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| FAMILY BCF Associate Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Dr. Mark Rathel, David Rathel, Dr. Alex Kinchen and BCF President, Dr. Thomas A. Kinchen celebrate graduation at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC. BCF photo |
WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BCF)—Graduation ceremonies are exciting enough and recently several faculty and administrators from The Baptist College of Florida in Graceville had the unique opportunity to participate in their sons’ graduation ceremonies late last year.
BCF president Thomas A. Kinchen placed the traditional Doctor of Philosophy hood on his son, Alex Kinchen, during commencement Dec. 12 at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. Alex Kinchen currently serves as the lead pastor at Master’s Church in Lexington, Ky.
“Often I have heard the comment ‘like father like son’ in a derogatory way, pointing out some weakness in both men,” noted Kinchen. “At this time, for my colleagues and me, this statement is a wonderful compliment. I know of no man I admire more than I do my son. We like to think that we are making some contribution to the lives of our students, but when we see our efforts magnified in the lives of our children, it is a double blessing.”
During the same graduation ceremony at SEBTS, Mark Rathel, associate professor of theology and philosophy at BCF, participated in the service as his son, David Rathel, received his Master of Divinity degree in Christian Apologetics. David currently serves as pastor of Fork Baptist Church in Scottsburg, Va. David Rathel plans to apply for the Ph.D. program at Southeastern Seminary and start his next degree in Fall 2009.
“One of the greatest joys in my life has been to observe the call of God in my son’s life,” Rathel said. “Being able to participate in his commencement service was truly ‘lagniappe,’ a Cajun word descriptive of an extra blessing.”
One day later, BCF professor emeritus Wiley Richards was able to present the Ph.D. hood to his son, Roger Richards, at commencement exercises at Florida State University in Tallahassee. Roger serves as the chair of the general education division and assistant professor of history and Christian studies at BCF. As the FSU president made his welcoming remarks during the graduation ceremony, both father and son were asked to stand to be recognized for having earned their second doctorates from FSU. The elder Richards received his Ph.D. in philosophy from FSU in 1984.