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Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, world statesman and winner
of the Nobel Peace Prize, will be the speaker and receive an honorary
degree at Berea College's Commencement on Sunday, May 22.
Tutu, whose daughter, Naomi earned a bachelor's degree in economics
from Berea in 1983, will address the 241 candidates for graduation
in the ceremony in Seabury Center beginning at 2 p.m.
Eastern Kentucky healthcare advocate Eula Hall will also be awarded
an honorary degree from Berea. Both she and Tutu will receive the honorary
degree of doctor of humane letters.
Stacy F. Sauls, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington, will
be the speaker for the Baccalaureate Service in Phelps Stokes Chapel
at 10:30. Other events include the Nurses Pinning Service scheduled
for 9 a.m. in Union Church and a reception for all graduates, family
and friends at approximately 4 p.m. outside Seabury Center (Old Seabury
Gym in case of rain).
In his role as General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches
from 1978-85, Anglican Bishop Desmond Tutu became a national and international
leader in the crusade for justice, racial conciliation and the end
of apartheid, South Africa’s system of racial segregation and
discrimination. In recognition of his contributions to that cause,
he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. In 1986, he was elected
Bishop of Johannesburg and in 1986 was elevated to Archbishop of Cape
Town, where he did much to bridge the gap between black and white Anglicans
in his country and became the principal mediator and conciliator in
the transition to democracy in South Africa. In 1995, President Nelson
Mandela appointed him Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
a body set up to probe gross human rights violations that occurred
under apartheid, and on which Tutu served until 2003.
Shortly after his retirement in 1996, Tutu was granted the title of
Archbishop Emeritus. Since then, as an elder statesman with a world-wide
ministry as well, he has campaiged against HIV/AIDS, making appearances
around the globe to help raise awareness of the disease and its tragic
consequences. He has been a visiting professor at several universities
and has published six books, the most recent being “God has a
Dream.” Archbishop Tutu has been awarded 109 honorary doctorates
and received more than 100 awards.
Born in 1931 in Klerksdorp, South Africa, Tutu was ordained to the
Anglican ministry in 1961 and later earned bachelor and master of divinity
degrees from King’s College, London. He held teaching and administrative
positions in South Africa from 1967-1976. He was Bishop of Lesotho
from 1976-78, the position he held when he became leader of the SAAC.
He and his wife Leah have a son and three daughters.
Hall has been a community organizer for almost 40 years and is the
founder of the Mud Creek Clinic in Floyd County, Ky. Begun in 1973
with $1,400 in donations, the Clinic in Grethel now serves more than
7,000 patients a year from a modern 5,200 square foot facility and
is the only clinic in Floyd County that provides health care based
on one’s ability to pay. Hall, who grew up in Pike County, also
educates others to become social activists, focusing on environmental
and economic issues that affect community health.
Sauls has been Bishop of Lexington since 2000. At the time of his
election, he was youngest bishop in the Episcopal Church. A native
of Atlanta, Ga., Sauls earned his bachelor’s degree from Furman
University and a master of divinity degree from the General Theological
Seminary. He also holds a degree of Juris Doctor from the University
of Virginia and practiced law in Atlanta, Ga. before attending seminary.
Before being elected bishop, Bishop Sauls served churches in Atlanta
and Savannah, Ga.
In addition to serving on numerous boards and committees within the
Episcopal Church, Bishop Sauls has helped found a clinic, an alternative
school and a food bank. He has a strong interest in ministry with Hispanics,
the homeless, people with AIDS and the youth of the Lexington Diocese.
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