Each semester begins with the campus community gathering for opening convocation. Whitworth Provost and Executive Vice President Carol Simon, delivers the Spring 2016 Convocation Address.

Dean of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor Forrest Buckner presents "New Creation – The Messiah's Reign: Galatians 6:11-18."

Campus Pastor Mindy Smith presents "Living as the People of the Messiah: Galatians 5:26-6:10."

Dean of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor Forrest Buckner presents "Life in the Spirit vs. Life in the Flesh: Galatians 5:16-25."

The Rev. Randy Woodley, Ph.D., presents a Native American Heritage Month lecture, "America Before Columbus and Now." Woodley, a legal descendant of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, is a teacher, poet, activist, former pastor, missiologist and historian. Woodley is active in ongoing discussions concerning new church movements, racial and ethnic diversity, peace, social justice, interreligious dialogue and mission.

Jean-Paul Wiest, Ph.D., presents a lecture, "The Making of an Indigenous Church, as Told by Chinese Christians." Wiest, an expert on global Christianity, is research director for The Beijing Center, University of International Business and Economics, in Beijing.

Dean of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor Forrest Buckner presents "True Freedom - The Law of Love: Galatians 5:13-15."

Jena Lee Nardella, '04, presents a lecture, "One Thousand Wells: How an Audacious Goal of Bringing Water to Africa Taught Me to Love the World Instead of Save It." Nardella is the cofounder of Blood:Water, which she started 10 years ago at the age of 22 with the band Jars of Clay. Following her vision and leadership, the organization has brought clean water access to more than one million people in Africa and provided healthcare for more than 62,000 people in HIV-affected areas. She is the author of "One Thousand Wells: How an Audacious Goal Taught Me to Love the World Instead of Save It" (Howard Books, 2015).

Dean of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor Forrest Buckner presents "The Gift of Transformation: Galatians 5:2-12."

Dean of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor Forrest Buckner presents "Living as Freed Children of God: Galatians 4:8-5:1."