus movies.
The Graduate School grants a 50 percent tuition scholarship to the SA president during his or her year of service; 30 percent to the vice president; 25 percent to the secretary/treasurer; 20 percent to the newsletter editor; and 10 percent to each student representative. (In no case would a student scholarship exceed 100 percent of tuition.) The SA is provided office space in the Ijams Administration Building.
This association exists to serve. The annual slate of officers is published in the school newsletter.
Alumni Association
The Alumni Association works for the welfare of the school in various ways, such as fund
raising and hosting the annual Ministry Forum. The organization consists of a president, three
vice presidents and an executive secretary. Officers are elected biennially.
