Worship team carries cross into Duke Chapel during Opening Convocation

At Duke Divinity School’s 98th Opening Convocation, which took place during the Duke University centennial year, Divinity School Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric reflected on the diversity of the school—its multiple degree offerings, learning modalities, ethnicities, vocations, denominations, and political affiliations—and its unity as “one Pentecost people walking en conjunto for the life of the world.”

Edgardo Colón-Emeric preaches in Goodson Chapel during Opening Convocation
Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric preaches in Duke Chapel.

He addressed the community: “At the Divinity School, we do not believe that Pentecost preachers are limited to church chancels. The wind blows where it wills. There are potential pulpits across this university and throughout this land. Plant them in the clinics of Duke South and the classrooms of Duke Divinity. Plant them in the Marine Lab and the food pantry. Plant them in underserved rural communities and in gentrified urban areas. If you are here studying how to become a pastor or a chaplain, you are a Pentecost preacher. If you are here studying to be a theologically formed social worker or health care provider, you are a Pentecost preacher. If you are here as an aspiring scholar or merely as a Christian, you are a Pentecost preacher.”

The Opening Convocation service marks the beginning of the new academic year and serves as a welcome to entering students, who this year included 224 students from 41 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as well as new students who hold either primary or secondary citizenship in 11 other countries. 

"If you are here studying how to become a pastor or a chaplain, you are a Pentecost preacher. If you are here studying to be a theologically formed social worker or health care provider, you are a Pentecost preacher. If you are here as an aspiring scholar or merely a Christian, you are a Pentecost preacher.”

Dean Edgardo Colón-Emeric

The Master of Divinity program gained 108 new students, including 62 residential students (up from 54 the year before) and 46 in the hybrid program. The Master of Arts in Christian Practice enrolled eight new students; the Doctor of Ministry, 39 (up from 22 last year); Master of Theology, 10; Master of Theological Studies, 27; the Doctor of Theology welcomed five new students to campus. The Certificate in Theology and Health Care welcomed five residential students to campus and 21 to the hybrid program. One special student also enrolled.

Across all programs at the Divinity School, 40 percent of incoming students reported one or more racial/ethnic identities underrepresented in our community. Female-identifying students make up 55 percent of incoming students, while male-identifying students comprise 45 percent.

A sign welcomes students to Duke Divinity and a student passes through the door

Of the new residential M.Div. students, 42 percent reported one or more racial/ethnic identities underrepresented in our community, and female-identifying students make up 50 percent of incoming residential M.Div. students. For new hybrid M.Div. students, 33 percent reported one or more racial/ethnic identities underrepresented in our community; and female-identifying students make up 63 percent of incoming hybrid M.Div. students, while male-identifying students make up 37 percent.

There were 21 total denominations represented in the residential M.Div. entering class, and 19 denominations represented in the hybrid M.Div. class. 

The Opening Convocation service also include a blessing of new faculty and staff.

Watch the service.

The congregation sits in Duke Chapel during Opening Convocation