Judson alumnus to speak at commencement

The Rev. William C. Calhoun Sr., dean of New Pastors and Churches of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, will speak at Judson University’s Spring 2011 commencement on Saturday, April 30. The commencement ceremony will be at 2 p.m. in the Robert D. Lindner Fitness Center, 1151 N. State St. in Elgin.

Calhoun is a native of Frankfort, Ky., and has served as pastor at Moore Street Baptist Church of Richard, Va., and Trinity Baptist Church of Baltimore, Md.

A 1971 graduate of Judson College (now Judson University), Calhoun has been awarded as an Alumnus of the Year and served on its board of trustees. He earned his master of divinity from the Graduate School of Theology at Virginia Union University in Richmond, graduating in May 1974. In 1990, Calhoun earned the doctor of ministry degree at Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa.

Calhoun has served as the president of the Progressive Baptist Convention of Maryland twice. He incorporated the convention and has remained faithful to the mission of Progressive Baptists. For 22 years he was producer and host of the weekly ecumenical television ministry called “Lift Every Voice” on WMAR TV2, the ABC affiliate in Baltimore.

He currently serves as the president of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Metropolitan Baltimore. He is a professor of Urban Theology at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University. He is a life member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He was recently reappointed to the Maryland Transportation Authority Board Board by Governor Martin O’Malley of Maryland.

More than 179 students earning bachelor and master degrees will graduate during the 64th graduating class of Judson University. During the ceremony, Judson will also recognize eight alumni who graduated with the Classes of 1966 and 1971, marking 40 year and 45 years, respectively, since their graduation.