Central America Travel Seminar: Silencing Christian Justice

…of history and hope. The top picture is the Chapel at the Divine Providence hospital in San Salvador where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated while serving communion on March 24, 1980. The picture below is a chapel built near the spot where the bodies of three nuns and one lay person we’re found on Dec. 2, 1980 near Santiago Nonualco….

“Holy Spirit: Old Testament Images of God’s Holy, Life-giving Presence”

On Sundays, April 2, 9, 23 and 30 at 9:30am, John Carroll will be the guest speaker for the Covenant Class at First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, VA. The titles of his lectures are: “Holy Spirit: Old Testament Images of God’s Holy, Life-giving Presence” on April 2nd. “Holy Spirit as Mission Director in Luke and Acts” on April 9th. “Holy Spirit…

Dean McFayden to Lead Retreat for Presbytery of Coastal Carolina

Dean Ken McFayden will serve as retreat leader for the Mission Cabinet and the Strategic Planning and Organizational Review Committee for the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina on September 13, 2019. Dr. Kenneth J. McFayden is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, Richmond Campus, and Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development….

Dr. Gench Preaching and Speaking in Roanoke, VA on “When the Bible Raises your Blood Pressure: Faithful Wrestling With Challenging Texts”

Frances Taylor Gench will preach and speak on “When the Bible Raises Your Blood Pressure: Faithful Wrestling with Challenging Texts” on Saturday evening, October 13 and 10:30am on Sunday, October 14 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, Roanoke, Virginia. Dr. Gench is the Herbert Worth and Annie H. Jackson Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond….

Professor Gench to Teach Adult Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church, Richmond

Professor Gench will teach a two-week series at First Presbyterian Church in Richmond entitled “When the Bible Raises Your Blood Pressure.” The classes will be January 12 and 19, 2020, at 9:45am. Frances Taylor Gench is the Herbert Worth and Annie H. Jackson Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Union Presbyterian Seminary….

Dr. Sam Adams to speak on “The Complex Vision for Justice in the Bible and Our Current Political Moment”

On Sunday, March 25, 2018, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Charlottesville, Virginia, will welcome Dr. Sam Adams to speak on “The Complex Vision or Justice in the Bible and Our Current Political Moment” for the adult education session meeting in the library from 9:30 to 10:40 a.m. Dr. Adams will be speaking and leading a discussion on the understanding of justice in…

Dr. McFayden leading East Community Pastor Retreat in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina

On Sunday and Monday, August 13 and 14, 2017, Dr. Kenneth J. McFayden will be leading the East Community Pastors Retreat for the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina. He will be speaking on Stewardship: Biblical Perspectives and Better Practices. Dr. McFayden is the Academic Dean and Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Virginia….

Dr. DeVries speaking on the beginnings of the Protestant movement at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church

On Sunday, October 1, 2017, Dr. Dawn DeVries will be speaking and teaching during the Sunday school hour at Ginter Park Presbyterian Church, Richmond, on the beginnings of the Protestant movement and Martin Luther, its founder Who was a complex man with many ideas and moods and strengths and flaws and who left a larger than life footprint on the…

Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler to Teach and Preach at Second Presbyterian Richmond

On Sunday, October 21, Second Presbyterian will host host the Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler, Associate Professor of Bible, Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte. These three opportunities to hear Dr. Sadler are all open to the community. Church School at 9:30am: “Race is nothing; Race is everything.” Sermon at 11:00am: “Biblical Hospitality and the Contemporary Church” ~ Genesis 19:1-11 Sunday Nite Worship…

Dr. Galbreath to speak on Communion in the Gospel of John

On February 5, 2017, Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C. will welcome Dr. Paul Galbreath as a guest speaker. Dr. Galbreath will be speaking on the topic of Communion in the Gospel of John as part of their First Sunday Series. Dr. Galbreath is Professor of Theology at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte, North Carolina….

