Princeton Theological Seminary Graduates 214 Students May 19

Princeton, NJ, May 20, 2007–Princeton Theological Seminary held its 195th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 19 at 4:00 p.m. in the Princeton University Chapel. Seminary president Dr. Iain R. Torrance addressed the graduates. Torrance was awarded an honorary degree (LHD) from King College in Bristol, Tennessee. Dr. Gregory Jordan, president of King College, and Dr. Richard Ray, a trustee of King College, presented the honorary doctorate to Torrance during commencement.

Also honored at the ceremony was Princeton Seminary’s 2007 Distinguished Alumnus, William H. Gray III, Class of 1970. Gray is chairman of the Amani Group, a governmental, educational, and business advisory group. He was president and chief executive officer of The College Fund/United Negro College Fund from 1991 to 2004. Gray served in the U.S. Congress from 1979 to 1991, was the first African American to chair the House Budget Committee, and became Chairman of the Democratic Caucus. He was also the first African American in the 20th century to become Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, a position he held from 1989 to 1991. He is pastor emeritus of the nearly 7,000-member Bright Hope Baptist Church in Philadelphia, as were his father (William H. Gray Jr., Princeton Seminary Class of 1953) and grandfather before him, and he has been a professor of religion and history at St. Peter’s College, Jersey City State College, Montclair State College, Palmer Theological Seminary, and Temple University. Gray earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Franklin and Marshall College, a Master of Divinity degree from Drew University Theological School, and a Master of Theology degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. 

At this year’s commencement two hundred fourteen(214)students graduated in seven degree programs. One hundred forty-nine (149) men and women received the Master of Divinity degree, the basic professional degree for Christian ministry. One (1) student received the Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree; five (5) students received the Master of Arts degree; thirty-one (31) received the Master of Theology degree; nine (9) received the Doctor of Ministry degree; and six (6) received the Master of Divinity/Master of Arts dual degree.

Thirteen (13) students were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree, the highest degree awarded by the institution.

There were nineteen (19) international students in the graduating class, including students from Myanmar, Ghana, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Korea, India, Kenya, Scotland, Japan, and Slovakia.

Jessica and Troy Hauser Brydon and Brandon and Kristin Willett, both married couples, graduated together with the M.Div. degree.

Princeton Theological Seminary was founded in 1812 as the first seminary established by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. It is the largest Presbyterian seminary in the country, with more than 700 students in seven graduate degree programs. 

For additional information, contact the Communications/Publications Office at 609.497.7760.