Alumna, pastor calls for action on racism in Charlotte

by Gregg Brekke | Presbyterian News Service   LOUISVILLE – Although the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina are now quiet following protests in response to the September 20 shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott by police, area Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pastors say the historic and deep-seated sentiment that fostered unrest after this killing remains. “Charlotte is a southern city,” says …

The Rev. Dr. Edwin W. Stock Jr., Union alumnus & campaign fundraiser, dies at 82

The Rev. Dr. Edwin Witte Stock passed away peacefully due to heart failure on November 2, 2019. Stock graduated from Union Theological Seminary (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) with a Master of Divinity degree in 1962. Stock retired as Senior Pastor for First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, after serving from 1988-2002. Because of his love for the seminary, he …

Central America Travel Seminar: Our last morning in Guatemala

This is post 12 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 …

The reality of God’s presence when storms of life are raging

Students Letarshia and Eric Robinson explore Denver during the APCE conference.   M.A.C.E. student Letarshia Robinson shares her reflections on attending the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) 2017 Annual Event in Denver, Colorado. The theme of this year’s APCE conference was “God with us in the chaos.” In their plenaries, Nadia Bolz Weber and Dr. Larron Jackson offered encouragement …

California wildfires affect Union families

…a GoFundMe page to help support her grandparents who have been featured on Inside Edition, ABC News, and their local ABC News station. While Malibu is often associated with celebrities and wealth, not every resident falls into that category. When his wife’s grandparents moved there 41 years ago, the area was completely undeveloped and it wasn’t the celebrity paradise it …

Heather Woodworth Brannon advocates for housing justice in Richmond

This is post 14 of 14 in the series “Student Spotlight” Student spotlight: A second chance at seminary Student spotlight: Pay attention to the “bread crumbs” Student spotlight: Relationship leads to Union Student spotlight: The twisting path to seminary Student spotlight: Longtime educator yearns to learn more Student Spotlight: Dana Purdom digs deep Alec Powell: The Unconventional Call Kate Meeks: …

Family Ministry Coordinator–St. James United Methodist Church–Greenville, NC

…recruitment and training, communications, and scheduling for the ministry. The position requires in person presence most Sunday mornings and evenings and on Wednesday evenings during the program year. Key Responsibilities: • Ensure that leader positions and meals/food for regular programming (Sunday School and Youth) are filled each week and for special events (retreats, VBS, mission trips, etc.) and align with …

A Litany of Embodied Justice

…her people are free. Let us pray that we would become the justice that we yearn for, that we might use our power to create spaces of safety, for all to have voice and body and power— that we might embody that for which we pray. Justice, justice. Let us pray now for peace. Let us pray now for unity. …

Resident Congregational Care job description

Dr. Samuel Adams to be installed as McNair Professor of Biblical Studies

…from the University of Chicago Divinity School, in addition to a history degree from Davidson College. He joined the Union Presbyterian Seminary faculty in 2006 and currently holds the position of Professor of Old Testament studies. Adams is also an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). He has served in the positions of youth and young adult pastor …

International peacemaker to discuss Syrian refugee crisis at Union Seminary

RICHMOND, Va. (September 17, 2018) – Dr. Mary Mikhael, a native of Syria, will visit Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond October 3, 2018, to address the growing humanitarian crisis and the challenges that religious groups face as they seek to bring hope, peace, and reconciliation to this war-torn region. More than 350,000 people have died and 11 million have been …

President Blount to retire from Union Presbyterian Seminary in 2023

…seminary’s endowment by over $7 million. Recruiting a new generation of diverse, talented faculty to carry forward the seminary’s educational mission for years to come. Increasing the diversity of seminary faculty, staff, students, and board members through effective outreach. Completing successful reaccreditation of accreditation processes with the Association of Theological Schools and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission …

Former chairman of PSCE Board of Trustees Emile Dieth passes

…as executive director of alumni affairs and annual giving from 1996-98. He was called to serve as president of Montreat Conference Center in May 1998 where he served until 2003. His three years in management at Chevron U.S.A., Inc., were preceded by 23 years at Gulf Oil Corporation where, until 1985, he served as manager/national accounts in the Houston office. …

Professor Emeritus Jim Smylie (1925-2019)

RICHMOND, Va. (January 7, 2019) – James Hutchinson Smylie of Richmond, Virginia, died peacefully on January 5, 2019. He was 93 years old. An ordained minister, seminary professor, and church historian, his ministry took him around the country and the world. A memorial service is planned for February 1, 4:00 pm at Westminster Canterbury, 1600 Westbrook Avenue, Richmond, where he …

Pause to Pray

Join us in a moment of prayer & thanksgiving as we reflect on the bold work done by UPSem Charlotte over the past 20 years. Holding its first classes as a seminary extension campus on February 2, 2002, this February 2 marks two decades of diligent study, ardent prayer, abundant generosity, faithful engagement, and imaginative risk. Take a moment during …

APCE 2021 Virtual UPSem Alumni Event

On February 3, 2021 UPSem hosted a Zoom meeting of Christian Educator alums on the eve of APCE’s virtual national gathering. “In Anything but Ordinary Time,” a group of nearly 60 alumni, faculty, students, and staff gathered to hear how the seminary continues to open doors to innovative ways to lead and share the ministry of Christian Education for the …

Tour of the Reformation

…                  Our tour organizer is Dr. Patricia L. Vesely. Tricia is a graduate of Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA (Ph.D., Th.M.) and Calvin College and Seminary in Grand Rapids, MI (M.T.S., B.A.). She currently teaches Hebrew at UPSem and Religious Studies courses at Virginia Commonwealth University. Tricia traveled with Union’s Charlotte …

Seminary security officer receives Gold Valor Award

Richmond Police and seminary security officer Matt Cavanaugh has received a Gold Valor Award for helping save the life of a man who was shot in the head during a hostage situation last year. READ MORE Video image courtesy of WWBT-TV …

Dr. Vest to co-produce the Progressive Youth Ministry Conference at Montreat

Visiting Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, Dr. John Vest, is co-producer, host and workshop leader for this year’s annual Progressive Youth Conference.   …

19th Annual Joe Ward Union Presbyterian Seminary Golf Tournament

…year! The event raises money to sponsor students who are interested in theological education but have not yet committed to pursuing ministry. The entry fee is $110 for a Captain’s Choice format, sponsoring a hole is $100 and corporate sponsorships are $150. Come and join us for a great day of golf! More information here: https://www.upsem.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/2019-SPC-Joe-Ward-Scholarship-Golf-Tournament3.pdf If you have any …