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Joint Graduation Ceremonies Held in Puerto Rico

Diocesan Press Service. May 25, 1973 [73147]

CAROLINA, Puerto Rico -- A new beginning in higher education was formally recognized recently with graduation ceremonies in Carolina, Puerto Rico.

The Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Caribbean (ETSC) and the Instituto Psicologico de Puerto Rico, two founding members of the Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies, conducted a joint commencement marking the successful completion of their first year of combined operation.

The Caribbean Center, together with a teaching faculty from the Dominican Fathers of Puerto Rico, represents a new vehicle for postgraduate education in Latin America by offering interested scholars an interdisciplinary program of theology and psychology. An ecumenical faculty and a multicultural, multilingual community, are other aspects that complement the programs of this institution.

Nineteen students from five different countries received the degrees of Master in Divinity, Certificate in Theology, Master in Clinical Psychology, and Master in Pastoral Psychology. The latter represents the only degree of its kind in Latin America while the Masters in Clinical Psychology is as equally unique to Puerto Rico.

While the ETSC has maintained its previous goals and programs, its validity both as a seminary and as a participating member of the Centro, was accentuated by the day's principal speaker.

The commencement address was given by the Rt. Rev. Francisco Reus-Froylan, Bishop of Puerto Rico. His message was an urgent call for frugality and austerity in the conduct of our daily lives. The rampant materialism of our time, Bishop Reus said, has usurped the human, moral considerations that we need so desperately. It was his sincere hope that today's graduates as well as all subsequent Centro graduates, would provide the theological and psychological leadership needed in Latin America for the spiritual nurturing and development of its people.

The Episcopal Church was well represented at the graduation ceremonies. Among those present were the Rt. Rev. Telesforo Isaac, Bishop of the Dominican Republic; the Rt. Rev. Clive Abdulah, Bishop of Trinidad; the Rt. Rev. J. Antonio Ramos, Bishop of Costa Rica; the Rt. Rev. Edward Haynsworth, Bishop of Nicaragua; the Rt. Rev. Lemuel Shirley, Bishop of Panama; the Rt. Rev. Anselmo Carral, Bishop of Guatemala; the Very Rev. Harvey Guthrie, Jr., Dean of the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Mass.; the Very Rev. William P. Haugaard, Dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Caribbean and Vice Chancellor of the Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies; and Mrs. Carman Hunter, Deputy for Jurisdictions of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, New York City.

A new institution has now begun its second year of operation in Latin America. Rather than following the lead of others, the Caribbean Center for Advanced Studies has established a criterion for others to follow. The ETSC, as a participating member of the Centro, has supplemented this new and essentially needed educational source in the same spirit that it continues to strive to fulfill the continuing need for graduate level theological training in the area.

At its meeting, the board of the ETSC regretfully accepted the resignation of the Rev. Floyd Naters Gamarra as Assistant to the Dean and Director of the seminary's program of development, a post which he has held for more than three years. Unanimously expressing thanks for the dedicated and competent work of Fr. Naters, the trustees took note of the substantial progress which has been achieved. In 1969, the year before the development program began, the seminary received about $20,000 in addition to the grant from the Executive Council. In the two and one half subsequent years, to the closing of the last academic year in July, 1972, the seminary realized $250,000 in donations. The seminary's development program has provided the base for future financial resources both for the seminary and the Caribbean Center.

The seminary board, augmented by additional Caribbean and South American bishops present, discussed the needs of the ministry in the area. It was agreed that the present situation demands a variety of ministries at various levels of education and a variety of professional skills. The preparation of such ministries requires the availability of different types of educational institutions.

The participants determined to seek funds for an area-wide consultation of church leaders with responsibility for the ministry and its preparation, to be held in August in Costa Rica, including representation from the Ninth Province, Haiti, the Virgin Islands, and the Church in the Province of the West Indies. The consultation will hold no official status, but it is hoped that it will prove useful to bishops, diocesan commissions, synods, and boards with theological education responsibilities in planning for the future.