I am pleased to announce that the Rev. Dr. Karla M. Kincannon, a 1976
graduate of Virginia Wesleyan, will serve as our Baccalaureate speaker
on Friday, May 18, at Haygood United Methodist Church in Virginia Beach
(4713 Haygood Rd.). A preludial concert by the Virginia Wesleyan Chorale
will begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by a 6:00 p.m. service.
Baccalaureate
is a religious service held at most private, church-related educational
institutions before the commencement exercises. It is an important
tradition at United Methodist Church-affiliated colleges and
universities. A farewell sermon to the graduating class and selected
remarks, often from one or more representatives of the senior class, are
highlights.
Rev. Kincannon is the director of spiritual
formation at Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Alexandria, Virginia.
As an artist, author, spiritual director, and United Methodist minister
(Elder), she believes "God’s gift of creativity is an essential tool
for navigating the spiritual journey and a necessary element for the
corporate life of the Church." She is the author of Creativity and Divine Surprise: Finding the Place of Your Resurrection,
as well as numerous articles about the spiritual journey and curriculum
for the United Methodist Church. She speaks in a variety of ecumenical
settings nationwide as a lecturer, workshop leader, and retreat
facilitator.
Dr. Kincannon earned a Bachelor of Arts from
Virginia Wesleyan and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical
Theological Seminary. She also completed her Doctor of Ministry in
Spiritual Direction from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where
she served on the faculty for five years. Her other experience includes
serving as a church pastor, a college chaplain and campus minister,
conflict mediator, as well as more than two decades of work in the
healing arts as a spiritual director. She founded SpiritArt Ministries
to help individuals and congregations encounter the living God through
the use of their creativity.
Please join me in congratulating the
Class of 2018 as they prepare for this exciting weekend of tradition
and celebration, of which Baccalaureate is a valued and memorable part.
