Director/Associate Pastor of Youth Ministries–Knox Presbyterian Church–Naperville, IL

Knox Pres is a PCUSA congregation nestled in the tree-lined streets of Naperville, IL, a western suburb of Chicago. Members describe their church as caring, inclusive, and vibrant. Knox has six core values that are vital to their community: “Lives are changed by Jesus. We are together in highs and lows. We take fun seriously. Kids grow here. Service is …

Solo Pastor–Sixth Presbyterian Church–Pittsburg, PA

…congregants to lead a spiritually rich worship service and to create other opportunities for spiritual connection and enrichment 4. Pray for the congregation 5. Serve as head of staff and the administrative leader for church operations 6. Provide pastoral care to the members of the church community and be available for personal counseling and spiritual guidance 7. Be available as …

Global Mission Center dedicated to Christian education champion

…was a poem written by Rhee himself called “Like A Turtle.” The closing line sums up the life of a man who made his journey from North Korea to the United States, who would become moderator of the PC(USA); a man who would become a professor and shepherd to hundreds of young people here in the United States and around …

Live simply

…possess a similar value system. They may declare that they are not wealthy but they have a plasma TV and VCR in every room of the house, every family member has their own cell phone and iPod, everyone 16 years of age and older has a car, and the family spends several weeks at a summer cottage or condo. Some …

Head of Staff–Central Presbyterian Church–Anderson, SC

The head of staff would provide leadership for a 600 member congregation. They will be expected to preach, teach, and provide pastoral care and while shepherding the congregation in outreach, service, mission, and all other aspects of church leadership. Full information can be found on MIF in the CLC system of the PC(USA). …

Started UPSem 2005: Rev. Noe Juarez-Loayza (MDiv 2010)

…Laurie Camp Loayza, also a Union Presbyterian Seminary graduate, is from Greensboro, North Carolina. Before emigrating to the US, Juarez-Loayza was a teacher in Moyobamba, Peru. Once in Greensboro, Juarez-Loayza served as the Director of Latino Ministries at First Presbyterian Church, Greensboro. After a few years of working at First Greensboro, he enrolled in seminary at UPSem Charlotte. Now an …

Is Gun Ownership a God-Given Right?

…Second Amendment. For the sake of this conversation, I will start by asserting that the Second Amendment is not the word of God. It is not “holy.” In fact, it is quite problematic. The text of the Amendment is part of our interpretive problem: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of …

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 …

6 things about Alex Abdalla’s summer break

…addition to worshiping together every Sunday, Broad Street Ministry provides a meal a day that functions as the foundation for the other services they provide. When someone attends a meal they can pick up their mail, shop for some free clothing, grab a bag of personal items, apply for an ID, work on an art project, and meet with a …

Student spotlight: Relationship leads to Union

…was attending Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina, majoring in biology and a member of the football team. “The first two years there, I felt like I didn’t have any friends on the football team or on campus,” Ross said. “I didn’t like my classes. I just kind of stayed in my room and didn’t really talk to anybody.” About …

Middle East Travel Seminar: A great day in Amman

…here was cool and rainy. Who knew? Weather notwithstanding, with our fine guide, Naim, and Professors Carson Brisson and Samuel Adams, we had a great day in Amman (pronounced “A-Man”). We saw this city of three million with its hills like Rome and its many limestone buildings. We saw the Citadel and then on to Jerash, north of Amman, including …

Gems for the Journey: Keep Playing Even When You’re Hurt

…be better ceases to be good” When we first encounter these offensive folks, most of us rebel. The rub of these sandpaper types is wrong and in our distress, we turn to prayer. Lord liberate us set us free. Don’t let the wicked oppress us. Slowly, we begin to realize that God is not going to remove these sandpaper folks, …

Congregational Corner: Take On A Life Out of the Tomb

…of the storms of life. I will give my heart and my life over to God, trusting in God’s active presence and acting through God’s enduring grace. Alumna Jordan B. Davis is associate pastor for youth and young adults at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary, North Carolina, and editor of Congregational Corner. Photo by yugdas manandhar from Pexels …

Fools for Christ

…for the work to happen. And sometimes, in what I am learning are some of the best times, it just might mean that we “act a fool.” How will you be a “fool for Christ” today?   Alumna Jordan B. Davis is Transitional Associate Pastor at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary, North Carolina, and editor of Congregational Corner. …

Carneal-Caroline-MDiv

Started UPSem 2003: Rev. Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown (MDiv 2008)

…mother, brother, and sister. Eventually, they all relocated to North Carolina to be closer to her mother’s family. Graduating from North Carolina Central University, she entered medical school at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. Garmon-Brown moved to Charlotte to begin a family practice residency at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in 1980. Since completing her residency in the early 1980s, …

…care to members of the church and their families as needed through home visits and hospital visits in coordination with the Pastor / Head of Staff. Ensure that all requests for pastoral care are responded to in a timely manner. Deacons (10%): Advise and support the Board of Deacons in their activities. Attend regular meetings of the Deacons. Other administrative …

Covenant Pastor for Congregational Life–First Presbyterian Church–Richmond, VA

…Jesus. We are committed to respecting one another and are strengthened and inspired through worship, study, fellowship, prayer, and service. Congregational Life describes both the dynamic nature of the ministry and mission of the congregation as well as the ways the church seeks to support FPC members in their daily lives. This area of church life includes pastoral care, activities …

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 …

Welcome to the 2020 UPSem Black Seminarians

…McDowell LaWonder McDowell received the Katie Geneva Cannon Fellowship for 2020-2021. A chaplain at Caromont Health in Charlotte, she also teaches in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school district. LaWonder is a transfer from Gardner-Webb who is overjoyed to be in a program that is available to her on the weekends. She and her sons attend Elevation Church. She is pursuing the Master …

Andrew Taylor-Troutman: Indeed

…parked car, the horizon began to brighten. Birdsong filled the air. The wet grass shined slick underneath a polished moon. Tombstones rose from the ground. I shivered and not just from the cold. I was always careful to stay on the path, thus steering clear of the graves. This was the only morning of the entire year when I would …