BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: May 2023

…all that you can do; and for your faithfulness, it’s your time. You applauded for the rest, now it’s your time to be blessed and for your faithfulness, it’s your time.” Dr. Blount (prez) it’s your time!     A Tribute to the Reverend Brian K. Blount BY REV. WILLIAM R. FREEMAN M.Div., Union-PSCE, 2001 Rev. William R. Freeman I …

Cross-Registration at Other PC (USA) Schools

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: February 2024

…faculty, student body, and staff will continue to be a priority in the years to come, as well as ensuring that everyone at Union feels a powerful sense of belonging. 3) We have a dedicated board and a great team of staff committed to the mission of UPSem. People come to work at Union, and they work hard, because they …

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 …

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

Richmond, VA (April 12, 2023)—The annual Sprunt Lecture Series will be held at Union Presbyterian Seminary May 1 through May 3, 2023. Scores of alumni and guests will gather at historic Watts Chapel to hear Dr. Keri Day from Princeton Theological Seminary and Dr. Kenyatta Gilbert from Howard University School of Divinity. Lectures, led by Dr. Day, and worship, led …

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

…organizing chair of the Presbyterian Child Advocacy Network and on the Year of the Child Planning Team for the General Assembly. She has served on the editorial board for Presbyterian Women’s Horizons Magazine, the Advisory Board for the PCUSA’s Educate a Child Initiative, and the National Committee on the Self-Development of People. She currently serves on the Educator Certification Council …

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: August 2024

…and you can get well acquainted with her work by joining the Practicing Resurrection Book Club that starts September 3. On October 1-3 we will have the Mid-90s Alumni Reunion. Alums from that era of the seminary gathered last year and had a wonderful time. Now they want to have alums from all eras including PSCE, UTS, Union-PSCE, and UPSem …

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

…Prior to that, he was the pastor/head of staff for twelve years at Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Atlanta. Other churches he served include the Germantown Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Tennessee, the Grand Avenue Presbyterian Church in Sherman, Texas, and the Setauket Presbyterian Church in Setauket, Long Island, New York. A native of South Carolina, Ted Wardlaw is a graduate …

2024 SPRUNT LECTURES

MAY 6, 2024 – MAY 8, 2024 Please join us in Watts Chapel on the Richmond campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary or online for the Sprunt Lecture Series. You’ll hear from exciting speakers and more. Event Schedule Lecturer: Dr. John J. Thatamanil, Professor of Theology and World Religions, Union Theological Seminary Worship Leader: Rev. Dr. M. Craig Barnes, former president …

From Galilee to the Dead Sea

…end my 31st year on this earth, I spent it with new and old friends and two of my favorite professors over a drink at Mikael Bar! Being at the Sea of Galilee has been a marvelous adventure for all. Tomorrow, we move to the final leg of our journey, to the city of Jerusalem. –Katie Carboni 1st year, MDiv/MAPT …

Crossing into Sinai

After a night of much needed rest, some awoke early to the sounds of barking dogs. I enjoyed a morning meditation on the breezy terrace. We had coffee in the lounge and then we went to a buffet-style breakfast that was plentiful and beautifully presented. We had free time after breakfast to go relax and tour the resort. Some went …

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 …

Everything, Everywhere, All at Once

The blistering pace and barrage of experience on our pilgrimage over the preceding 16 days came to a crescendo as we awoke for our first morning in Jerusalem. We began on the Mount of Olives, in the midst of the Jewish cemeteries that cover its western slope facing the Holy City. Surrounded by 3000 years-worth of graves we gazed across …

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

…interfaith dialogue, this lecture series seeks to contribute a deepened awareness and insight in areas of intellectual and especially practical religious concern. Please register online to attend the free Dawe Lecture at https://bit.ly/24Dawe or tune into the livestream on the Seminary’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@UPSem/streams # # # Contact: Barb Dodd Director of Communications Union Presbyterian Seminary (804) 278-4279 bdodd@upsem.edu …

The Meaning of a True Pilgrim

…The group then went to Nazareth, starting near the spring that made the town possible. From there, we moved to St. Gabriel, a Greek orthodox church where we got to witness (from the outside) the baptism of a boy who was about 7 years old. The attendees at the church were friendly and welcoming while the church worker who guarded …

Hospitality in Cairo

…oldest Coptic churches—including the one where Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (supposedly) stayed for the 3 years they were hiding from Herod. Both churches were just really amazing examples of Islamic architectural features with Christian purpose and structure. Oh, and we had koshary for lunch! If you don’t know, koshary is an Egyptian staple dish, consisting of rice, lentils, noodles, chick …

Mosques, Museums, and More

Another early morning for a not-quite-so-early flight (that wasn’t quite as early as we thought). And we got to have the “Egyptian Surprise” of daylight savings time, which hasn’t happened in 5 years! When we returned to Cairo, we visited the citadel of Cairo where we had the unique opportunity of visiting an Ottoman-style mosque built by the great Egyptian …