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Union Seminary announces faculty appointments

…Presbyterian Church in Fountain Inn, South Carolina; associate general presbyter for congregational programming and leadership development, Peace River Presbytery; pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Monahans, Texas; associate pastor for education and general ministry, Central Presbyterian Church, Mobile, Alabama; and director of Christian education, Enslow Park Presbyterian Church, Huntington, West Virginia. She has served on the Committee on Justice for Children and …

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Dean McFayden to Lead Workshop at 2020 ATS Academic Officers Conference

Dean McFayden will lead a workshop entitled “Staying Focused as an Academic Dean amid Blurring Rates of Change” at the 2020 Academic Officers Conference of the Association of Theological Schools. The conference will be held in Vancouver, BC, on June 23, 2030. Kenneth J. McFayden is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Richmond Campus, Professor of Ministry and …

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Central America Travel Seminar: Stories of exile and oppression

This is post 8 of 12 in the series “Central America travel seminar” Our Central America travel seminar has landed! Central America Travel Seminar: Silencing Christian Justice Central America Travel Seminar: The War Years Central America Travel Seminar: The day we met Jon Sobrino Central America Travel Seminar: “Power is for the people” Central America Travel Seminar: Echoes of Womanists …

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Welcome to the 2020 UPSem Black Seminarians

…the dual degree program on the Richmond campus. I’m a native New Yorker with familial roots in Virginia and North Carolina. Prior to UPSem, I worked for a government contractor as a small business liaison officer (including two years as a subcontracts administrator). The pay was good, but the weekly commute to Northern Virginia… not so good. I was called …

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Professor Emeritus Jim Smylie (1925-2019)

…of 67 years, Elizabeth, and their three children, Mark Andrew Smylie of Oak Park, Illinois, Margaret Elizabeth (Beth) Puckett of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Mary Catherine (Cathy) McGehee of Richmond, and their spouses Sallie Gamble Smylie, Ben Puckett, and Read McGehee. Dr. Smylie had nine grandchildren: Lauren Gage, Anna Caldwell, Rachel Smylie (predeceased), Bonnie Levine, Andrew and Sarah Puckett, Rebecca McWilliams, …

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Seminary for a Day workshop “Polity Matters for Mission and Ministry” led by the Rev. Rhyne

…how our polity is an opportunity for your church to be involved in mission and ministry for Christ. Carson is the General Presbyter and Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the James and serves as adjunct instructor of Presbyterian Polity at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA. For workshop descriptions, click here. To register for Seminary for a Day, click here. …

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Statement from President Blount on the passing of Freda Gardner

…made a point to remain in touch. As Moderator of the 211th General Assembly, she invited me to preach at the Assembly in San Jose, California. Ever the mentor, she explained that she wanted me to have broader exposure to the larger church. Upon my call to Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union Presbyterian Seminary), …

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2018 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

…Petra. It was even more magnificent in person than it appears in the movies! We spent one night camping in the desert and many of the participants took the opportunity to ride a camel. I did not, as the previous day I’d nearly been thrown off a donkey. No more animal rides for me. We went up to Mt. Nebo …

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Union Seminary to mandate COVID-19 vaccine for students, employees, visitors

…again, make the moves we need to make with grace, patience, and care for one another. On September 7, the Fall 2021 Academic Term will begin on the Richmond Campus. On September 10, the Fall 2021 Academic Term will begin on the Charlotte Campus. I fully anticipate that, in each case, we will begin those terms in person. In order …

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Supervisor Guidelines

…the student once a week for at least an hour. See Weekly Time Log. Provide in-process and final assessments. Supervision Policy: A supervisor must not be a spouse or relative of the intern, nor the student’s current pastor. Supervisors who plan to be on Sabbatical or plan on retiring during the internship may not serve. Mentoring Team Information All internship …

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New Book by James Atwood coming November 2019

