By Simon Terrill
11 Bishopdale College students graduated on Friday – including someone you might not have expected… Bishop Steve Maina!
The assembly was greeted by Rev Dr Maja Whitaker, academic dean of Laidlaw College, Bishopdale College’s partner. She praised the students for their hard work, and called theological study “a sacrificial act of worship”.
Daniela Hayer and Hana Wood (Level 5 Diploma in Christian Studies), Kimberly Rea (Graduate Diploma in Theology), and Rev Alice Kinyua (Bachelor of Theology with Honours) shared testimonies of their time studying at Bishopdale. They spoke of a strong community at the college, appreciating the support shown by faculty.
Daniela, from Germany, said that the staff were “loving, encouraging, appreciating, and championing the students”.Dean of Bishopdale College Andrew Burgess – known as Burge – gave an address based on the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
“The fruit of the Spirit is all about relationship,” Burge said, “and that makes sense to me, because God is all about relationship.” Alongside theological learning and practical outworking, Bishopdale College aims to develop the character of their faculty, board and students.
We can’t represent God in the world, Burge argued, if we aren’t made more like him.
