Centennial Chapel Celebration
On November 21, 2024, Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) gathered to celebrate a century of faithful service in theological education and spiritual formation. The Centennial Chapel service was a time of reflection, gratitude, and renewal, as the CTS community looked back on its legacy and looked forward to continuing its mission for the next century.
The service began with a powerful call to worship, inviting the congregation to unite in praise. As attendees stood in unity, the music team, led by Reverend John Ray, played a procession medley that included beloved hymns such as “Be Thou My Vision” and “To God Be the Glory.” The music set the tone for the day, underscoring the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness throughout CTS’s history.
CTS President, Dr. David M. Mellott, welcomed the diverse group of attendees, including trustees, faculty, alumni, students, and benefactors. “This celebration is not just about CTS,” he said, “but about what God has done here.” His words resonated deeply with the community as they acknowledged the many hands and hearts that have contributed to the seminary’s enduring success.
Dr. Mellott then invited the congregation to take a moment to reflect on the past 100 years. He acknowledged the pain and fear many felt in the wake of recent election results, but reminded everyone, “We cannot, and we must not, allow any government, any president, any Congress to steal our joy or our gratitude. God has been faithful to CTS for 100 years, and God will not stop now.”
This call to joy and courage was echoed in the year-long theme for the centennial celebration: “A Year of Blessing, a Year of Joy, and a Year of Courage.” As Dr. Mellott invited the congregation to repeat the phrase, a sense of renewed purpose filled the space. “It’s okay to celebrate,” he emphasized, “even in the midst of anxieties about the future.”
Reverend Dwight Holland, a CTS graduate and mental health professional, shared a heartfelt testimonial of his time at the seminary. He described his academic journey as both rigorous and transformative, shaping his calling and preparing him for a life of service. “CTS helped me define my call,” he said, recalling how the seminary’s professors and programs nurtured his growth. Holland now leads multiple mental health agencies and serves thousands of families, a testament to the lasting impact of CTS’s mission.
Following an emotive and stirring reading by Professor Emerita Dr. Marti J. Steussy, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), delivered a powerful sermon that linked the seminary’s foundational values with contemporary challenges. Drawing from the pastoral epistles and Deuteronomy, she centered her message on God’s eternal presence and the call to remain faithful in a divided world. Her words were a poignant reflection on both the seminary’s legacy and the contemporary challenges that shape its mission today.
Rev. Watkins began her sermon by sharing her personal connection to CTS. “I was born to Keith and Billy Watkins while Keith was a student at Butler School of Religion, and came back here as a second grader when he was invited to the faculty,” she recalled. She recalling her childhood memories of watching the seminary grow and witnessing key events, such as the honorary doctorate awarded to Duke Ellington. She remembered fondly her own experiences of selling Girl Scout cookies in the halls as a young child, long before she became an integral part of the seminary community. “It is a personal privilege to be here to share a word with this community,” she said, acknowledging the significance of the 100th anniversary.
Rev. Watkins took the congregation back to the roots of CTS, reflecting on the seminary’s founding amidst societal upheavals, including the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. She emphasized the commitment to inclusivity that has always been embedded in the seminary’s DNA, citing the involvement of abolitionists and feminists in its early days. “We are a seminary born with the DNA of abolitionists and feminists,” she said. “Let our fine deeds ever widen the circle of inclusion and increase interreligious sharing.”
Rev. Watkins spoke directly to the seminary’s role in forming leaders who are equipped to navigate a world filled with “profane chatter and false knowledge.” She turned to the biblical texts of Deuteronomy and First Timothy to highlight the call to remain faithful, regardless of the societal divisions around us. “God has been with us, is with us, and will be with us,” Rev. Watkins proclaimed, linking the seminary’s mission to the enduring presence of God in the world. “Will we be with God?” she challenged, echoing the words of Moses to the Israelites and the writer of First Timothy.
In her closing remarks, Rev. Watkins spoke of the need to confront contemporary issues, urging CTS to continue its leadership in advocating for justice within the seminary community and the world. “Let us work for right relationships of justice within our seminary community and in the systems of our city and our world, knowing that justice for all is an imperative of faith and life,” Rev. Watkins emphasized.
As the service concluded, the congregation joined in a powerful affirmation of God’s presence and continued work in the world. “For 100 years this God has been with us, is with us now, and will be for every imaginable tomorrow. God is with us,” Rev. Watkins declared, her words resonating deeply in the hearts of all present.
With a final prayer of thanksgiving, the CTS community committed to the next chapter of its journey. “Let us be with God,” Rev. Watkins concluded, “with all our will, all our passion, and all our power.”
The Centennial Chapel service was a profound reminder of the transformative power of faith, education, and community. It marked not just a celebration of the past but a recommitment to the ongoing mission of Christian Theological Seminary to form leaders who will serve God’s transforming work in the world for the next 100 years.
You can watch the video of the full Chapel Service here:
