Convocation and Community Cookout

| ma·tric·u·la·tion | to admit into a school or a body of persons and, especially, to do so by acknowledging the place for your name on the register of members. Its Latin roots relate to the word Mater for mother, specifically in the sense of adopting a child.

Convocation at St. Mark’s Cathedral serves as our official welcome to our new students—the culmination of their matriculation and their adoption into the community of learners at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. It is an ancient tradition that harkens back to Oxford University in England, where all new students were officially welcomed into the community and asked to commit themselves to the culture and mission of their new school.

Our act of commitment at Convocation is a symbol that envelops our students into the life of the community at The Seattle School. Faculty, staff, alumni, and returning students, along with their families and spouses or partners, officially invite the incoming class and their families into our community. As a community, we will enter the new academic year together by joining in a litany of commitment for all students and the celebration of Holy Communion.

Convocation is followed by our annual Community Cookout at Volunteer Park. Hosted be our faculty and staff, this is a time to continue the celebration of a new academic year together. Our new students have been adopted into our community of learners, we have recommitted to our mission, and now we get to feast together. We’ll meet at the bandstand in the west end of the park. Hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, and water will be provided. We invite you to bring a dish to share.