Annual Convocation Features WWU President

Dr. John McVay speaks for the convocation on August 3. (Photo: Caressa Rogers)

John McVay, president of Walla Walla University in Walla Walla, Washington, spoke for Southwestern Adventist University’s annual convocation ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 3.  Held at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church, the convocation marks the beginning of the academic year for the university.

The ceremony started as the symphony orchestra played and the professors and administrators entered in traditional robes.  Joel Wallace, vice president for financial administration, offered the invocation and was followed by a welcome to students and staff by Dr. Amy Rosenthal, vice president for academic administration. Larry Moore, Southwestern Union President and chairman of the University Board of Trustees, greeted attendees on behalf of the Board.

University president Dr. Ken Shaw welcomed students by announcing that the University’s new five-year plan was in effect, and introduced the speaker. This was followed by the Southwestern University Singers, who sang the anthem Jerusalem by Stacy V. Gibbs.

McVay’s message followed the theme “Truth is Tough,” and included three stories that illustrated the theme.

“All truth is God’s Truth,” he said. “The efforts of God will always miniaturize our own. Our job is not to protect the truth, but to embrace it and call it our own.”

The dedicatory prayer by James Winegardner, administrative pastor of the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church, concluded the program.

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