Commencement 2026
When will Bethel College's 2026 commencement ceremonies take place?
Sunday, May 10, at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall on the Bethel College campus.
Do I need tickets?
Tickets are not required to attend the Nursing Pinning, Baccalaureate, or Commencement events.
Where are we located?
Bethel College
300 E. 27th St.
North Newton, KS 67117
Tel: 316-283-2500 or 800-522-1887
All times indicated are Central Daylight Time, CDT.
Parking areas are designated on the map by a “P” which includes the Thresher Stadium parking lot, Kauffman Museum and Luyken Fine Arts Center (#20 on map).
Commencement Speaker
Peter Goerzen will give the address at Bethel’s 133rd commencement ceremony.
Peter is assistant professor and chair of the Department of Bible and Religion at Bethel College. Read more.
Saturday, May 9
Commencement Rehearsal — 10 a.m.
Memorial HallCommencement rehearsal for graduates will take place Saturday, May 9, from 10-11 a.m. in Memorial Hall (#24 on map). The registrar’s office will send more details to graduates through campus mail at a later date.
Graduate Gathering — 11 a.m.
The Caf, Schultz Student CenterSpecial meal for all senior graduates, with presentation of senior gifts. Sponsored by the Bethel College Alumni Association, Student Alumni Association, Student Life, and President’s Office. Graduates only.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony — 2 p.m.
Krehbiel Auditorium, Luyken Fine Arts CenterThe Nursing Pinning Ceremony is a time-honored tradition that recognizes the achievements of nursing graduates and marks their transition from student to professional nurse. During the ceremony, graduates receive their nursing pins, symbolizing their dedication, hard work, and commitment to compassionate, ethical patient care.
We invite family, friends, alumni, and members of the Bethel College community to join us in celebrating this significant milestone in the lives of our nursing graduates.
Tickets are not needed to attend.
Choir Tour Send Off Concert — 7 p.m.
Bethel College Mennonite ChurchThe Concert Choir will tour Europe during May 2026, performing concerts in Germany, France, Switzerland, and The Netherlands. A featured concert will celebrate 75 years of the Wuppertal Exchange Program at the culmination of the tour. Join us as we send them on their way!
Sunday, May 10
Baccalaureate Service — 10 a.m.
Bethel College Mennonite ChurchBaccalaureate is at 10 a.m. with Prelude starting at 9:30 a.m. at Bethel College Mennonite Church (#4 on map), with worship, music and other content selected by a committee of seniors. Graduates do not need to wear their graduation robes, and are welcome to sit with their families.
Tickets are not needed to attend.
Class Photo — 2:45 p.m.
Administration BuildingAll graduates report to the Administration Building steps (#1 on map) in cap and gown at 2:45 p.m. for a class photo. In case of severe weather, report to the Thresher Gymnasium.
After the photo, graduates proceed to Luyken Fine Arts Center (#20 on map) to assemble and prepare for the commencement procession. All senior graduates are required to attend. In case of severe weather, graduates should report to Thresher Gymnasium for the procession.
Commencement — 4 p.m.
Memorial HallThe formal commencement ceremony will take place at 4 p.m. in Memorial Hall (#24 on map). The closest parking lot to Memorial Hall is the stadium parking lot. Other options include the Kauffman Museum and Luyken Fine Arts Center (#20 on map) parking lots.
Graduation robes, caps and tassels can be ordered and paid for through Thresher Shop in Schultz Student Center (#30 on map). The Thresher Shop will send out an email to graduates with more details. Order graduation announcements through CB Announcement online or by calling 800-433-0296. Order forms are also available in Thresher Shop.
A livestream link will be available to watch the event virtually.
Tickets are not needed to attend.
Photographs
A photographer will be taking photos of graduates at baccalaureate and commencement, including graduates receiving their diplomas. These photos will be available to graduates and family members at no cost.
Photos will be posted at the link below as soon as possible after May 10.
Commencement Speaker
Peter Goerzen is assistant professor and chair of the Department of Bible and Religion at Bethel College.
Goerzen joined the department as a faculty member in 2020. He was Bethel campus pastor and an instructor of Bible and religion from 2017-20, and campus pastor and director of church relations from 2014-17.
Goerzen graduated from Bethel in 2007 with a major in computer science and a minor in mathematical sciences. He earned his Master of Divinity in pastoral ministry with emphasis in biblical studies from Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (AMBS) in Elkhart, Ind., in 2015, and is ABD for a Ph.D. in biblical theology and interpretation from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, Springfield, Mo. His dissertation topic is “Defenseless Anabaptist reception of the Divine Warrior in scripture.”
Read More
Goerzen’s areas of academic and professional interest are biblical hermeneutics, peace theology and ethics, homiletical and liturgical studies, faith formation, and Bowen Family Systems Theory.
After graduating from Bethel, Goerzen worked as a software developer for Excel Industries, Hesston, 2007-09, while beginning part-time studies at AMBS. In 2009, he became a pastor at Grace Hill Mennonite Church in rural Newton, where he stayed until beginning as campus pastor at Bethel in 2014.
Goerzen was ordained for Christian ministry at Grace Hill in 2011, and keeps his credentials active with Western District Conference (WDC) of Mennonite Church USA.
He has been and remains involved in leadership in both WDC and the larger denomination. He is a member of the AMBS board and serves as secretary for the Governance Committee.
Goerzen received Bethel College’s Ralph P. Schrag Distinguished Teaching Award in 2022 and, at AMBS, the Marlin E. Miller Award for Excellence in Theological Studies and an Award for Excellence in preaching. He often preaches and presents locally and regionally and has led a number of seminars at biennial assemblies of MC USA.
His articles on "Divine Warrior" and "Nonretaliation" are forthcoming in The Anabaptist Dictionary of the Bible, as is his chapter "Walking, Talking, Writing, and Holding Space: Demonstrating the Transformative Potential of Circle Process," with Sheryl Wilson and Christine Crouse-Dick, in Walking the Talk (at press). He is the co-author, with Katherine Goerzen, of Upside-Down Living: Parenting (MennoMedia, 2018).
Goerzen and his spouse, Katherine, are members of Tabor Mennonite Church, Goessel, Kan., where Katherine is a pastor. They live in North Newton and have two children, Sophia and Nathan.