Released - January 21, 2010
Council on Christian Unity president to speak at EC Founder's Day
february 5th - 4 pm - cerf center
The president of the Council on Christian Unity of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be the keynote speaker at Eureka College’s 155th Founders’ Day Convocation. The Rev. Robert K. Welsh will speak on “A View from God's Balcony” at 4 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Cerf Center. The event is free and open to the public.
Welsh’s presentation will discuss the founding of the Council on Christian Unity 100 years ago. It will explore how the Christian Church’s (Disciples of Christ) commitment to education is “foundational to our life as a church and as a people of unity and reconciliation,” Welsh said.
Welsh has led the Council on Christian Unity for 11 years. As the chief ecumenical officer for the Disciples of Christ denomination, he represents the church in local, national and international efforts regarding the unity of the denomination.
Welsh formerly was president of the Church Finance Council and Associate General Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He received a bachelor’s degree from Transylvania University and a doctorate from Lexington Theological Seminary, both in Lexington, Ky. He completed
post-graduate studies at the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches outside Geneva, Switzerland, and Westminster College in Cambridge, England.
Eureka College was founded by members of the Christian Church, and it is among 17 colleges and universities affiliated with the church. The college was incorporated on Feb. 6, 1855, by an act of the Illinois Legislature. The founding date coincides with the birth date of the college’s most famous alumnus, Ronald Reagan, who graduated in 1932. In recognition of both the founding date and Reagan’s birth date, the college traditionally serves birthday cake at the reception following the convocation.
During the convocation, Eureka College first-year and upper-class scholars will be recognized. The students all have achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.75 after completing at least 15 semester hours of coursework for first-year scholars and at least 30 semester hours of coursework for upper-class scholars.
This year’s Founders’ Day observance will be held on Feb. 5 instead of Feb. 6 due to the college’s observance of the 99th anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan on Feb. 6. The observance will include a tour to Reagan-related sites led by Reagan’s eldest son, Michael Reagan. For more information, call (877) 892-7823 or go online to reagan.eureka.edu.
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Contact:
Michele Lehman
Media Relations Coordinator
mlehman@eureka.edu
(309) 467-6318
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