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Inauguration of President Gregory Elzinga

13th president of Âé¶¹Çø

Reconciliation & Renewal: Âé¶¹Çøâ€™s Impact in the World

Recap of the Inaugural Address

Friday, January 24, 2025

Watch the Ceremony

Photo Gallery

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Extended Ceremony Program

PRELUDE

Calvin Wind EnsembleÌý
Liadov Fanfare, Arr. Brian Beck

PROCESSIONALÌý

Calvin Wind EnsembleÌý
Canterbury Procession, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Arr. Gene Milford

WELCOMEÌý

Perrin Rynders ’82, JD, chair, Presidential Search Committee

*OPENING HYMN: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

Led by the Calvin Worship Apprentices

(refrain, refrain, v1, v2, refrain, v3, refrain, v4, refrain)

Refrain

主をãŸãŸãˆã‚ˆÌý

(Shu o tata eyo) (Japanese)

Loof de heer (Dutch)

Bwana Asifiwe (Swahili)

Praise the Lord

Verse 1

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty,
the King of Creation.
O my soul, praise him,
for he is your health and salvation!
Come, all who hear; now to his temple, draw near;
Join me in glad adoration!

Verse 2

Praise to the Lord,
who o’er all things is wondrously reigning,
Sheltering you under his wings,
oh, so gently sustaining.
Have you not seen all that is needful has been
Sent by his gracious ordaining?

Verse 3

Praise to the Lord,
who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely his goodness and mercy
shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do
As with his love he befriends you.

Verse 4

Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore him!
All that has life and breath,
come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again.
Gladly forever adore him!

Words: Joachim Neander, 1680; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt. PD

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVINGÌý

Mary Hulst ’91, PhD, university pastor

Wide angle view of the students, faculty, and staff gathered in the Covenant Fine Arts Center.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENTÌý

Jordyn Holtsoi-Henry ’28, Navajo NationÌý
Will Miller, PhD, assistant professor of biology

Âé¶¹Çø occupies a portion of the ancestral home of the Hopewell people and, more recently, the Anishinaabe Three Fires Confederacy of Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi nations. As we do our work at Calvin, we are grateful for the way the Indigenous people cared for the land and loved it.

We lament the injustice of treaties and covenants between settler colonists and Indigenous Peoples that were unjust or unkept. We are striving to learn how to tell this history more truthfully, to care for these lands more intentionally, and to embody more just practices toward all peoples, God helping us.

We are informed by the teachings of the Anishinaabe, and strive to honor their example through ongoing education and restoration work in West Michigan and beyond, but with particular focus here on our campus, including the Ecosystem Preserve, and throughout the Plaster Creek Watershed.

We grieve what has happened in the past, and look forward to what is possible in the future, because of the reconciling work of Jesus Christ our Lord. This acknowledgement reminds us of our unified commitment to serve as Christ’s agents of renewal on our campus, in our city, and around the world.

Calvin student Jordyn Holtsoi-Henry '28 of the Navajo Nation reads the land acknowledgement from the stage's podium.

*LITANYÌý

From “Our World Belongs to God: A Contemporary Testimonyâ€

Khalilah Miles ’24-’25, Wayfinder Program student
Spenser Wang ’26, graduate student
Sebastian Umran ’26, undergraduate student
Shawn England ’20, Calvin Prison Initiative graduate

Leader: As followers of Jesus Christ, living in this world— which some seek to control, and others view with despair— we declare with joy and trust:Ìý
All: Our world belongs to God!

Leader: From the beginning, through all the crises of our times, until the kingdom fully comes, God keeps covenant forever: Our world belongs to God!Ìý
All: God is King: Let the earth be glad! Christ is victor: his rule has begun!

Leader: The Spirit is at work: creation is renewed!Ìý
All: Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

Leader: The church is a gathering of forgiven sinners called to be holy.Ìý
All: Saved by the patient grace of God, we deal patiently with others and together confess our need for grace and forgiveness.

Leader: Restored in Christ’s presence, shaped by his life,Ìý
All: this new community lives out the ongoing story of God’s reconciling love, announces the new creation, and works for a world of justice and peace.

Leader: Even now, as history unfolds in ways we know only in part, we are assured that God is with us in our world,Ìý
All: holding all things in tender embrace and bending them to his purpose.

Leader: The confidence that the Lord is faithful gives meaning to our days and hope to our years.Ìý
All: The future is secure, for our world belongs to God.

SONG OF PRAISE: All Things WellÌý

Performed by the Calvin Gospel Choir, directed by Nathaniel Glasper, Jr.

Hallelujah, hallelujah
God does all things well

Hallelujah, hallelujah
God does all things well

Some things we do not understand
The way may not be clear

God knows and yes, He has a plan
So let faith replace your fear

Hallelujah, hallelujah
God does all things well

Hallelujah, hallelujah
God does all things well

There's no failure in my Savior
He does all things well

There's no failure in my Savior
He does all things well

There's no failure in my Savior
He does all things well

All things, all things
All things, all things
He does all things well

(repeat as directed)

Hallelujah, hallelujah
God does all things well

Hallelujah, hallelujah
God does all things well

Myron Butler

INTRODUCTION OF PRESIDENT ELZINGAÌý

Brett Elzinga ’93, brother of President ElzingaÌý

INSTALLATION OF THE PRESIDENTÌý

Bruce Los ’77, chair, Board of TrusteesÌý

PRESENTATION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL MEDALLIONÌý

Niala Boodhoo ’97, MA, trusteeÌý

The medallion features the Latin heart-in-hand seal, which became the official emblem of Calvin in 1933, but it emerged as early as 1910 in the college yearbook.