Pastor, author, activist, and UPSem alumnus James E. Atwood (M.Div.’59) addresses the issue of gun violence in a new book to be published November 5, 2019. In “Collateral Damage,” Atwood issues an urgent call to action to Christians to work together to stop gun violence. An avid hunter for many years, Rev. Atwood enumerates the tragic and far-reaching costs that …

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Dr. Galbreath to keynote North American Association for the Catechumenate

The Annual Gathering for the Adult Catechumenate Turning Hearts toward God: The Lenten Practice of Baptismal Preparation How does the Spirit turn our hearts toward God? How do faith communities engage those to be baptized in this turning? What maps and patterns of practice guide it? Dr. Paul Galbreath, Professor of Theology at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina, will …

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Jimmie Hawkins, M.A.’86, Recognized as 2024 UPSem Distinguished Alum

Richmond, VA (March 8, 2024)—As a communicator, Jimmie Hawkins is known for his advocacy and winsomeness. He leads the Office of Public Witness for the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations, and has served as a resource to numerous committees within the Presbyterian church at all levels. “General Assembly (GA) policy of the Presbyterian Church …

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They were (are) heard!

…35 youth bent over their cards and scribbled away. When it came time to compose our prayer, I expected half of the cards to contain something I could actually use in the prayer (you know how teenagers can be!)– I could not have been more wrong. Tears filled my eyes as I read their prayers that filled every single card. …

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Gala & picnic kick off “we are ONE” campaign

…learn more about the nine new programs funded by the campaign and to inaugurate the Hal Todd Library Without Walls system. After Christmas, UPSem will host more gatherings in cities such as Greenville, Durham, and Raleigh, North Carolina; Saratoga and Tampa-St. Petersburg, Florida; and Roanoke, Tidewater, Northern Neck, Virginia. Learn more about the we are ONE campaign and give today! …

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Seminary for a Day 2019

…of Ethics, Theology and Culture and Director of the Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership at the Richmond Campus (Workshop description to be announced.)       All the Rage: The Dynamic Power of Anger in Conflicted Relationships Kenneth J. McFayden, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Richmond Campus, and Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development This …

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6 things about Andy Spaulding’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. …

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Division & Reunion Video

…Carolina, Wilmington John W. Kuykendall, President Emeritus, Davidson College Kathryn L. Johnson, Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Amy Plantinga Pauw, Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Stuart Nixon, Journalist and Lay Lecturer, Presbytery of the James Sean Michael Lucas, Professor of Church History, Reformed Theological Seminary; Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg (PCA) …

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Online Workshop: The Past, Present, and Future of Giving and Generosity

…will receive the recordings and slides from each class, and each week, office hours are offered for one-on-one conversations.   TUESDAY, JANUARY 24 | 1:30 P.M. ET Generational Giving Today Boomers make up only 23.6% of the population but are responsible for 43% of all benevolent giving—including to churches. More generally, churches across the country are largely sustained by the …

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Sprunt Lectures highlight modern urgency of Paul’s ancient letter to Romans

…the letter: God has acted in Christ to reclaim the world, setting humankind free from its enslavement (to sin and death) and giving us new identity as members of God’s family. This gift does not come to those who are worthy, or to persons with intellectual capacity, but to all. It is not about us or what we can do, …

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Head of Staff/Senior Pastor–New Braunfels Presbyterian Church–New Braunfels, TX

…an effective communicator, as he/she considers various viewpoints before arriving at decisions. The pastor’s compassion for members through congregational care outreach should be genuine, consistent, and caring. Superior organizational and interpersonal management skills are necessary as our spiritually mature pastor seeks to lead and collaborate with employees and members toward the agreed-upon vision. Experience in strategic planning and leading a …

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Credit

…low APR (annual percentage rate). Look for cards with cash back or other incentive programs. 3% back on groceries may not seem like a lot, but everything adds up and you could add an additional $25-$75 dollars back into your bank account every year just by making regular purchases. Treat this credit card like a debit card (never spending more …

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