Dean Stone's April Reflection

This month’s issue is devoted entirely to a forward-looking horizon as we prepare to celebrate graduation in May.

Commencement marks the completion of a course of study for our students, but it does not signal an ending. Rather, it is a threshold—a moment when calling takes on new clarity and direction. The degrees we confer are not destinations; they are affirmations of formation for lives of faithful service in a world that is as complex as it is in need of hope, wisdom, and prophetic courage.
 
This season reminds us that theological education is never an end in itself. It is preparation for ministry in its many forms—within congregations, across communities, and in the public square. Even now, we can see that movement unfolding. It is present in the thoughtful work of our students, in the scholarship and mentorship of our faculty, and in the far-reaching impact of Perkins graduates whose ministries continue to shape lives well beyond our campus.
 
In this issue, we highlight stories that reflect both where we are and where we are going. They are glimpses of a community rooted in a living tradition and constantly being sent forward—equipped, challenged, and sustained for the work ahead.

And so we approach graduation season with expectation, with gratitude, and with confidence that the victories we celebrate in May are bright beacons pointing the way forward.