2023 Sprunt Lectures

…American Religion Princeton Theological Seminary PREACHER: Dr. Kenyatta Gilbert Professor of Homiletics Howard University School of Divinity KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Ted Warlaw President Emeritus Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary   Livestream Links Opening Lecture, May 1 https://www.youtube.com/live/KtMSQzKIfcE Lecture II, May 2 https://www.youtube.com/live/qzcDiE1N66k Worship, May 2 https://www.youtube.com/live/QHxBNUdnMEU Lecture III, May 2 https://www.youtube.com/live/ZvGiaeWgWIA Lecture IV, May 3 https://www.youtube.com/live/AGP1KkprUgo Closing Worship, May 3 https://www.youtube.com/live/bHPPUhHZVdI…

From Galilee to the Dead Sea

On May 8, 2023, my 32nd birthday started off with the group going to Bet She’an National Park, which is the ancient city of Scythopolis. The site has many historical layers from the Late Bronze to the Greco-Roman period. It witnessed transitions between various ancient near eastern empires, including the Egyptians and the Assyrians. After viewing the Roman-period amphitheater and…

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: May 2023

…am confidently able to live into the challenge Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon gave all of us, to “do the work your soul must have.” My desire is to establish myself as a Death Doula whose work is complemented with being a Chaplain. So, you can look for my offering of services to be available on my newly designed website…

Complex Narratives of the Land

For our final two days of the trip, we visited sites in Bethlehem and a few final stops in Jerusalem. On Thursday, we went to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Field. The site complex consists of several sacred spaces: the Church of the Nativity, Saint Katherine’s, and the Franciscan Monastery. Some of us waited…

Duc in Altum

…touch the spot where the sea breaks onto the shore. As one would expect, fish was the main course for our lunch. Our next stop was Magdala, hometown of Mary Magdalene. We toured an excavated first-century synagogue and the market that surrounded it. Our tour guide suggested that Jesus may have taught there. The site is also home to Duc…

The Museum of Israel

Our day started later than usual this morning, which was greatly appreciated. The wake-up call wasn’t until 7:00 a.m., breakfast by 8, and then we got on the bus by 9:30 a.m. to visit the Israeli Museum in Jerusalem. The scenery of the city is quite different from other sites we have explored thus far. In lieu of breathtaking mountains,…

Inauguration | Flourishing Church, Flourishing World

Union Presbyterian Seminary inaugurates its eighth president, Dr. Jacqueline Lapsley, at this special ceremony held on the Seminary’s Quadrangle in Richmond, VA. Watch the livestream and learn more about the details at https://www.upsem.edu/may8/…

Symposium | What Are Seminaries For?

Join President Jacq Lapsley and five thought leaders and pastors for this lively panel discussion in Watts Chapel. Panel members include Eric Barreto, Kenda Dean, Gail Henderson-Belsito, Jessica Tate, and Rich Voelz. Learn more about the speakers or watch the livestream at https://www.upsem.edu/may8/…

Remember. Together. Apart.

…Jerusalem. This group of people lived—and died—together in a community of Jewish believers set apart from the oppressive ways of the Roman empire. Remember. Together. Apart. Next, we traveled the short distance to Qumran National Park, the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. As a total language nerd, I was quite excited to visit the place where…

Islamic Studies Scholar to Lead Dawe Lecture on March 14 at Union Presbyterian Seminary

…She received her bachelor’s degree in International Affairs and English from Florida State University. In 2004, Mubarak was the first female to be elected president of the national Muslim Students Association. As a field researcher, Mubarak conducted on-site interviews and surveys with a range of Muslim scholars, government officials, activists, students, and journalists in Qatar, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Pakistan, and…

Listening and Learning in Egypt

…the bookstore, but we also even were given a private tour of the printing press site! After a leisurely lunch outside, the group arrived at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Cairo (ETSC). While I have had the pleasure of staying overnight here once or twice many years ago, it was a delight to see my colleague, Safwat, share his former…

