WS Chronicle

SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE

Eboo Patel, a leading voice for interfaith cooperation and the founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), will deliver Wake Forest University’s commencement address on  Monday, May 16.

“Eboo Patel is recognized around the world for bridging divisions among people of different faiths,” said Wake Forest University President Nathan O. Hatch. “At a time when so much global conflict is rooted in religious difference and the need for interfaith cooperation is so great, I am pleased he will be Wake Forest’s commencement speaker.”

Patel, who served on President Barack Obama’s inaugural Faith Council, is the author of “Acts of Faith,” “Sacred Ground,” and the forthcoming “Interfaith Leadership.”

Patel founded IFYC, a national nonprofit working to make interfaith cooperation a social norm. In 2015, Wake Forest partnered with IFYC  as part of the University’s ongoing efforts to support meaningful connections between people of different faiths.

A livestream webcast of the ceremony will be available at go.wfu.edu/wfu16.

Previous commencement speakers have included comedian Stephen Colbert (2015), The New York Times’ former executive editor Jill Abramson (2014), PepsiCo CEO  indra K. Nooyi (2011), Vice President Joe Biden (2009), professional golfer Arnold Palmer (’51) (2005), Secretary of State Colin Powell (2004), and former First Lady Barbara Bush (2001).

Baccalaureate information:

Also joining Wake Forest for the commencement weekend will be Baccalaureate speaker: The Reverend Dr. M. Craig Barnes, president and professor of pastoral ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.

“Rev. Barnes’ ministry, writing and academic leadership reflect his thoughtful

also joining Wake Forest for the commencement weekend will be Baccalaureate speaker: The Reverend Dr. M. Craig Barnes, president and professor of pastoral ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.

“Rev. Barnes’ ministry, writing and academic leadership reflect his thoughtful and widely informed approach to religious ministry and theological formation that is well suited to changing times,” Hatch said. “He has superbly led large urban congregations and is a wonderful communicator, deeply human and hopeful in his approach and his words.”

After graduating from The King’s College and Princeton Theological Seminary, he received a Ph.D. in the History of Christianity from The University of Chicago. He has served as a pastor to three congregations including The National Presbyterian  Church in Washington, D.C. In the fall of 2002, he became the Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Pittsburgh Seminary while also serving as the senior pastor of Shadyside Presbyterian Church.

Baccalaureate will take place Sunday, May 15 at 11 a.m.  in Wait Chapel. Like commencement, baccalaureate is a ticketed event reserved for graduates, their families and guests and is not open to the general public.

A livestream webcast of the service will be available at go.wfu.edu/bacc2016.

Additional information about Wake Forest’s commencement weekend is available at  commencement.wfu.edu.