Wycliffe Announces Honourary Degrees for 2012 Convocation
Friday May 4th, 2012
On Monday May 14, 2012, Wycliffe College will confer doctoral and masters degrees and diplomas on its largest and youngest graduating class ever. The evening will also confer three honourary doctorates to the Rt. Rev. Azad Marshall, Bishop of the Diocese of Iran, and the Rt. Rev. Michael Oulton, Bishop of the Diocese of Ontario will receive the degree Doctor of Divinity; while Mr. Ron Nikkel, President and CEO, Prison Fellowship International, will receive a Doctor of Sacred Letters.
The Rt. Rev. Azad Marshall was installed as the sixth Bishop of the Anglican/Episcopal Church in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 2007; and is the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Cyprus and Gulf for Urdu-speaking congregations. Bishop Marshall holds a B.A. from the University of the Punjab Read Theology House Theological Training College, Cambridge, UK and an M.Div. from Gujranwala Theological Seminary in Pakistan. He is currently doing doctoral research through Brunel University. He founded “Church Foundations Seminars” – a church-related teaching and training ministry to strengthen pastors and leaders; the “Institute for Basic Adult Development and Training” – a literacy and vocational training programme; and Prince of Peace Library and Center to bring about reconciliation among the Christian and Muslim Communities of Shantinagar and to promote peace. Bishop Marshall, the author/editor of 6 books, is married to Lesley, and father to Michelle and Joshua.
The Rt. Rev. Michael Oulton was installed as the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Ontario in June 2011. A Wycliffe graduate, Bishop Oulton’s first career was as a lawyer has served him well in many of his roles outside parish, now Bishop, ministry. He is currently working on his Doctor of Ministry degree through Seabury Western Theological Seminary. He is married to Jeanie, an ordained United Church of Canada Minister, currently chaplain at Millhaven Penitentiary. They have lived in all Maritime Provinces, Ontario and Vancouver. The Oultons have 3 children – Thomas, Sarah and Charles.
Mr. Ronald Nikkel is President and CEO of Prison Fellowship International. For more than 30 years Mr. Nikkel has traveled extensively throughout the world promoting and supporting the cause of justice and restoration. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s most knowledgeable advocates for Restorative Justice in response to crime and the treatment of offenders. He has personally visited over 1000 prisons in more than 100 countries and is as comfortable speaking with prison inmates as he is with Justice officials and Ministers of Government. Mr. Nikkel holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and English, and a graduate degree in Pastoral Studies. He is married to Celeste Friesen.
Please join us to celebrate the many accomplishments of our graduating class at Wycliffe’s Convocation at Convocation Hall, University of Toronto, at 7:30 p.m.
Questions should be directed to Karen Baker-Bigauskas, Executive Administrator, Principal’s Office – 416-946-3521, or karen.baker@wycliffe.utoronto.ca