Graduation celebrates study and service

It is a record René Gehring did not seek, but he will become the first student to graduate with a PhD from Avondale College of Higher Education.

The 30-year-old Seventh-day Adventist minister from Korbach, Germany, is one of an expected 278 graduands eligible to march over graduation weekend (December 9-11) this year.

René’s thesis—“The biblical ‘one flesh’ theology of marriage as constituted in Genesis 2:24: an exegetical study of this human–divine covenant pattern, its New Testament echoes and its reception history throughout Scripture”—describes a harmonious teaching of marriage throughout Scripture, based on the principles of Genesis 2:24 being at least subliminally present in most marriage texts. It also notes the spiritual and practical characteristics of the “leave,” “be joined” and “become one flesh” (NKJV) pattern of the covenant and the privileges and responsibilities of this “Edenic ideal.”

Avondale’s “close connection” with 19th century Adventist history played a part in René’s decision to study at the college. “I would not be an Adventist had I not, by chance, found as a 17-year-old some of Ellen White’s books on a shelf. They changed my life and gave me a strong, firm belief. I’ve been interested in her life ever since.” He notes Ellen’s formative role in Avondale’s history. “Now I have my own little part in its history.”

Vice-president (administration and research) Dr Vivienne Watts describes René’s place in history as an achievement for Avondale. “Few private higher education providers offer PhDs,” she says. “Those that do offer them in mostly one discipline. We offer them in four.” Vivienne implemented the PhD program at Avondale, so reading René’s name during the presentation of awards will be “satisfying.” What is also satisfying: the five-year reaccreditation of the program this past year. Vivienne also notes how the external examination of higher degree by research theses enhances Avondale’s credibility. “Each of these students we graduate adds to the evidence of the quality of our education.”

Avondale will recognise other academic achievers by announcing the third recipient of its most prestigious prize, the Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Prize for Excellence, during the consecration service on the Sydney campus. Lisa Mason will join Jared Benard and Kristen Hankins as winners of the $1500 prize.

Rebekah Bamford fits Katrina Rowe’s regalia. The graduands are co-leaders of One Mission, which is returning for a third consecutive year to the Philippines and the Solomon Islands and sending its first team to Brazil this month—it has already sent teams to the Philippines and Nepal this year. The student club will feature during Sabbath school over the graduation weekend.

Their classmates will recognise the importance of service in the giving of the graduation class gift—a donation of at least one computer to the Riverside Seventh-day Adventist Primary School in Cape Town, South Africa, to help it digitise its records. Graduand Rhianon Bougaardt identified the need while teaching at the school earlier in the year.

Dr Ella Simmons, a general vice-president of the General Conference, will use the class’s Micah 6:8-based motto, “Be,” as the focus of the graduation service address. Her challenge: “To be or not to be?”