Musical group, The Many, to lead 2022 Howie Center Events

On October 6, 2022, The Many will be on the Richmond campus to lead the Howie Center Events. The Many is an uncommon, intentionally diverse collective making music for people to sing together about peace and justice and a world where all belong. Open to the public, The Many will lead workshops and worship centered around eco-justice and climate change….

Webinar: Feminist Theology & the Historical Christian Faith

…German theologians Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Paul Tillich to Nazism, and in particular their perspectives on Judaism. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Cost: FREE. No cost to register for this event, yet attendees must register. Registration: Online registration is open. Click here to REGISTER. Registered attendees will receive a link to join the live webinar prior to…

Started UPSem 2009: Rev. British Hyrams (MDiv/MACE 2016)

…profile, commitments, accessibility, and format made her exploration of a call to ministry move from an idea to a real possibility. Speculating on what makes UPSem Charlotte a special place, she concludes that it comes down to one word: Accessibility. “The course delivery format gives working adults access to a quality graduate program,” she said. “The financial support and cost…

Finding Our Genuine Voice

…am left with one very simple and very complicated question – Are we, as congregational leaders, being our genuine selves and modeling that for our parishioners? Do we allow our context to control our words, or do we allow the Spirit to guide our words? Do we open space for others to be genuine, or do we close doors to…

…committee. ● Attend and be the key leader for at least one summer mission trip. ● Recruit, train, and support adult leaders for mission trips. ● Complete or direct the completion of all administrative duties related to the trip including distributing registration forms, planning trip details, coordinating with mission site partners and communicating with leaders, parents, and participants. Other Youth…

W. Sibley Towner, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation, dies at 85

…a professor. I cherish that note even more now! Michael Compton – I have very fond memories of Sib in the classroom – kind, thoughtful, compassionate, and an excellent sense of humor. I learned much from him about positive models for ministry. And his book on Scriptural examples in the Mekhilta influenced my dissertation topic years later. Requiescat in pace….

They were (are) heard!

…using God as a compass to find “true north” and I thanked God for putting them in my life to be my compass. This past Sunday, the youth at Kirk of Kildaire were heard! I pray that they feel that and felt the love of the congregation embracing them. I pray that they know that they stood before a room…

Union students log 1,000+ miles to vote

…and fly you down there? Not joking, I will chip in,” Dr. Adams commented. Dr. Adams says that as a Georgia native himself, he had been monitoring the Georgia governor’s race closely, and was aware of issues with the organization and distribution of absentee ballots, which he describes as “not acceptable.” Members of the seminary community, fellow students, family, friends,…

Students join movement to strengthen Richmond community

…engaged is through an organization called RISC (Richmonders Involved to Strengthen Our Communities). This nonprofit, which is supported by Richmond-area churches and others, identifies key challenges facing the community and, in the words of the seminary’s RISC organizer Rebecca Heilman, seeks to “hold community leaders accountable” to address those challenges. “In the past few years, RISC has targeted education, jobs,…

Congregational Corner: Take on, Caring for Creation

…then, I have tried to stay as close to this schedule as possible, even though I have yet to have the “perfect transplant” on Easter that the first garden had. Gardening can be such a peaceful practice. There is something about working with the soil and excitedly checking the growth of the plant every day that both matches and contrasts…

Living COVID While Black and George Floyd

…not have the same privilege. I increasingly became aware that some of our students did not have the internet bandwidth to take their classes online. They also did not have a computer. How could that be? You need to have your own computer to attend college right? Little did I know that some students were relying on the computers in…

Middle East Travel Seminar: Our incredible journey in Galilee continues

…in Galilee visiting more sites and trying to hold in tension the “archeological remains, church traditions, and the embellishments of tour guides” as Max Miller puts it, along with theological reflection and current political realities. It is sensory overload for most of us as we share this trip in the community we have formed with one another. At the same…

Full-Time Installed Minister–First Presbyterian Church–Huntsville, TN

…for growth in each of these program offerings and facilitate our successes. We expect the new minister will work diligently and compassionately with our congregation and community to fulfill our mission and actively engage in church activities (including leading weekly worship), direct our youth group program, work with our congregation’s leadership to develop mission-oriented programs, engage with the community through…

2024 Front Page for PSCE on UPSem website

21-UPS-03 SharonBrook_03-pages

Divine Correction

BY SANDRA CALDWELL WILLIAMS (M.Div., MACE’06) While reading my daily devotion, I needed something more and I turned the pages of the devotional to the date of my “2nd birthday.” On that page, there appeared a reading from Job 5:17-18. I sometimes refer to myself as Jobette, because there have been times in my life that I felt there was…

Started UPSem 2018: Jason Smith

…enrolled. Granted, we meet only once a week during our three semesters each year, but I feel confident that I could call on any member of the student body or faculty/staff in times of need. I would receive prayers, support, attention, and love. The compassion is genuine and abundant. For a non-residential campus comprised of part-time (mostly second-career) students, that…

Thanks for coming to Sprunt Lectures!

…life and ministry to the Alumni Associate, Jill Wright, at alumni@upsem.edu. We love hearing from you! Also, check out our alumni web page. Come join us for the Sprunt Lectures next May 4-6, 2020, here in Richmond! W. Clay Macaulay (D.Min.’85) Director of Alumni Development cmacaulay@upsem.edu 804-278-4382 Top photo: Dr. J.A. Ross MacKenzie, former UTS professor of church history, is…

Congregational Corner: Sitting in the dark of Advent

…attempt to cover the pain brought on by mentions from others about family parties, vacations, and work schedules. We decorate our homes and light candles, reciting a script that we just can’t completely stand behind right now as we struggle and wonder what plan God has for us. Why? This is the time when we should celebrate that in all…

Campus Minister/Director–Winthrop Wesley Foundation–Rock Hill, South Carolina

…races ,ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations. To our students, Wesley is a safe, welcoming, “home away from home” where they are encouraged to ask questions, challenged to think critically, and empowered to grow in faith individually and communally. Our Core Values Why do we exist? We exist to create a nurturing Christian community where students may express, explore,…

Digital scams, lies, and deceits cost

…that unknown spyware was being removed from my laptop and that I was getting a Microsoft upgrade. Ignorance is not bliss; it is expensive! Yes, I reported the incident to my bank immediately and took all the necessary steps to protect my funds, i.e., closed out and opened a new bank account with new cards; shared photographs, receipts, and copies…

India travel seminar: Leaving our shoes at the door

…pat: find an open place to put our shoes near the door. What had been strange and a bit worrisome in the beginning (Where should we put the shoes? Will they be safe there? Will we recognize them when we come back out?) had all been answered through multiple experiences with this very common practice of leaving our shoes at…