Samford University’s 2024 spring semester officially launched Jan. 14 with an opening convocation at the Wright Center, in which Provost Dave Cimbora delivered a unifying address about Biblical diversity from John 4.
That’s the account of Jesus approaching the Samaritan woman at the well and asking for a drink—a stunning interaction for her to receive such a kind greeting from a Jewish man when Jews distrusted and defamed Samaritans.
“In the culture of that day, it was mind-blowing,” Cimbora said, citing that men owned women and Samaritans were considered less than Jews. “Why would a Jew ask a Samaritan for a cup of water, when putting his lips to it would defile the Jew?
“Jesus’ approach to the racial difference and the gender difference was, ‘I see through that to your soul, I love your soul.’ He blows through that, and ultimately, He offers her the greatest gift ever known, which is eternal life, which is salvation through him, this person who should be rejected. I cannot underscore enough how brutally different this approach was, because the disciples came back, saw Jesus talking to her, and they were shocked. I think it was more than shocked. It was shock and probably judgment.”
The example of Jesus bringing down barriers, Cimbora said, provides a lesson for overcoming people’s propensity to associate primarily with those that we think share our personality and values.
“We tend to tribe up into groups that are just like us,” he said. “Here’s the news flash: God didn’t create us like each other. He created us each uniquely different.
“Some of you might walk out of here thinking this talk is about diversity. Diversity is not a topic. It is not a subject of discipline to study. It is not a socio-political movement. It is a calling by Jesus Christ to act like He did in every relationship, because every relationship is about diversity, every single one of them.”
“We tend to tribe up into groups that are just like us. Here’s the news flash: God didn’t create us like each other. He created us each uniquely different." — Dave Cimbora
Cimbora called upon students and Samford employees to remain mindful of John 4.
“When I look at Samford on our best days, I think we reflect Jesus’ interaction with the woman of the blood,” he said. “On our best days, where we see our differences, we see value. We see worth, we see dignity, and we treat each other that way.
“On our worst days, we see what we saw for 750 years between the Jews and the Samaritans—withdrawal, pushing away, even dehumanizing rejection, hurt, anger and hatred. It's something every institution on this planet has struggled with, just as the Jews and the Samaritans struggled. What do we do about that? Do we need more programs? Probably. Do we need some training? Probably. But I tell you what we really need—we need Jesus.”
The convocation featured members of the Samford and University of Alabama gospel choirs combining on three songs that stirred the capacity crowd.
Two faculty members were honored with the annual spring convocation awards.
The Jennings B. Marshall Award for faculty service went to Scott McGinnis, biblical and religious studies professor in Howard College of Arts & Sciences. The George Macon Memorial Award was presented to Celeste Hill, human development and family science professor in the Orlean Beeson School of Education.
In his closing prayer, SGA chaplain Caden Rogers offered:
“Lord, I thank you for every person out there in the audience who has come face to face with your love and a knowledge that they need a Savior, and Jesus is the only one that saves. … We just strive for knowledge of you, knowledge of your love, and just a giving over of ourselves to you, that you might craft us into people that you created us to be.”
