Library friends gathered at Brown Library on Sat., Sept. 7 to dedicate the Barry and Diane Packer Forum with a ribbon cutting, including former ACU board chair and trustee Dr. Barry Packer (’78), his wife, Diane (Stephens ’77), mother, Barbara Packer, and other family members. ACU President, Dr. Phil Schubert spoke of the positive impact that the Packer Forum will have on students and faculty, and Dr. Packer emphasized the importance of collaboration at ACU and how it positively affected his own life as an alum. Photo: John B. Weaver, Barbara Packer, Diane and Barry Packer, Phil Schubert, Robert Rhodes, Jim Orr
To commemorate the history and contributions of the Restoration Movement, from which ACU arose, guests also celebrated the 210th anniversary of Thomas Campbell’s Declaration and Address with a lunch and congregational worship that included ACU A Capella Chorus, Directed by Dr. Jeffery Goolsby and the hymn “Life Together in Unity”, composed by Dr. Gregory Straughn, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences. Assistant Professor of Church History and Director for the Center for Restoration Studies, Dr. Wes Crawford (‘02 M. Div.) gave the keynote lecture: “Christians Only, But Not the Only Christians: A Restoration Plea for 21st-Century America.” Photo: A Capella Chorus, Directed by Dr. Jeffery Goolsby – ACU students: Ramon Barron, Brandon Combs, Ema Conaster, Hanah Davis, Jessica Diaz, Christopher Huerta, Dawson Maxwell, Rachel Rankey, Charlie Reader, Weston Weast, Kamryn Wheeler, Zoe Wiedenfeld, Hannah Yeates
Mac Ice, Director of Archives and Special Collections shared recent Center of Restoration Studies acquisitions and encouraged guests to view the exhibit, “‘For the good of mankind’: Thomas and Alexander Campbell’s Enduring Print Legacy.”
The celebratory day ended with moderated conversation, led by Dr. Carisse Berryhill, Special Collections Librarian.
Photo: “The Forum is Ready for Students.” Photographer – Steven Orr (‘73), Library Advisory Board