The Meaning of a True Pilgrim

Sunday started off in Tsipori (Sepporis), another national park/archaeological site where the layers of history are stacked like a birthday cake or a Jenga game depending on how you like to look at the tidiness of the intersection of natural and political forces. Highlights here were a crusader tower with wonderfully interactive, goofy educational movies and mosaics—oh the wonderful mosaics!…

Arrived in Cairo

…on the Nile, we are all totally exhausted, so it’s off to bed for us, hoping that Safwat and our travel agent can collect our bags overnight and bring them to our hotel. We’ve got a long day visiting the pyramids and other ancient sites, and we would like to do that in clean clothes! –Lee Hunter (she/her/hers) M.Div ’23…

Visiting The Pyramids

…bus to read ancient texts that relate to the sites that we visit. This day we read a passage from the Book of the Dead, a text that is part of an ancient Egyptian literary tradition that was intended to empower the deceased on their way towards the afterlife. Chapter 125 of the Book of the Dead offers a unique…

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

…adjacent Church of All Nations consists of interior and exterior spaces adorned with the splendor of sacred mosaic work from around the world, bringing together an intersection of global art gallery with sacred worship space centered upon this holy location. From here we ascended the opposite slope to the walls of Jerusalem. Those who have been to Jerusalem are often…

112th Year of Sprunt Lecture Series Brings Renowned African American Scholar-Authors to Union Presbyterian Seminary

…year since—through two world wars and a pandemic. For a complete schedule of the lectures and receptions, visit https://bit.ly/Sprunt23schedule To register for the Sprunt Lecture Series and the alumni luncheon, visit https://bit.ly/registerSprunt23 Learn more about the Sprunt Lecture speakers and events at this link: https://www.upsem.edu/newsroom/2023-sprunt-lectures-may-1-3-2023/ # # #   Barb Dodd, Director of Communications Union Presbyterian Seminary bdodd@upsem.edu 804.278.4279 direct…

TERMS OF USE

…an undue burden on the Site or the networks or services connected to the Site. Harass, annoy, intimidate, or threaten any of our employees or agents engaged in providing any portion of the Site to you. Attempt to bypass any measures of the Site designed to prevent or restrict access to the Site, or any portion of the Site. Copy…

Privacy Policy

…us at (800) 299-2990. When you visit our website https://www.upsem.edu (the “Website“), and more generally, use any of our services (the “Services“, which include the Website), we appreciate that you are trusting us with your personal information. We take your privacy very seriously. In this privacy notice, we seek to explain to you in the clearest way possible what information…

19th Annual Joe Ward Union Presbyterian Seminary Golf Tournament

…year! The event raises money to sponsor students who are interested in theological education but have not yet committed to pursuing ministry. The entry fee is $110 for a Captain’s Choice format, sponsoring a hole is $100 and corporate sponsorships are $150. Come and join us for a great day of golf! More information here: https://www.upsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-SPC-Joe-Ward-Scholarship-Golf-Tournament3.pdf If you have any…

Started UPSem 2014: Rev. William Joseph “Joey” Haynes III (MDiv 2019)

…Started UPSem 2014: Rev. William Joseph “Joey” Haynes III (MDiv 2019) Started UPSem 2015: Rev. Gail Henderson-Belsito (MDiv 2020) Started UPSem 2016: Rev. Eric Tang (MDiv 2021) Started UPSem 2017: Rev. Marina Luckhoo (pursuing MDiv) Started UPSem 2018: Jason Smith Started UPSem 2019: Ryan Atkinson Started UPSem 2020: Sedae Slaughter (pursuing MACE) Started UPSem 2021: Matt Wiedle (pursuing MDiv and…

Bibliography

…of Virginia. TheCivil Rights Movement as Theological Drama. Retrieved from http://www.livedtheology.org/ University of Virginia. President’s Commission on Slavery and the University. Retrieved from http://slavery.virginia.edu/ University of Virginia. Television News of the Civil Rights Era, 1950-1970. Retrieved from http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/civilrightstv/ Warner, Kaine, Scott, Booker & Blunt Applaud Approval of Commission to Recognize 400 Years of African American History. Retrieved from https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2017/12/warner-kaine-scott-booker-blunt-applaud-approval-of-commission-to-recognize-400-years-of-african-american-history BACK…

Internship Sites