Duke Divinity School celebrated its Baccalaureate Service on Saturday, May 9 at 6:30 p.m. in Duke University Chapel, with Lester Ruth, research professor of Christian worship, preaching, and Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric presiding.

A total of 158 Duke Divinity School students were awarded degrees as follows: Master of Divinity, 88; Doctor of Ministry, 21; Master of Theological Studies, 24; Master of Arts in Christian Practice, 11; Master of Theology, 10; and Doctor of Theology, 4. 

Preaching on James 3:13–18, Ruth said this text has become for him "like a light that shines in the darkness" in a time period where people are seeking to answer: "Who can I trust? Where can I turn for guidance? How do I decide who to follow and who to listen to?"

"Heavenly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, pliable, full of mercy and good fruit, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Demonstrate these qualities and I am willing to give you a fair hearing," said Ruth. "I love this verse now. What Marie Kondo is to the decluttering of closets James 3:17 has become to the decluttering of my newsfeeds and social media."

This list of attributes isn't the only one found in scripture, Ruth explained. Similar lists can be found in Colossians, Galatians, and Corinthians, and they all hope to do one thing: paint a portrait of the crucified and resurrected Jesus Christ.

In tumultuous times, Ruth encouraged these graduates to look to leaders who embody these attributes of Christ and to look for those attributes within themselves.

"When you leave here, the people you meet, the people you lead, the people to whom you minister, they are going to be asking these questions about you. And it is that we hope that we—the faculty and staff of Duke Divinity School—have taught you not only information, but we have taught you the wisdom of Jesus, the wisdom that is Jesus." Watch the service.

The Divinity School graduates also celebrated their accomplishments through special services including Closing Convocation, the Graduate Cross services, and a ceremony to honor student recipients of academic awards. 

The 2026 Closing Convocation Service was held on April 16 and live-streamed on YouTube from Duke Chapel. 

Dr. Daniel Castelo, associate dean for academic formation and William Kellon Quick Professor of Theology and Methodist Studies, preached the sermon at the service with Dean Colón-Emeric presiding.

During the service, Castelo delivered the final sermon of the school's year-long Nicene Creed Preaching series, saying the "Creed is, in a sense, one of the church's condensed testimonies of who God is and what God has done, shaping our actions and discipleship with each coming age."

He preached, "This God is the creator of all things, including us. This God came to us and became one of us. This God lived, died, rose again, and ascended to the heavens for us. This God will come again and restore justice...This God is so good and so loving. This is our God. This is what God has done. And God is calling us to participate in God's work in the world."

A special awards reception was held on April 13 to announce the student recipients of several academic awards for the 2025-26 academic year. View the award winners.

Alma Tinoco Ruiz, Royce and Jane Reynolds Assistant Professor of the Practice of Homiletics and Evangelism, preached during the residential and hybrid graduate cross services on April and May 8, respectively, where graduating students received their teal glass crosses as part of the school's annual tradition. 

"I think of teal as the color of the prophets," said chaplain Meghan Benson during the service. "In it, we see the intermingling of the blues of the heavens and the greens of our grassy, leafy green earth. It is the color when heaven and earth are bridged."

"It is the color that reminds us Jesus followers that we are called to yearn deep in our bellies for this side of eternity to more closely resemble the vision and love and justice of God."

 

Ruiz encouraged the graduates to keep the cross close to remember the reason behind everything they do—the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.