Dr. Parker leading Ash Grove Presbyterian Church Women’s Retreat

…Dr. Paula Owens Parker as the speaker. The Rev. Dr. Paula Owens Parker is the author of Roots Matter: Healing History Honoring Heritage and Renewing Hope. She is a Presbyterian minister, senior program developer for Roots Matter LLC, adjunct assistant professor and senior program associate for the Center for Womanist Leadership at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA.    …

Endurance: Matt. 24:9-14 NRSV

…(1) the ability to withstand hardship or tribulation, (2) to be steadfast under great pressure, (3) the ability of a person to continue to perform a duty in the presence of mounting difficulty, (4) not to allow adverse experiences to change the course of one’s life. There are many biblical examples of endurance; a few of them follow. Job stands…

Middle East Travel Seminar: The Western Wall, Temple Mount, and Dome of the Rock

…sunshine from our hotel in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem toward the Western Wall. As part of the Second Temple Compound, the Western Wall is believed to be where the Divine Presence can always be experienced and is a sacred destination for prayer. After going through a security station, we walked up the ramp toward the…

Understanding Muslims: Dr. Zeyneb Sayilgan

…Union matters! podcast: Perils of peacemaking How to revitalize a church through music and drama Muslims are the fastest-growing religious group in the world. Their growth and regional migration, combined with the ongoing impact of extremist groups that commit violence in their name, have brought Muslims and their faith to the forefront of the political debate in many countries, including…

Help New Ministers Preach in Today’s World

…Preaching Initiative aims to offer precisely that assistance,” said President Brian Blount. “Union Presbyterian Seminary is excited to partner in this endeavor that will cultivate practices among aspiring and active preachers that will help them proclaim the gospel to diverse audiences in more engaging and effective ways.” # # # Contact: Barb Dodd, Communications Director Union Presbyterian Seminary bdodd@upsem.edu 804-278-4279…

APCE 2019: The tide is changing

…another heavy blanket of fog along the Gulf of Mexico. Our open opening worship of Morning Prayers was led by David Gambrell and Hugh Donnelly provided music leadership. After the morning workshops, we gathered for lunch. During lunch we participated in the APCE Corporate Meeting presided by outgoing president Ken McFayden, academic dean of the Richmond campus of Union Presbyterian…

Senator Scott: Finding community and connection

…Reconciliation appealed to Scott. Still “looking for real community and connection,” Scott says that Union Presbyterian Seminary “just felt like home.” Scott hopes to use his Master of Divinity degree to do “intercultural community activism and social justice work,” potentially back in Atlanta, or even in an international context. He has not planned too far in advance because he believes…

Living Generously

BY HELEN BESSENT BYRD (M.Div.’07) Time and again in his ministry to young churches, Paul taught generously. In his second letter to the church in Corinth which he wrote in circa 50 CE that, “The one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you…

Memorial for Dr. Paul Walaskay

…husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. Event location: Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond Campus, Watts Chapel Due to COVID restrictions and limited seating, a reservation is necessary for in-person attendees on a first-come-first-served basis. Registration closes August 27. Proof of coronavirus vaccination is required for all attendees and masks must be worn indoors. Watch online Program Register to attend in person…

Church Business Administration Seminars in Charlotte 2018/19

…Managing Strategic Planning Issues 4/25/19 Managing Communications Issues 5/9/19 Managing Human Resources Issues (Part 1) – Personnel 5/23/19 Managing Human Resources Issues (Part 2) – Legal NOTE: Human Resources is a 2-day seminar; both Personnel and Legal must be taken together if you are seeking certification. Click here to register online for the Church Business Administration program in Charlotte. ****************************…

Will Change Ever Come?

Rev. Dr. Leonard Edloe, (Union Presbyterian Seminary, Th.M ’19) For a long time, this nation has needed a reset. A reset in the way people of color have had to endure. When it comes to many of the indicators that measure the quality of life of the citizens of this nation, we are always behind. I thought COVID-19 would be…

The complexity of the prison industrial complex