BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: May 2023

…assurance he extended to me, after a presentation in chapel where I shared my journey as a woman, called to ministry in the Caribbean. I pray for God’s blessings on his retirement. I am confident that the BAA as a distinguished entity will continue to be strident and resourceful in meeting your objectives.   Cassandra Rawls, M.Div., Charlotte I am …

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: February 2024

…care about the mission. 4) Union has been doing a wonderful job of living into its mission of forming leaders for congregations and other ministries, AND there is so much more we can do. More we can do to maximize the impact of the excellent theological education we offer. We can reach more people, educate more leaders for ministry, and …

Cross-Registration at Other PC (USA) Schools

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: August 2024

…do anything, but one who knows that God can do anything. Do I have any witnesses in this house today? What God promises, He will fulfill. He can neither lie nor say something He cannot do. Numbers 23:19 says “God is not a man, that he should lie, neither the son of man, that he should repent; hath he said, …

Gay Dawn Mothershed Dies at 85

…local youth group as well as on the Presbytery’s Youth Council, and helped clear trails at the new Camp Grier in Old Fort North Carolina. She graduated from Concord High School before attending Flora MacDonald College in Red Springs North Carolina (now St. Andrews University, Laurinburg North Carolina) from which she graduated cum laude in 1959. Gay continued her call …

Bridge for Early Career Preachers to Expand

Richmond, VA (November 3, 2023)—Union Presbyterian Seminary recently received a grant of $249,920 from the Lilly Endowment Inc. to expand The Bridge for Early Career Preachers. The program was developed with the support of an earlier grant from Lilly Endowment made through its Compelling Preaching Initiative. The Bridge for Early Career Preachers provides resources, continuing education, and a supportive community …

2024 Sprunt Lectures

…preacher will be Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, former president of Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Lori Raible is the Alumni luncheon speaker. The BAA Trailblazer and the Distinguished Alum will be recognized, too, at a reception! Lecture Series Fee $100 covers all meals; there is no a la carte. Current UPSem students and faculty are free (for planning purposes/food, please …

2024 Sprunt Lectures

…preacher will be Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, former president of Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Lori Raible is the Alumni luncheon speaker. The BAA Trailblazer and the Distinguished Alum will be recognized, too, at a reception! Lecture Series Fee $100 covers all meals; there is no a la carte. Current UPSem students and faculty are free (for planning purposes/food, please …

2024 Sprunt Lectures

…preacher will be Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, former president of Princeton Theological Seminary. Rev. Lori Raible is the Alumni luncheon speaker. The BAA Trailblazer and the Distinguished Alum will be recognized, too, at a reception! Lecture Series Fee $100 covers all meals; there is no a la carte. Current UPSem students and faculty are free (for planning purposes/food, please …

2023 Sprunt Lectures May 1 -3, 2023

…his alma mater, Presbyterian College. In 2022, he received the honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Austin College in Sherman, Texas. At Austin Seminary, President Wardlaw led the Seminary through the completion of the Centennial Campaign, and he has led additional capital campaigns raising more than $100 million to date. Under his leadership, the Seminary has funded the construction of two …

Inaugural Symposium Celebrates Center for Excellence in Christian Education at UPSem’s Charlotte Campus

…to join Rev. Gail Henderson-Belsito of Caldwell Presbyterian Church at UPSem’s Charlotte campus at noon. After worship and a welcome lunch, the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Caldwell will give a keynote address at 2:00 p.m. followed by Q & A. Emerging leader presentations will follow, with the afternoon wrapping up by 5:30 p.m. With more than 30 years of experience focusing …

Union Presbyterian Seminary to Inaugurate Rev. Dr. Rebecca L. Davis as Sarah Belk Gambrell Professor of Christian Education

…her deepest passions is child advocacy, which called her to serve as Coordinator of the Religious Action Division for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, DC and contract staff for the National Council of Churches’ Committee on Justice for Children and their families. Throughout her career, Dr. Davis has engaged at all levels of the church including serving as the …

Hospitality in Cairo

Today we spent some time exploring the Coptic side of Cairo! We started the morning attending a Saturday service at the St. Bishoy monastery in Wadi El-Natrun. The service was a little overstimulating for me personally—the method of prayer they use is beautiful but it’s also almost constant singing or noise—but, as Christine reminded me, engaging with other cultures help …

UPSem Receives $1.25 Million Lilly Endowment Grant Supporting Font & Faith

…distinct governing board, staff and location. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. The principal aim of the Endowment’s religion grantmaking is to deepen and enrich the lives of Christians in the United States, primarily by seeking …

Complex Narratives of the Land

…its meaning. Those who did not try to enter the cave, spent time in the courtyard where they could peek into the cave, where Jerome produced the Vulgate, the Latin translation of the Bible. From there, we went to explore one of the caves of the Shepherd’s Field, where the angels proclaimed the good news of the birth of Jesus …

Inauguration of Rebecca L. Davis, Ph.D. as the Sarah Belk Gambrell Professor of Christian Education

The inauguration of Rebecca L. Davis, Ph.D. as the Sarah Belk Gambrell Professor of Christian Education will occur on Saturday, Dec.2 at 11:45 a.m. at Sharon Presbyterian Church. Lunch will follow. Contact SarahDianne.Jones@upsem.edu for more information. …

Listening and Learning in Egypt

…multipronged approach to addressing poverty, especially among women, children, and the disabled. Various directors shared their work in areas ranging from development to microfinance to agriculture to intercultural dialogue.   Recently, CEOSS participated in writing and proposing legislation against hate speech that is now being considered by the Egyptian parliament. Of particular interest to our group was their 80/800 initiative …

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! …

From Hermon to the Sea of Galilee

Today we were able to experience more connections with the biblical traditions. We went out to Caesarea Phillipi, which is located at the base of Mount Hermon. We read Psalms 42 and 133 while there, as they mention Mount Hermon. Experiencing that space, we came to better understand the reference to the “gates of Hades” in Matthew 16:13-21. In this …

Arrived in Cairo

We’ve arrived in Cairo! It’s been a long day. After some travel mishaps (the bus we took from Richmond to Washington-Dulles airport leaked, we almost missed our connecting flight, and our luggage didn’t make it), we finally made it to our hotel. I’m sitting on the balcony with my roommate, enjoying a freshly puréed strawberry drink complimentary from the hotel. …