The Board of Trustees of Kingswood University has named Dr. Laurel D. Buckingham as Trustee Emeritus in recognition and appreciation for his 35 years of serving on the board.
At their semi-annual meeting on October 19, the Kingswood University Board voted unanimously to honor Buckingham’s years of distinctive service by naming him Trustee Emeritus. Dr. Buckingham is only the third person in the university’s 67-year-history to be given this honor. He has served on the board from 1977 to 2012 under five university presidents.
During dinner that evening, University President Dr. Mark Gorveatte and Board Chairman Dr. H.C. Wilson presented Dr. Buckingham with a sculpture depicting Christ washing the feet of his disciple Peter. Symbolizing servant leadership, the sculpture reflects Buckingham’s distinctive and faithful service as a board member.
“Dr Buckingham has served with a deep commitment to excellence in ministry and a passion to see the graduates of Kingwood serve Christ and the church with distinction,” said Dr. Wilson. “His counsel will truly be missed on the board.”
A 1961 graduate of Kingswood University (then Bethany Bible College), Dr. Buckingham was one of the first to receive the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by his alma mater in 1989. He was honored by the university again in 1996 as the Most Distinguished Alumnus Pastorfor his outstanding and exemplary service as a minister and his excellent leadership of courage, vision, and faith. On Friday evening, Dr. Buckingham received another diploma. This one was reissued in the name of Kingswood University to reflect the name change that occurred last year.
Dr. Buckingham is lead pastor of Moncton Wesleyan Church in Moncton Wesleyan Church in Moncton, NB. Under his leadership, the church has grown from being one of the smallest in the city in 1973 to being the largest church in eastern Canada. Weekly attendance hovers close to 2,000. He is known across The Wesleyan Church for his innovative leadership and passionate preaching as he impacts his city and beyond with the gospel.