Richmond Inclement Weather Policy 5-19-2016

Digital Communication Policy 2017

In troubling times, seeing chaos as opportunity

…learning and fellowship and service that God was opening up for me through that transition. God has been with me throughout and will continue to be as my call takes shape, as my call transforms into many different calls along this journey. This new understanding has led to my own definition of “chaos theory”—where trusting in God and being still …

Online Workshop: Teaching Social Justice in Comfortable Congregations and a Deeply Divided World

…critical reflection on experiences. Participants can expect to leave with a curriculum sample of a forthcoming series of social justice video-based curricula, fresh ideas, and teaching methods for strengthening their social justice hope chest.   Leader bio: The Rev. Dr. Rebecca Davis, Associate Professor Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, NC, is a Minister of Word and Sacrament and …

Currie Family Lecture

…that the Charlotte campus has in the history of Union Presbyterian Seminary and its role in the future of the church. Among his many accomplishments, Sweetser is the author of the seminary’s official history, “A Copious Fountain: A History of Union Presbyterian Seminary, 1812-2012.” Free, but registration is required.   Begun through a gift to Union Presbyterian Seminary by Thomas …

Dr. Paula Owens Parker: Computer programmer turned womanist theologian

…said. When Parker was in need of a dissertation advisor, she reached out to Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon, professor of Christian ethics at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Working with Cannon was Parker’s reconnection to Union and womanist theology. Cannon was the first African-American woman to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Cannon was also the first person to combine womanism …

Rev. Mitri Raheb brings message of hope to Charlotte campus

By Gail Henderson, M.Div. student Dr. Mitri Raheb – I had only recently heard about him, about his wisdom, his perspective, his experiences, and his writing. His work and his testimony had been recommended to me less than a month before he came to speak at Union Presbyterian Seminary here in Charlotte, North Carolina. What a gift he was to …

(Self-Paced, Ongoing) Old Testament Bible Survey – Pathways Online Course

…can access lessons and quizzes online at your own pace. At the end of each of the 11 sessions, there is a quiz to test your understanding of the material. In this course, a score of at least a 70% must be achieved on each quiz in order to move on to the next session. Quizzes can be retaken as …

Bringing Good News

Bringing Good News: 40 Stories of Congregations and the Ministries that Transformed Them celebrates innovative ministry programs around the country. It is compiled by Professor Emeritus of Christian Education Henry Simmons and Certified Christian Educator Rita Boyer (M.A.C.E.’10), Prospect Presbyterian Church in New Jersey. …

Worship, Ecology, and Community Revisited

…form the theological vocabulary, imagination, and action of participants—especially the ways in which liturgy supports engagement in caring for creation? This question drives Paul Galbreath, Union Presbyterian Seminary Professor of Theology, in his new research funded by a grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. The result of conversations and teaching conducted with six congregations nearly a decade ago, …

Director of Christian Education–Highlands United Presbyterian Church–Jacksonville, FL

…families with the community, and reinforcing our intergenerational connections – Very comfortable with social media for staying in touch, particularly with youth and their families – A deep desire to know HUPC (Highlands United Presbyterian Church) and our area community inside and out. – A familiarity with PC(USA) and a believer and follower of reformed theology, in order to accurately …

Online Workshop: The New Testament & Current Social Concerns (Two-part series)

Online Workshop: For a Time Such as This — The New Testament and Current Social Concerns Dates: Tuesdays, October 20 and 27, 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EST (Note: This online workshop is a two-part series). Led by: John Carroll, Harriet Robertson Fitts Memorial Professor of New Testament, Union Presbyterian Seminary Workshop Description: Karl Barth famously advocated reading the newspaper …

Lilly Endowment Grant to Provide a Bridge for Early Career Preachers

…Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative, a new program will offer a path to nurture and support 120 early career pastors over five years. The Bridge for Early Career Preachers will help nurture and support 120 new ministers during the next five years to develop their voices for faithful, imaginative, intelligent, energetic, and loving proclamation. The Bridge is being funded through …

Physical Change Leads to New Thinking: Walter W. Moore

…shape at Union, changed Union, and helped transform the world of biblical interpretation and theological thought. In 1924, Union Professor Walter Lee Lingle assumed the presidency of the General Assembly’s Training School for Lay Workers (ATS) across Brook Road from the Seminary campus in Richmond—later renamed Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE). Sweetser is succinct: “Walter Lee Lingle … set …

Social Justice Orientation Leads to Missions

…(or Hell’s Bottom) Mission and its impact: For almost a mile, the C. & O. Railroad Yards run parallel to a little creek that the city has converted into an open sewer. In the ravine carved out by this stream lie huddled the buildings that serve as homes for seven hundred Negro families. The air of the place is tainted …

Student spotlight: Pay attention to the “bread crumbs”

…community development work in the Southside of Glasgow in Castlemilk. She spent a day each week in a church-founded carpenters workshop where community members come in and learn basic carpentry skills and share a meal together. “It rocked my notion of what church currently is and allowed me to see what church can be when we live out the Gospel …

6 things about Marina Ghaly’s summer break

…future of the church? MG: This internship is specifically teaching me and reminding me a lot about Christian hospitality. This church cares deeply about immigrants and refugees. Specifically what the church is doing for refugees or immigrants is hosting a free ESL Conversation Cafe. This “class” is designed specifically for the refugee/immigrant to practice their English by having conversation. The …

Extending Union’s reach into East Africa

…traveled to Ethiopia, Kenya, and Mauritius. Our goal was to build relationships with schools and churches so that we might be able to welcome students from these African countries to our Richmond campus. We also talked about the possibility of our students and faculty traveling to East Africa, either to do short term courses with students in East Africa or …

6 things about Katie Thomison’s summer break

During the summer months, our students work, intern, or study in a variety of settings, often earning course credit and learning what it means to be the Church in the World. Some stay near campus, while others move away for a few months. On the blog this summer, we are featuring some of our students and the work they’re doing. …

Started UPSem 2002: Rev. Lori Raible (MDiv 2006)

…vows to teach and care for the children and youth of the church. After high school, Raible moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to attend Wake Forest University. Upon graduation, she relocated to Denver, Colorado, working as the brewery representative for The Boston Beer Company promoting the offerings of Samuel Adams — the patriot, not the Union Presbyterian Seminary professor. From …

Middle East Travel Seminar: Our trek from desert to sea

…the bluffs, basking in the sun, and learning about first century BCE carvings that can be easily ignored if you aren’t looking carefully enough. (left to right) Richmond students Heather Brannon, Rebecca Heilman, and Linda Kurtz on a camel ride. After exploring the wilderness, several members of our group enthusiastically volunteered to ride on a camel caravan near camp. It’s …

Started UPSem 2004: Rev. Nadine Ellsworth-Moran (MDiv / MACE 2011)

…distinguishes the work of the seminary and what Ellsworth-Moran wants others to know about UPSem Charlotte. Ellsworth-Moran concludes, “The faculty and staff really do care about each student and their life. They care not only about what is happening in the classroom but what is going on once we leave campus. There is a real community on the Charlotte campus.” …