Andover Newton Alumni/ae Convocation - October 2020

June 15, 2020

Convocation Speaker

In a recent meeting, the Andover Newton Alumni/ae Association Board voted unanimously to invite the Rev. Dr. Kirk Byron Jones to be Andover Newton’s speaker for Alumni/ae Convocation in October 2020. Rev. Dr. Jones is a gifted educator, pastor, author, and speaker. As part of his illustrious career as a professor, Rev. Dr. Jones served as Director of the Kelsey-Owens Black Ministries Program and as Kelsey-Owens Professor at Andover Newton Theological School, where he was a beloved and sought-after member of the faculty. 

Kirk Byron Jones, DMin, PhD, husband, father, and friend, serves Zion Baptist Church, Lynn, MA as senior pastor, and the wider world as preacher, professor, and author. He sees himself as a playful, joyful explorer who keeps on discovering, learning, and growing. His latest books are Soul Talk: How to Have the Most Important Conversation of All and The Spiritual Treasure of Jazz: Wisdom that will Make Your Life Swing! In Spring 2021, Judson Press will publish a 20th Anniversary Edition of his groundbreaking book: Rest in the Storm: Self Care Strategies for Clergy and Other Caregivers. More biographical information can be found on his website. We are thrilled to have Rev. Dr. Jones reflect on our theme for Convocation, “Care of community, care of neighbor, and care of self.”

Convocation Format

Photo Cred Mara LavittAlumni/ae Convocation is one of the highlights of our year. But with the Covid-19 pandemic giving rise to myriad safety concerns, Andover Newton has joined Yale Divinity School (YDS) and Berkeley Divinity School (BDS) in making the difficult but prudent decision to host Convocation virtually this fall.

For Andover Newton, Virtual Convocation will include a plenary session with Rev. Dr. Kirk Byron Jones, a state of the school from Dean Sarah Drummond, and workshops offered by faculty members. Andover Newton alumni/ae are also welcome and encouraged to attend the online convocation events of YDS and BDS, which will span three weeks and offer a rich mix of lectures, panels, worship, and other events. A full schedule with dates and times and other details will be posted later this summer on our online events page, so stay tuned to this website, email invitations, and social media channels for future updates. We hope you will make plans to join us from your home this fall for this great opportunity.

If you have questions about Convocation events, please contact Ned Allyn Parker.