Cross-Registration at Other PC (USA) Schools

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: May 2023

…to best serve those who are seeking care; in both human and non-human, and liberative ways. Because, just as much as human creation needs care, so do our Siblings in other life forms—animals, nature, Mother earth. WOW…done! That’s a word I’ve been sitting with these last two semesters of seminary and truthfully, it’s been a period of deep grieving. Grieving …

BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: August 2024

…pictures, visions that clarify your understanding of God’s assignment for you.2. Faith is unlimited. We must remove the limits. Read Rom. 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (KJV). How do I remove the limits? By taking in God’s word. The more I hear the word of God the more my faith grows. …

Gay Dawn Mothershed Dies at 85

Gay Dawn Mothershed died peacefully in her home in Black Mountain North Carolina on May 13, 2023. She was born on July 9, 1937 in Concord North Carolina, the oldest daughter of John and Elvie Mothershed. She delighted in being big sister to Linda, Auntie to Richard and John, and special member of the Bannerman family. She learned to knit, …

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 …

Listening and Learning in Egypt

Today was rich in encounters with our Christian siblings in Egypt. We spent the first half of the day visiting the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS). Founded in 1950, CEOSS has become a powerful force for good in Egypt. CEOSS’s Vice President, Mr. Momtaz Beshay, met with us and educated our group on how the organization orchestrates a …

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

…at the Seminary, she was Director of Christian Education at Enslow Park Presbyterian in Huntington, WV, Associate Pastor at Central Presbyterian in Mobile, AL, Pastor of First Presbyterian in Monahans, TX and Executive Director of its child development center, Associate General Presbyter in Peace River Presbytery in Florida and Associate Pastor at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte. One of …

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 …

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 …

Sunrise on Mount Sinai

Our trip thus far has given us a growing awareness of the ways particular faith traditions are embedded in histories, cultures, and architectural and geographical spaces. That awareness was deepened today when our group set out to climb Mount Sinai, the place where Moses received multiple revelations from God. Pilgrims have climbed this mountain since the 4th century, when St. …

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 …

2023 Sprunt Lectures May 1 -3, 2023

…most recent book, Azusa Reimagined: A Radical Vision of Religious and Democratic Belonging, (2022). She has also been recognized by NBC News as one of six black women at the center of gravity in theological education in America. She is a fourth generation preacher in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC). Alongside her scholarship, she also engages public policy …

Joshua T. Morris Named Assistant Professor of Practical Theology

…American Academy of Religion, the Society for Intercultural Pastoral Care and Counseling, and the Pediatric Chaplains Network. He has received awards for excellence in academic, military, and hospital communities. Dr. Morris is married to Beth Morris. They are the proud parents of an eight-year-old son, Isaac, and a four-year-old daughter, Annette. Dr. Morris will be based on the Charlotte campus. …

Crossing into Sinai

…dancing, and a birthday celebration. Then we were off to bed as we prepare for our journey to the monastery of St. Catherine and Mount Sinai (Moses Mount) to visit the summit. I am not excited to leave at 1:00 a.m. However, to experience sunrise on the mount, I am grateful and humbled to bear witness to the extravagance that …

Into Israel

…was reflecting on seeing the Burning Bush and sacred icons at Saint Catherine’s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai. It was truly a humbling moment to breathe in and observe centuries of history and rock formations that thousands of people have experienced, too. Such experiences remind you of the interconnected nature of our world and that as Christians we …

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 …

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. …

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, …