Hartford Seminary kicked off its 184^th year with a Convocation centered on the theme of “Holy Discontent.”

Students, alumni, staff, faculty, trustees and friends gathered in the Chapel for an interfaith service launching the 2017-18 academic year. Interim Academic Dean Scott Thumma told those gathered, especially students, to “trust God that you’re in the right place at the right time.”

President Heidi Hadsell delivered the homily, first welcoming new students, staff and faculty.

“Hartford Seminary is a small place but a fairly complex place,” she said, with those local to Connecticut as well as community members from around the globe.

“One of the hopes we have is that you mix it up … and benefit from each other.”

In the tough times our nation faces, she said, it’s good to be part of a community that is “a tiny antidote and respite from those who are mean-spirited or anti-dialogical.”

President Hadsell spoke of her hope that all those present bring the energy and life and hope of Hartford Seminary back to their own communities.

As a final nod to the theme of “Holy Discontent,” Convocation ended with expressions of areas of “discontent” written on slips of paper and posted in the Chapel. Those ranged from global inequality to injustice in the name of God.