The names and terms of service for all previous Âé¶¹Çø presidents are engraved and featured along the neck ribbon that connects to the medallion.

PRESENTATION OF ARTWORK

Lee Bolt ’05, studio art instructorÌýÌý
Mary Hulst ’91, PhD, university pastor

Image
A medallion with the Calvin Universtiy latin seal.

PRAYER FOR GOD’S BLESSING AND THE LAYING ON OF HANDS

Tyler VerMerris ’25, student body president

SCRIPTURE

Brooke Elzinga ’21, daughter of President ElzingaÌý

Ephesians 3:14-20 (NIV)

14ÌýFor this reason I kneel before the Father, 15Ìýfrom whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16ÌýI pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17Ìýso that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18Ìýmay have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19Ìýand to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20ÌýNow to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21Ìýto him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

Reconciliation & Renewal: Âé¶¹Çøâ€™s Impact in the WorldÌý
Gregory Elzinga ’90, MBA, president

WORDS OF CHARGE AND ENCOURAGEMENT

Read by representatives from higher education, faculty, alumni, community, and the church:

Shirley Hoogstra ’78, JD, president emerita, Council of Christian Colleges and UniversitiesÌýÌý
Julie Yonker ’82, PhD, professor of psychologyÌýÌý
David LaGrand ’88, JD, mayor, City of Grand RapidsÌýÌý
Janorisé Robinson ’92, EdD, Calvin Alumni BoardÌýÌý
Zachary King ’98, PhD, general secretary, Christian Reformed Church in North America

The laying of hands upon President Elzinga as student Tyle VerMerris '25 prays.

*SONG OF TRUST: Yet Not I, But Through Christ in MeÌý

Led by the Calvin Worship Apprentices

(v1, v2, v3, v4, ending)

Verse 1

What gift of grace
Is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more
For heaven now to give

He is my joy
My righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love
My deep and boundless peace

To this I hold
My hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his

Oh, how strange and divine
I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me

Verse 2

The night is dark
But I am not forsaken
For by my side
The Savior he will stay

I labor on
In weakness and rejoicing
For in my need
His power is displayed

To this I hold
My Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley
he will lead

Oh, the night has been won
And I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me

Verse 3

No fate I dread
I know I am forgiven
The future sure
The price it has been paid

For Jesus bled
And suffered for my pardon
And he was raised
To overthrow the grave

To this I hold
My sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea

Oh, the chains are released
I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me

Verse 4

With every breath
I long to follow Jesus
For he has said
That he will bring me home

And day by day
I know he will renew me
Until I stand
With joy before the throne

To this I hold
My hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to him

When the race is complete
Still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me

Ending

When the race is complete
Still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me
Yet not I but through Christ in me

Jonny Robinson | Michael Farren | Rich Thompson
© 2018 CityAlight Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing (Integrity Music, David C Cook))
Used by permission. CCLI#400063.

*BLESSINGÌý

Mary Hulst ’91, PhD, university pastorÌý

RECESSIONALÌý

Moorside March, Gustav Holst

Calvin students lead the community in singing praise and worship.

Gregory Elzinga, 13th president of Âé¶¹Çø

Image
Interim President Greg Elzinga on Commons Lawn

Gregory Elzinga ’90 — a proven nonprofit, business, and educational leader — has served as president of Âé¶¹Çø since February 2024.

Prior to his appointment as president, Elzinga served as the university’s vice president for advancement. He previously served as director of global engagement at Partners Worldwide, following a successful business career.

Elzinga leads Calvin with our shared faith in Christ at the core of what we do: collaborating with campus leaders, listening to students, and nurturing Calvin’s connections with its local and global partners.

After graduating from Calvin with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Elzinga earned his Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University.

Elzinga and his wife, Jacqui, enjoy traveling, serving their church, and spending time with their three adult children.

Office of the President

Email president@calvin.edu

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About Calvin

About Âé¶¹Çø Past presidents Board of TrusteesÌý

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Presidential Search Committee

Perrin Rynders, Chair (Trustee)

Ebunoluwa Aluko (Student Representative; Calvin Class of ‘25)

Jason Andringa (Alumni/At-Large)

Carol Bremer Bennett (Alumni/Executive Director of CRC Agency World Renew/At-Large)

Albert Boerema (Faculty)

Niala Boodhoo (Trustee)

Tony Brookhouse (Trustee)

Caitlin Finch (Administration/Staff)

Shirley Hoogstra (At-Large)

Sid Jansma (Alumni/At-Large)

Lauren Jensen (Administration/Staff)

Rev. Jonathan J. Kim (CRC/Denominational Representative)

Gene Miyamoto (Trustee)

Carolyn Van Allen (Trustee)

Eric Washington (Faculty)

Julie Yonker (Faculty)

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