JACKSON, Tenn. — Sept. 4, 2013 — Greg and Kimberly Thornbury returned to 51社区鈥檚 campus Sept. 3-4 for a final farewell to the Union community as the couple launch new ministries in New York.
Greg, the former dean of the School of Theology and Missions, became the president of The King鈥檚 College in New York City July 9 after he and Kimberly served 15 years at Union. Kimberly transitioned from being Union鈥檚 senior vice president for student services and dean of students to The King鈥檚 College鈥檚 first lady and special assistant to the president for strategic planning.
The couple and their two children moved to New York before Union鈥檚 fall semester began, but the family returned to Jackson to visit campus once again.
鈥淚 want to say to you that I鈥檓 very sorry how we left under total cover of darkness,鈥� Greg told chapel attendees during a service he led Sept. 4 at the G.M. Savage Memorial Chapel. 鈥淚t was like the rapture happened and the only people taken were the Thornburys.鈥�
Wearing his classic bowtie, Greg encouraged chapel attendees not to live in fear, as he referred to the despair the Israelites expressed when Pharaoh鈥檚 army drew near.
Realizing that people can do nothing to save themselves is the first step to confronting fear, Greg said. Having faith that God will fight the battle is the next step.
鈥淥nly if you walk in faith will you be able to show the world that you are truly alive,鈥� Greg said. 鈥淚 was here 15 years, and at the very end of it all, I have nothing better to say to you than look to Christ.鈥�
After the service, Greg and Kimberly welcomed hoards of students, faculty and friends at the Carl Grant Events Center. The line that attendees formed stretched halfway across the ballroom, through the hallway and to the building鈥檚 front entrance.
Amanda Bennett, a Union alumna and philosophy graduate, said Greg not only helped give her a vision for her career but also had a major impact on how students interacted with one another.
Greg and Kimberly also intentionally carved time of out their schedules for students, Bennett said, as the couple not only remembered students鈥� names but also formed friendships with them.
鈥淚 think Greg Thornbury had a huge influence on the attitude and culture on the campus, even in the chapel addresses,鈥� Bennett said. 鈥淗e was cool and hip while being academically rigorous, and he was a good intellectual example for all of us.鈥�
Ashley Blair, an assistant professor of communication arts, said she raised her children alongside Kimberly and spent hours with her during the 2008 tornado that ravaged campus 鈥� experiences that resulted in a strong friendship with the Thornbury family. Becoming a Union employee the same year as the Thornburys, Blair noted that Kimberly set the tone for a grace-filled community at Union while Greg ensured campus theological discussions were handled 鈥渋n a very solidarity-based kind of way.鈥�
鈥淭he Thornburys have been very dear and wonderful friends, both professionally and personally,鈥� Blair said. 鈥淏ut beyond Dr. Dockery, there is no one who has had more impact on the day-to-day culture of Union in the past 15 years than the Thornburys because of who they are and because of their responsibilities.鈥�
The night before the chapel service, Union administrators, faculty members in the School of Theology and Missions and staff members in student services dined with the Thornburys at the Doubletree hotel in Jackson. Among the gifts the university presented to the Thornburys were a drawing of Union鈥檚 Miller Tower and a framed copy of a 1960 Christianity Today article by theologian Carl F.H. Henry, entitled 鈥淒o We Need a Christian University?鈥�
Audio from Greg Thornbury's chapel address is available at .
