April 28, 2014

Memo 6

Graduates, Family and Guests

Class of 2014

May 9Baccalaureate Buffet

5:00-6:30 p.m., Alumni Hall

Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Hamilton

President Hollinger and his wife, Mary Ann, as well as our Vice President for Academic Affairs Rick Lints and his wife, Ann, are looking forward to welcoming you,

May 9Baccalaureate (Worship Service)

Graduates must arrive at 7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m. (ceremony begins)

A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel

Gordon College*

Dr.Jim M. Singleton, Jr.

Graduates must wear academic regalia.

May 10Commencement

Graduates must arrive no later than 7:45 a.m.

10:00 a.m. (Ceremony begins)

The Bennett Center, Gordon College

Rev. Dr. Claude R. Alexander, Jr.

Graduates must wear academic regalia.

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*255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, MA, 978-927-2300 Website:

Directions from Gordon-Conwell to Gordon College. For those who will be at the Baccalaureate Buffet at the Gordon-Conwell campus, please see attached map for directionsto Gordon College.

BACCALAUREATE SERVICE(Friday night): The Chapel Doors will open at 7:00 p.m.Early arrivals may wait in the Lobby or in the Lane Center next door. Only authorized personnel will be allowed in the Chapel before the doors open.

Parents are encouraged to bring quiet fun activities for their children, while in the Chapel Lobby during the service.

COMMENCEMENT (Saturday morning): The Bennett Center Auditorium will be opening at 9:00 a.m. The building itself will open at 7:00 a.m. Early arrivals may wait in the Lobby, Lounge and Aerobics Room areas where there will be chairs available for their use. Only authorized personnel will be allowed in the auditorium before 9:00 a.m.

  • Commencement is primarily an event for Graduates and family Members: All are welcome. There is no limit to the number of family members and friends invited; however, we request that graduates who currently pastor a churchlimit your guests to a few church members. We want to ensure that we can accommodate family members of all the graduates.
  • Honoring our Graduates:We gather to celebrate each graduate’s accomplishment, as he/she receives the diploma, so family/friends are asked to please respect each of the graduates by holding their cheers and applause to a minimum so that each graduate’s name can be heard clearly.
  • DVDs of Baccalaureate Service & Commencement may be pre-ordered at clicking on the “Graduation” category in the left column. Digital download will also be available for purchase here.Videos should be available approximately 4 weeks after Commencement. This service by the seminary should preclude persons from hiring a personal videographer.
  • The Baccalaureate sermon, Commencement address, and student remarks will be posted to iTunes U and YouTube for free viewing and download. Click the iTunes icon at the bottom of the GCTS home page to access iTunes U, or visit the "GordonConwell" channel on YouTube.
  • Taking Photos at Commencement:We respectfully request that family members not get out of their chairs to take pictures of graduates. No photos from the aisles or from the side or back walls, please. Out of respect for people around you and in honor of the occasion,please do not use lights or flash during either service. Our ushers have been directed to endorse these guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.
  • Children’s Room will be located in the Aerobics Room in the Bennett Center for the convenience of those who want to come out with their children. For your convenience while in the room with your children, a TV Monitor will be available. Ushers will direct families to the room. Children must be supervised at all times by parents/guardians.
  • Parents should bring quiet toys for small children
  • Children are not allowed to run around under the bleachers
  • ASL Interpreters: In order to accommodate our guests who are deaf or hard of hearing, American Sign Language interpreters will be at both baccalaureate and commencement. The best seating location to view the Interpreters will be in the front right side of the meeting hall (Gordon Chapel for Baccalaureate and Bennett Center Gym for Commencement).
  • No Air Conditioning in the Bennett Center If the weather is very warm,graduates& guests are recommended to dress appropriately for Commencement. The Bennett Center is not air conditioned.
  • Strollers in Bennett Center: The ushers will direct parents to the area designated for strollers. Strollers will not be permitted in the gymnasium.
  • No Pets will be allowed in the Baccalaureate or Commencement services, only service animals.
PARKING on Commencement Day at Bennett Center
  • Campus Security will direct you to the designated parking areas.
  • There are 35 designated handicapped parking spaces in the Bennett Center parking lot for this event. Graduates should contact Lita Schlueter () ASAP if you need special assistance ( or 978-646-4060)
  • In order to avoid a traffic jam, there will not be a “drop off” at the Bennett Center.

SHUTTLE to and from Gordon College on Commencement Day

Due to limited parking at Gordon College, graduates and families living on campus will be transported to Gordon College from the seminary’s Academic Center parking lot.

  • Two buses will run the schedule below from the GCTS Academic Center parking lot to the Bennett Center.

7:15 a.m. -Graduates only to Gordon Chapel

7:30 a.m. -Graduates only to Gordon Chapel

SHUTTLE - Continued

Continuous runs:

7:45-10:15 a.m. – Guests to Bennett Center

  • Two buses will do continuous runs from Gordon Chapel to GCTS Academic Center parking lot,

12:30 – 2:00 p.m. – Graduates and guests are welcome to use.

Families/guests with children who must be in a car seat are strongly encouraged to car pool, if at all possible.

Full Parking Lots at Gordon College? If guests are coming from off campusand they arrive at Gordon College andare turned back due to full parking lots, they may come to the Seminary campus and pick up the shuttle within times listed above. (See attached mapfrom Gordon College to Gordon-Conwell).

SHUTTLE for Elderly/those needing assistance after Commencement: A one-way bus to the Gordon Chapel will be parked outside the main doors of the Bennett Center immediatelyfollowingthe commencement service. If you or anyone in your party needs assistance and/or elderly we invite you to make use of this shuttle. (The shuttle is not wheelchair accessible.)

MEET YOUR GRADUATE at Gordon Chapel after Commencement. Graduates will process out of the Bennett Center and directly back to Gordon Chapel, where they will pick up their diplomas. (Although October Graduates will not be receiving their diplomas, they should also return to the Chapel area.)

Please do not stop outside the Bennett Center – safety officers must keep the road clear for vehicles to exit the parking lot.

The Gordon Chapel lawn is ideal for taking photographs with friends/family.

PHOTOGRAPHwith President Hollinger: Anyone wishing to take a photograph with the seminary’s President, Dr. Dennis Hollinger, may do so by going to the front of the Chapel area (look for the Gordon-Conwell Banner). Dr. Hollinger will beavailableup to 1:00 p.m. A staff personwill be present to direct graduates in taking turns for the photographs.

Hamilton Campus Mail Boxes

Graduates mustclose their GCTS mailbox and give the Mailroom their new address before they leave campus! And if you live in the apartments, you must also file a change of address with either the South Hamilton post office or by going online to For more information, read the Mailbox Closing and Forwarding policies on the bulletin board outside the Mailroom.