Kaiser's seminary tenure nears end

HAMILTON -- Walter C. Kaiser Jr. on Saturday will preside over his last commencement as president of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, capping a nine-year tenure marked by dramatic growth at the evangelical Protestant graduate school.

''It's been a happy time for me, personally," said Kaiser, 73, who is retiring to the Midwest. ''And I think it probably is one of the most productive times for the seminary."

Under Kaiser, enrollment at Gordon-Conwell grew from 900 students to 2,200 today, making it the nation's fifth-largest seminary. Most are enrolled at the main campus in South Hamilton, but Gordon-Conwell also has satellite locations in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, where an urban ministry program is run, and Charlotte, N.C.

A record 421 degrees will be awarded at the three campuses this month. In Hamilton and Boston, 336 degrees will be awarded during commencement ceremonies scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Barrett Center. The guest speaker will be C. William Pollard, the former chief executive officer of ServiceMaster Co., and the student speaker will be Mark Casey, who will be awarded a master of divinity degree.

Most of the graduates will receive master's degrees, preparing them for a life in ministry, but 85 doctorates will also be awarded. The large number of diplomas is a sign of spiritual growth in New England, Kaiser said.

''It's like a great awakening," said Kaiser, a biblical scholar by training who joined the seminary faculty in 1993. ''People say that in Yankee New England, people are too practically minded, and so individual and isolated that they don't have time for God. But we've seen a reversal of that."

Kaiser will deliver his parting remarks tomorrow during a baccalaureate service scheduled for 8 p.m. in the chapel at Gordon College, a Christian school in Wenham.

He said he plans to talk about the ''magnificent God, who has brought us all here together."

Kathy McCabe can be reached at kmccabe@globe.com.