The Commons
The Commons is published twice a year for alumni/ae and friends of Western Theological Seminary, 101 E. 13th Street, Holland, Michigan 49423. Reproduction in whole or in part by permission only.
Have a question or idea for a future article or story? Contact us at info@westernsem.edu.
Past Issues
- Fall 2022 – Introducing the Vita Scholars program, inaugural Doxology gathering, celebrating five years of the Hispanic Ministry program, and more.
- Summer 2022 – 146th graduation ceremony, Norm Donkersloot retires from WTS, new MA programs, Inaugural Founders’ Day lecture, and more.
- Fall 2021 – Launch of the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination, new publications from faculty, annual report, and more.
- June 2021 – Class of 2021, Distinguished Alum Timothy Brown ’76, Hope-Western Prison Education Program, new scholarships awarded, Churches in Mission update, Soul Care DMin Cohort
- March 2021 – update on Dr. Todd Billings, student stories (Jackson Nickolay, Amelia Green), alum story (Pat Bloemendaal), curriculum revision announcement
- Fall 2020 – Start to the school year, pastoring in a pandemic, the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination, annual report 2019-20, calls to the Class of 2020
- June 2020 – The Class of 2020, Distinguished Alum Karl OverBeek ’66, Ugandan Blessing, Chaplains serving during Covid-19, Carol Bechtel reflection from Italy, Jeff Munroe retirement reflections, pandemic report
- March 2020 – Highlights from the last decade, Chris Godfredsen student story, Katie Alley ’19 alum story, tribute to former president Marv Hoff, WTS awarded $1 million grant, WTS alum becomes Archbishop of Uganda
- Fall 2019 – Inauguration of President Felix Theonugraha, Girod Fellowship, Julie Myers ’17 alum story, tribute to Stan Rock, Calls to Class of 2019, 2018-19 annual report
- June 2019 – Commencement & Alumni/ae Day, tributes to President Tim Brown upon his retirement, distinguished alumni Tom Boogaart ’75 and Brian Vriesman ’79
- March 2019 – New president announced, Student stories (Linnea Scobey, Bob Ike), Calvin Symposium on Worship, Sabbatical reflection by Dr. Kyle Small, 10 year reunion of first distance-learning grads, Brazil intercultural immersion
- Fall 2018 – Our New Day Celebration, Tom Boogaart retiring, student story Noelle Jacobs, death of John Hesselink, alumnus story George Boerigter
- June 2018 – Commencement, Friendship House Friends graduate, Alumni Day, Distinguished Alumnus Dave Bast ’76, Dr. Bob Van Voorst retiring
- March 2018 – President Brown’s retirement announcement, Hispanic Ministry programs using cohorts, student Ruth Estell, millennials in ministry, new alumni council
- Fall 2017 – Construction/Renovation, summer internship stories from Shaelee Boender and Alex Regets, faculty fellow Gordon Govens, Hebrew camp, enrollment paradox, Dr. David Stubbs’ year in Rome
- June 2017 – Breaking ground on the new building & renovations, Commencement, Class of 2017, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alum Sam Solivan ’76, Dawn Boelkins retiring, new Hispanic Ministries Director, Newbigin House of Studies
- March 2017 – Suzanne McDonald’s work with dementia, Van Raalte Fellows, Reflections from our oldest alum Wally Stoepker, Oman Intercultural trip, new grants the seminary has received
- Fall 2016 – New Campaign, Student stories by Marcia Bosma & Adam VanDerStoep, the Big Read, Alvin Padilla, Community Kitchen 25 yrs, Luxcast kick-off
- June 2016 – Class of 2016, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alum Mel De Vries ’53, Summer Institute on Theology & Disability
- Winter 2016 – Taylor Holbrook ’86 alum reflection, BorderLinks trip, Melissa Conner staff profile
- Fall 2015 – New Certificate in Disability and Ministry, new faculty fellows, Ridder Church Renewal, facility update
- June 2015 – Class of 2015, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alum Dennis Voskuil ’69
- Winter 2015 – Paying for Seminary, Ridder Church Renewal and Bast Preaching Program, Professor visits China, Israel Intercultural Trip, etc.
- Fall 2014 – Friendship House, Dr. George Hunsberger retiring, Jeffrey Hubers Internship
- June 2014 – Class of 2014, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alums Phyllis Palsma and John Nordstrom
- Winter 2014 – Recent grad gives kidney, reflections on DL intensive, Cambodia intercultural immersion
- Fall 2013 – Brazil Intercultural Immersion, 11 new faculty and staff, Advancement staff highlight
- June 2013 – Class of 2013, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alums Gordon Laman ’59 & Vicki Menning ’89
- Winter (March) 2013 – The Bald Guy Challenge, A Tale of Two Class Gifts, WTS-Newbigin M.Div.
- Fall 2012 – George Brown retirement, Assessing seminary’s effectiveness, new employees
- June 2012 – Graduation, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alums Bruins & Karsen
- Winter (March) 2012, Chris Kaiser Retirement, Diversity update, Renovated Mulder Chapel
- Fall 2011 – Bangladesh trip, Chris Dorsey, Andrew Spidahl, Friendship House update
- June 2011 – Graduation, Alumni/ae Day, Distinguished Alums
- Winter (March) 2011 – Second career students, Newbigin House, Richard Oudersluys, Eric Williams
- Fall 2010 – Student Stories, Henry Bast Preaching Program
- June 2010 – Commencement, Alumni/ae Day, 2010 Distinguished Alums
- Spring 2010 – Ministry stories from 5 recent grads, Tom Boogaart inauguration
- Fall 2009 – Friendship House update, Student summer internship stories
- June 2009 – Distinguished Alums, Heideman and Van Eck, Class of 2009 Commencement and Alumni/ae Day
- March 2009 – Intercultural Immersion + Templeton award + DL program approved
- November 2008 – Student internship stories + report on Th.M. grads in Uganda. Inauguration of new president
- June 2008 – Distinguished Alumni of 2008. Alumni/ae Day and Commencement 2008
- Spring 2008 – New President + Tribute to Dennis Voskuil. Intercultural Immersion: Israel, Oman, Borderlands
- November 2007 – Summer stories + Friendship House
- June 2007 – Class of 2007, Distinguished Alumni Delbert Vander Haar ’47 and Paul Hostetter ’54, tribute to Dr. James Cook
- March 2007 – Intercultural Immersion: Kenya
- November 2006 – Church plants and revitalization
- June 2006 – Alumni/ae Day and Commencement 2006
- March 2006 – A day in the life of a seminary student
- November 2005 – Student internship stories, new faculty, Friendship House.
- June 2005 – First Commons to be released in PDF form. Alumni/ae Day and Commencement 2005