Dorman issues blessing and challenge to Campbell grads

      Well-known churchman Dr. Charles Dorman faced an audience of eager graduates ready to get on with their lives Sunday, May 8, at Campbell University’s baccalaureate worship service, yet his inspirational message appeared to make them pause and reflect on the future.
     “It is a frightening and dangerous world, but you will be required to make your way through it,” he said. “Turn to God, seek his face, make him smile and God will smile back. As God delights in you, delight in God, and may you dance in heaven 30 minutes before the devil knows you’re dead.”
     In a world where the chasm between rich and poor, the employed and the unemployed and hope and despair is widening, we must trust in God to lead us, Dorman urged.
      “We can either react to events using the survival mode, or respond to events using the redemptive mode. One way is narrow and hard, the other is the way of life.”
Dorman cautioned the graduates to look to reliable checkpoints, not to self-proclaimed gurus or authoritative voices on the airwaves. “Look to God’s word for guidance and his love will bless you,” he said.
     A 1951 graduate of Duke University, Dorman earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion and naval science. After a tour of duty with the United States Navy, he enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1958. Dorman went on to receive Master of Theology and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
     He served as director of Student/Field Ministries for Southeastern for 14 years and has held three pastorates and 23 interim pastorates. He was pastor of Fuquay-Varina Baptist Church from 1961-1978. Dorman’s work in the field of interim ministry is well recognized through his involvement with both the Center for Congregational Health and the Interim Ministry Network. He is a founding member of the Association for Intentional Interim Ministry and has served several terms as president of the organization.
     He first came to Campbell University in 1974 as a Visiting Professor of New Testament. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at the Campbell Divinity School, where he designed and implemented the Supervised Ministry program.
     Campbell conferred 815 degrees at the commencement service on Monday, May 9, on the Academic Circle in front of the D. Rich Memorial Building. Dr. R. Kirby Godsey, president of Mercer University, delivered the commencement address.

Photo Copy: Dr. Charles Dorman delivers the baccalaureate address at Campbell University Sunday, May 8. (Photo by Bennett Scarborough)
 

Bulletin 0118-5/10/05