Leadership Institute

Events
Leadership Institute

11:30 am

March 27 @ 11:30 am - 5:30 pm

2025 National Faith + Climate Forum

Union Presbyterian Seminary: Richmond Campus, Lake Chapel 3401 Brook Rd., Richmond

7:00 pm

March 27 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Pathways Online Course: The Christian Life

Registration Now Open! Join The Katie Geneva Cann

Registration Now Open!

Join The Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership at Union Presbyterian Seminary for the 2025 Spring Conference in North Charleston, SC, from May 1-3, 2025.

This year’s theme—“THIS JOY WE HAVE: WOMANIST RESISTANCE IN THE FACE OF MANIFOLD EVIL”—calls us to cultivate resistance, reclaim joy, and honor the wisdom of our foremothers.

Connect with womanist scholars, activists, and leaders through panels, lectures, and dialogue on the most pressing issues of our time.

📍 North Charleston Marriott
📅 May 1-3, 2025

Register now at our link in bio.

@justwomanist #UPSeminary

A mark of repentance, reflection, and renewal. Yes

A mark of repentance, reflection, and renewal. Yesterday at UP Seminary, the Lenten journey began.

#Lent #AshWednesday #UPSeminary

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall

"Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." – Genesis 3:19

On this Ash Wednesday, we enter the season of Lent, a time of reflection, repentance, and renewal.

May this season draw us closer to Christ, shaping our hearts in humility and hope.

Join us in this sacred journey.

Poetry brought students, faculty, alums, and frien

Poetry brought students, faculty, alums, and friends to the Charlotte campus of @upseminary this weekend. The featured poet was Alphonso Saville IV, Assistant Professor of American Religious History and Mission at UPSem. The event was co-hosted by @upsemcsjr and the deans of both @Charlotte and @Richmond. Classes are in session today (Saturday) and a special worship service at Sharon Presbyterian Church as the Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty was installed in the J. Roy Davis Family Chair in Theology and History. It was a great day in Charlotte and for UPSem! You can watch the entire worship service on the UPSem YouTube channel.

We are honored to announce the inauguration of Rev

We are honored to announce the inauguration of Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Hinson-Hasty on March 1, 2025, as the J. Roy Davis Family Chair of Theology and History at our Charlotte Campus!

A distinguished theologian, ethicist, and speaker, Dr. Hinson-Hasty has dedicated her career to exploring faith, social justice, and public life. In February, she delivered the prestigious William L. Self Preaching Lectures at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology, tackling topics like preaching amid political polarization and claiming your story in the pulpit. Her seventh book, "Authentic Christian Freedom: Deconstructing the American Gospel of Liberty," releases in May 2025.

Join us March 1 at 11:45 a.m. at Sharon Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC, for her inauguration and worship service, where she will speak on The Freedom to Live in Self-Giving Love for the Sake of Others. All are welcome to celebrate this joyous occasion.

Ryan Atkinson is all about service—both in the c

Ryan Atkinson is all about service—both in the church and the classroom. A 2024 graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary (M.Div./M.A.C.E.), he now provides IT support at UPSem’s Charlotte campus during the week and serves as interim pastor at Davidson Presbyterian Church in Davidson, NC.

His path to seminary was fueled by big questions and a desire for real, hands-on learning. “We get to put one foot in the academic world and the other in the real world early on,” Ryan says. “It’s both practical and important.” He chose Union Presbyterian Seminary for its honesty about the past and its commitment to building a more just future.

At Davidson Presbyterian, he’s helping carry out the church’s mission to exalt the Savior, evangelize the sinner, and equip the saints. This Black History Month, we celebrate Ryan’s dedication to faith, education, and service—making an impact in both the church and the seminary.

#BlackHistoryMonth

The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation a

The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation at Union Presbyterian Seminary is where faith and activism come together. Led by Dr. Rodney S. Sadler Jr., the center is rooted in scripture’s call to justice, reminding seminarians that social justice isn’t just an add-on—it’s central to ministry. From the Charlotte campus, the center bridges theological education and grassroots activism, equipping future faith leaders to engage in the work of justice and reconciliation. Learn more about the CSJR at our link in bio.

@upsemcsjr #UPSeminary

Katie Geneva Cannon’s legacy is a testament to t

Katie Geneva Cannon’s legacy is a testament to the power of womanist theology in confronting the forces of patriarchy and racism that seek to silence Black women. As the first African American woman ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), she knew that suffering was not an abstract concept—it was a lived reality for many Black women, one that demanded both recognition and resistance.

Her groundbreaking work in Black Womanist Ethics challenged dominant theological narratives, illuminating the ways suffering is too often framed as a moral choice rather than an unavoidable condition. In her words: “In dominant ethics a person is free to make suffering a desirable moral norm. This is not so for Blacks. For the masses of Black people, suffering is the normal state of affairs.”

Union Presbyterian Seminary honors her vision through the Center for Womanist Leadership, which continues her work by inspiring, equipping, and supporting Black women as they serve as change-makers in their communities. Her legacy reminds us that our souls have work to do—work that is vital not just for individuals but for the health and strength of entire communities.

@justwomanist #UPSeminary #BlackHistoryMonth