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by the Rev. Rufus Campbell ’75, Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church

We're told that we're living in extraordinary times. On September the 11th we looked into the face of evil. It hurt us, it angered us. We have not yet recovered.

This institution has had its own version of looking into the face of evil. I just returned from the press conference over in Christensen Center where there was an announcement that scholarships are being created for people of color as a result of one of our alumni, brother Elroy Stock. I know brother Stock. I received my first letter in 1991 shortly after I had performed an interracial marriage. ... He sent a letter that was filled with hate ... and this institution, as a result of his lawsuit, also has looked into the face of evil.

I'm careful never to think that evil is embodied in a person. I think all of us can be overcome by evil, and so I'm always careful to make that distinction. ... So what does one do when looking into the face of evil?

In the text that was read earlier—in Romans, Paul's letter to the church in Rome—the beginning and the first two verses of chapter 12 set the context. Paul said, "I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."And he goes on to say that we ought not to be conformed by this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. So, Paul talks about how we respond as Christians in a world that is extraordinarily good and extraordinarily evil. Paul says finally, in verse 21, that the way God calls the church to respond to evil is by overcoming evil "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I reviewed the mission statement of this great institution. ... [It] was called, through its educational process, to prepare leaders and servants in the community. That is a high and a holy call, my sisters and brothers. And it fits with the Gospel, because we are all called to be servants. To pattern our lives after the one who was the greatest of servants, Jesus. ... As servants we are called to face each day, and each day that we live and face evil, we are called to overcome that evil by doing good.

I think it was a remarkable stroke of grace, President Frame, to take a proposal to the Board of Regents saying, 'Let's take this request from someone who was overcome with evil ... [and] make some good come out of it.' I think there was an extraordinary act of grace on God's part to see that and to be able to respond accordingly. So you've done just what our God commands. You looked into the face of evil and you have responded by doing good.

We all know that we can do much better as we walk the road to diversity. We know that there is much more that needs to be done. And God has given us the gift of people to help to get us where we need to be. And so, I didnít come here to beat you up about your past record; I came to encourage you as you walk the road you are walking now. I came to say to you that the God we serve is pleased every time we look into the face of evil and then transform that by doing something good.

And so, to this institution, I say to you, Godspeed. I don't know what the reporters will be writing ... but I can imagine, in the annals of heaven, this date is to be recorded. And I can imagine that words like this have been recorded with respect to this institution—'Well done, my good and faithful servant.'

And so I say to you, this great student body at this great institution, as you prepare to be leaders and servants in whatever community God places you in, remember this day. ... Because this is the day when this institution can celebrate the fact that it looked into the face of evil and brought out good.

The God we serve is a great and mighty God. God gives us the resources to turn evil to good. Sometimes it's just small acts, sometimes it's mighty acts. All of them are important.

And so I say to you this day that God is pleased, and the very angels in heaven are rejoicing. And to the Elroy Stocks of the world, we are called to pray for you. And we pray that maybe if not our witness, somebody else's witness will be able to break into his mind, and he, too, will be able to look into the face of God and see God's goodness, which will transform him, also. And so I say, grace and peace to you this day, my sisters and brothers, and may the God of heaven and earth guide you in your journey as you walk the road of diversity, as you walk the road of peace, as you walk the road that produces goodness. God bless you.

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