Voelz Elected Academy of Homiletics’ 2025 President

Rich Voelz has been elected to serve on the Executive Committee of the Academy of Homiletics, and in 2025 will serve as President. The professional guild of more than 200 scholars represents a wide array of denominations. Over the past year, Voelz has been co-directing a grant studying diversity, equity, and inclusion in the teaching and research of the Academy’s…

Confession, Repentance, and Restorative Justice

…expansive and gracious God we worship. Amen. Footnotes: [1] Book of Order 2023-2025, The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Part II, G-1, Congregations and Their Membership. [2] “Letter from Birmingham Jail [King, Jr.].” Accessed January 30, 2024. https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html. [3] “John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion: Christian Classics Ethereal Library.” Accessed December 15, 2023. https://ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes/institutes.v.iv.html [4] Isaiah 58:6 (NRSV)….

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Linger at the Levine Museum

Join fellow Union Presbyterian Seminary alumni for an afternoon of socializing, a light reception, update on the seminary, and a tour of the Levine Museum of the New South in Uptown Charlotte. Free admission, parking, and reception. Register by August 1 by emailing alumni@upsem.edu. Hello, alums! I hope you are having a great summer. Especially as a kid, I loved…

Patterning God, The Great Provider

By Helen Bessent Byrd (M.Div.’07) As a child, I learned that God is magnanimous and generous. The third passage of the Old Testament that I memorized was the 24th Psalm which begins, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (KJV). In Acts 17:24-28, Paul taught people in Athens this same message…

Sharing the Quiet: Strengthening Intergenerational Relationships

…I feel your silence; a perpetual silence that has been passed from one generation to the next. Even in shouts of celebration and triumph, the silence is still there. I struggle to conceptualize what holds generations together and what keeps them apart; silence has shaped or is shaping our being. It is sometimes challenging to communicate across different generations because…

Union Seminary hosts commencement in a cloud

RICHMOND, VA (May 17, 2020) — Amid the COVID-19 pandemic which suddenly shifted traditional classroom instruction to the virtual cloud, Union Presbyterian Seminary conferred 45 degrees and certificates to 43 students in its Richmond campus community who successfully completed their Master of Arts in Christian Education, Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, Doctor of Philosophy, and Seoul Exchange Fellowship programs….

The Sprunt Lectures

…Brown (M.Div.’92), pastoral associate at Grace Presbyterian Church in Baltimore, Maryland, and resource developer for Intersection of Change   Join us for the Third Annual Union Golf Tournament on Monday, May 7th, at Jefferson Lakeside Country Club, 1700 Lakeside Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228. More information and registration at www.regonline.com/Sprunt2018. Click here for a link to the event brochure and schedule….

Alt-right rally: Love & hope vs evil in our midst

…the enormity of the challenge, we might find solidarity in Judaism’s Pirkei Avot (Mishnaic text, translated Chapters of the Fathers or Ethics of the Fathers): “You are not obligated to complete the task, but neither are you free to desist from it” (2:21). Gary Hatter with Dr. Cornel West. As Christians, we know that humankind’s best hope is to turn…

Is Gun Ownership a God-Given Right?

A Look at the Second Amendment By Rev. Rodney Sadler, Ph.D. It has been difficult to watch the news over the past several months without being deeply disturbed by the rash of mass shootings we have seen. This, added to the rampant gun violence in the community as a whole, suggests that, no matter where we find ourselves on the…

Master of Arts in Christian Education

The purpose of the M.A.C.E. degree program is to prepare you to become a professional educator in Christian congregations or other educational settings. Graduates serve in various capacities and ministerial settings: churches, camps, schools, non-profit organizations, conference centers, and ecclesial governing bodies. Our M.A.C.E. program is 36 credit hours, making it possible for you to complete your degree in just…

Memorial for Dr. Paul Walaskay

Join online or in-person Family, friends, seminary alumni, and faculty will gather to remember Dr. Paul Walaskay — a biblical scholar, gifted teacher, passionate jazz pianist, and an enthusiastic bicyclist and hiker. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. Event location: Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond Campus, Watts Chapel Due to COVID restrictions and limited seating, a reservation…

In “Reference” to Paula Skreslet

…Theology & Food Justice Nancy Myer: Lifelong learning Senator Scott: Finding community and connection Colleen Earp: Camping, conservation, and chickens In “Reference” to Paula Skreslet Paul Smith: From police officer to pastor Heather Woodworth Brannon advocates for housing justice in Richmond Staff Spotlight BY EMMA NORTH The William Smith Morton Library at Union Presbyterian Seminary offers a remarkable collection of…

Reformation Tour: Music & Luther

This is post 3 of 7 in the series “Reformation Tour” Our Reformation Tour lands in Berlin Reformation Tour: Bridging the Divide Reformation Tour: Music & Luther Reformation Tour: Luther the disrupter Reformation Tour: Appreciating Luther’s convictions Reformation Tour: Who? The Reformation and those less well known Reformation Tour: Geneva, our final stop BY DAVID BOELZNER This day combined music…

Middle East Travel Seminar: Little Petra and glamping(?)

…days. Many thanks to all our supporters back home, but even more thanks to our fearless leaders Carson and Sam. We’ve gone through some interesting “faith testing” experiences this week, and they have been our rocks the entire way. For those of you who are thinking about a Jordan visit, buy your tickets now. Come and see the Koinonia. Kelley…

What Are You Offering?

…the one who gives so much more. We are quickly approaching the common time for stewardship campaigns. Some will talk about planting seeds or 20/20 vision. Others will come up with other creative ways to help congregations think about giving money (oh, and time and talents, right?). However you approach it, I encourage every congregation to think not just about…

Heather Woodworth Brannon advocates for housing justice in Richmond

…amplify the voices of those who are long-silenced in our community,” Brannon says. She also notes that we share much of Old Testament scripture with other faith communities, particularly Jewish ones. “Our responsibility is to act on behalf of others by demanding justice.” Top photo: Final level Union Presbyterian student Heather Woodworth Brannon gave a speech based on her ministry…

Admissions & Aid

Become the leader God calls you to be! Scripturally and historically informed, theologically grounded, spiritually nourished, culturally sensitive, mission focused, transformation oriented and passionate about renewing the church….

Planned Giving

Your support ensures that the teachings of Christ will continue to be passed on through the church, and through the church, to the world. Leaving a legacy gift supports the future of theological education by offering Union Presbyterian Seminary the means to prepare ministers and educators for the church. Through a bequest, charitable gift annuity, or other trust instrument, your…

Jane Davis Rourk, former Union Seminary trustee, dies

…Advisory Board from 2005 to 2018 and was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC. “Jane was a remarkable woman. Her leadership of the Union board, New Hope Presbytery, and First Presbyterian Church, as well as commitment to the community and her professional activities speak to her impact in all of these areas.” Phyllis Supple, Former Union Trustee…

Models of Womanist Leadership (Womanist Leadership Institute Course)

Thursdays, October 17-November 21 Instructor: Dr. Monique Moultrie This interdisciplinary course draws on womanist ethics, Black church studies, and other fields to explore womanist leadership focusing on Black women who utilize religion or spirituality as a basis for their social justice commitments. The course will focus on oral histories and autobiographies of various Black spiritual activists and leaders as we…

Dr. Sadler to speak at Creation Justice Pathways in North Carolina

This two day event is sponsored by the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ and the North Carolina Council of Churches, Creation Justice Pathways in North Carolina brings together activists and experts for a weekend of presentations, discussions and community building. Dr. Rodney Sadler will speak on “Making a Cleaner, Greener, Better World, Fusing Climate Change and Social…