BETHANY, W.Va. (March 10, 2025) – On Thursday, students, alumni, faculty, and guests joined together to commemorate and celebrate Bethany’s 185th year as an institution, founded by Alexander Campbell, during the annual Founder’s Day Convocation.
The celebrations began at Decima’s Café, hosted by Bethany Memorial Church, which alongside delicious refreshments, showcased historical exhibits focusing on the Women of Bethany. Decima’s Café, named in honor of Alexander Campbell’s tenth daughter who remained in Bethany throughout her life, honored the contributions of founding women to Bethany College and the Disciples of Christ faith.
Next, Bethany President Dr. Jamie Caridi opened the convocation in Commencement Hall with thoughtful remarks on the founding of Bethany College, what sets Bethany students apart, and the importance of setting aside time each year to honor Bethany’s history and traditions. “This convocation provides a special time for us to take collective pride in the impact that Bethany education has had on our past, is having on our present, and will certainly have on our future,” said Caridi. “I think Mr. Campbell would be both humbled and joyful to know that his visions remain the foundation of our mission, of our strategy, and our overall work together.”
Dr. James L. Gorman, professor of history at Johnson University and expert on the history of Christianity, the Stone-Campbell Movement, and American religious history, delivered a thought-provoking lecture titled, “What Has Alexander Campbell to Do with Christian Nationalism?”
First, Gorman explored the definition of Christian nationalism and current Christian nationalism surveys. He then outlined four statements in which Campbell’s writings provide some ideological response to Christian nationalism when juxtaposed against these modern-day surveys. In exploring Campbell’s writings from various stages of his life and applying his words to modern-day survey questions, Gorman drew parallels showing that Campbell’s views were inconsistent over time, reflecting then political and cultural shifts that would naturally lead an intellectual scholar and man of profound faith toward deep introspection.
Gorman closed with hope; hope that, “all of you will find the courage to rigorously test and question the ways you participate in the public square and the ways you use or do not use religion in your conception of the good society.” He opined that Campbell did his best and while we all might have conflicting views, “we must bring our ideas into the public square for examination in order to distill what is good and what is harmful. For us as a social community at this moment, we can surely use more people thinking hard about the relationship of religion and the state in our pluralist society today.”
After Gorman’s lecture concluded, the alma mater was sung and a benediction offered. A luncheon and reception followed the event at Phillips Lounge, before the wreath-laying at Campbell’s gravestone at the Campbell Cemetery.
Bethany College holds Founder’s Day annually on the first Thursday of March. Bethany President Perry Gresham began the tradition in 1953.
The College received its original charter on March 2, 1840, from the Legislature of Virginia. The West Virginia legislature reaffirmed the charter on June 20, 1863, upon statehood.
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