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Commissioning 2023
May 12
View Commissioning Service
62nd Annual Commissioning 2023
Friday, May 12, 2023
1:00pm – 3:00pm
ADC Open House
4:30pm – 6:30pm
Commissioning Supper
7:30pm
Commissioning Service
Since 1962, our Commissioning Service has been held for graduating students and is one of the spiritual high points of the school year. It’s our way of sending off the leaving students with love and prayerful support. The departing students are commissioned to fulfill their ministry in Christ’s Church.
1:00pm – 3:00pm – Open House at Acadia Divinity College
Come visit us! Say hello to staff & faculty, tour the building, and enjoy refreshments with our community. Open to all, no registration required.
4:30pm – 6:30pm – Commissioning Supper at Wheelock Dining Hall
Registration now closed. If you have any questions about your registration, please contact trisha.urquhart@acadiau.ca
Before the Commissioning Service, we gather to eat together and to celebrate as a community. ADC friends, and Graduands and their guests will need to register to attend. Tickets are $10 per person.
Doors open at 4:30pm for a 5:00pm start.
Please note: The Supper will be held on the second floor of the building. An elevator is available near the main (east) entrance of the building. Free parking will be available in the parking lot directly adjacent to the Dining Hall.
7:30pm – Commissioning Service @ Wolfville Baptist Church & Online
Each year during Convocation weekend, Acadia Divinity College recognizes its students completing programs during its annual ADC Commissioning. With their family and friends watching, along with ADC staff and the greater College community, the ADC Faculty send out the students with prayer and blessing.
The Service will take place on-site at Wolfville Baptist Church and will also be live-streamed right here on this event page. No registration required.
There will refreshments and time for photos following the service.
Please Note: There is limited free parking at the church.
There is a ramp on the east side of the church building to aid with accessibility.
Annual John Gladstone Sermon
This year, we are delighted to announce that Rev. Dr. R. Glenn Wooden will deliver the Annual John Gladstone Sermon at ADC’s 62nd annual Commissioning Service.
Glenn grew up in Saint John, New Brunswick. After completing grade 12 at Simonds Regional High School, he enrolled at Atlantic Baptist College in Moncton where he completed a diploma in biblical studies, and two years of arts courses. He completed his undergraduate work at Mount Allison University where he took an honours degree in Greek, then went on to Acadia Divinity College, where he completed his Master of Divinity (1984), and a Master of Arts (Theology) in Old Testament Studies (1986).
Since 1984, Glenn faithfully served the College community, initially as a part-time lecturer in biblical languages. At the request of ADC, he undertook a master’s degree in library and information studies at Dalhousie University and then in 1991 he and his family moved to St. Andrews, Scotland, where he began doctoral studies. He returned to Acadia in 1993 to assume the position of Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies and Librarian. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2002, and he became the occupant of the Payzant Chair of Biblical Studies in 2016. During his tenure, Glenn was the interim Director of Doctoral Studies, Director of the Master of Arts (Theology) program as well as the liaison for several years to two affiliated colleges in Nigeria.
Glenn has engaged countless students as they learned the biblical languages, and explored history, exegesis, and application of the Bible, and he has also supervised the research of several Doctor of Ministry and Master of Arts (Theology) students. He provided students and community members with a rich educational experience by leading and co-leading six tours in Israel-Palestine and Turkey and Greece. A biblical scholar, Glenn has published and lectured on the Book of Daniel and on the Septuagint version of the Hebrew Bible.
Glenn’s local church ministry experience includes serving as a youth worker in Hillsborough (1977-1978) and Petitcodiac (1978-1980) United Baptist Churches in New Brunswick and pastoring Third Horton (1982-1984) and Black River (1985-1989) United Baptist Churches in Nova Scotia. Currently, he is an active member of the Third Horton United Baptist Church in Canaan, and he continues to guest preach at churches throughout the region.
In June 2023, Rev. Dr. Glenn Wooden will complete his service as the Payzant Associate Professor of Old Testament Studies.
Glenn is married to Darlene (nee Harnish), and together they have two children and six grandchildren.
The Annual John Gladstone Sermon is named for the highly regarded Rev. Dr. John Gladstone, Senior Minister at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, where he served between 1965 and 1991.
