Professor emeritus, church musician David McCormick dies

RICHMOND, Va. (September 23, 2019) – David W. McCormick, S.M.D., professor emeritus of music at Union Presbyterian Seminary and former associate professor of church music at Presbyterian School of Christian Education, died Saturday after a brief hospital stay. He was a member of Ginter Park Presbyterian Church (GPPC) in Richmond, Virginia, for 42 years and served as its organist/choir director…

Union Seminary announces 2018 Fellowship Award recipients

…given to a student completing the M.A.C.E. degree at Union Presbyterian Seminary who manifests superior academic achievement and possesses outstanding qualities of leadership. Rosy Robson, Richmond Campus The Martha O. and Fred R. Stair Fellowship This award was established in 1981 by anonymous gifts to honor Martha O. and Fred R. Stair, fourth President of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia….

The Injustice of the Unhoused

…that faith communities are answering the call and responding to this crisis. They are utilizing land they already own, creating land trusts, and bringing together members of the faith community in partnership with city and county officials and raising money to fund the development of affordable housing initiatives. In February, we spoke with Rev. Dr. Bob Henderson from Covenant Presbyterian…

Position Open for Office and Communications Assitant, Holy Comforter Richmond

Student Formation and Community Life Manager ( COM 2022)

Appreciation of Music Is Motivation for Gift to Watts Organ Fund

This is post 2 of 5 in the series “Sharon&Brook Summer 2019” Strengthening Faith Formation Among Children Appreciation of Music Is Motivation for Gift to Watts Organ Fund Remembering James H. Smylie Worship, Ecology, and Community Revisited The Gargoyle Speaks: Unscheduled Beauty   2019 SUMMER ISSUE / GRADUATION The Campaign for a New Pipe Organ Dr. Earl Trevathan is not…

Started UPSem 2015: Rev. Gail Henderson-Belsito (MDiv 2020)

…Presbyterian Church, Charlotte after arriving in the Queen City. While teaching Sunday school at her new church, members of her class regularly nudged her to consider seminary. Despite being encouraged by a friend to drive over to the Union Presbyterian Seminary Charlotte campus to speak with Richard Boyce, she kept putting it off. But one day during a training meeting…

Finding God in the pandemic

…pandemic. I find God’s grace in the life of my family, in good health, stable income, education, fulfilling ministry, and, above all, in my first vaccination. Indeed, God’s grace is sufficient. Daniel Mensah Awuah is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana and is currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Christian Education program at Union Presbyterian Seminary…

Nancy Myer: Lifelong learning

…to compromise her active involvement in ministry. Thankfully, Union Presbyterian Seminary provided an opportunity for her to do both. While working towards her Master of Divinity, Myer is continuing to serve as Staff Associate for Children’s Ministries at University Presbyterian Church (UPC) in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “I never wanted to stop being in ministry in the church,” she says….

Started UPSem 2006: Rev. Lorenzo Small (MDiv 2013)

…Charlotte student, he was invited to preach at Pleasant Ridge Presbyterian Church in Lancaster, South Carolina, a congregation where he was eventually installed as their pastor after ordination in the PC(USA). Following his pastorate at Pleasant Ridge, Small accepted a call to First United Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Since returning to North Carolina, Small wanted to remain in…

Aspiring South Korean church leaders visit UPSem

Students from the Graduate School for Lay Leadership Education in Seoul, South Korea, paid a visit to the Richmond campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary to advance their gifts for leadership in the life of the Korean church. In the first year of their two-year program, and as a complement to their studies in Korea, participating elders travel to the U.S….

Started UPSem 2014: Rev. William Joseph “Joey” Haynes III (MDiv 2019)

…study at Queens University, majoring in international studies with minors in Spanish and world religions. That study led him overseas after college working as an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher in South Korea. Back in the U.S., he worked at several local organizations that serve individuals with exceptionalities before enrolling at Union Presbyterian Seminary Charlotte. Enrolling in seminary…

Faith and Worker Justice Organizer–Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy–Richmond, VA

…VICPP:   Skills and Characteristics Experience working with faith communities. Passion for organizing and social justice. Strong public speaking and writing skills. Comfortable with basic office computer programs. Experience working with diverse communities. Good relationship building skills. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required. Understanding of worker justice issue preferred. English fluency required. Spanish fluency preferred.   Application due August 5…

India travel seminar: Religious and cultural diversities

…complicated and sometimes difficult relationships among faith traditions in India, it seems there is some sense of forbearance present: there are vegetarian options everywhere we go, and we’ve hardly seen beef (forbidden in Hindu tradition) or pork (not allowed in Islamic tradition) offerings. It has been fairly easy to find food for the different tastes and dietary needs of our…

Because God first loved us

…ourselves waiting for Christ and instead see and celebrate Christ among us. In this season of Advent, where in your congregations do you find God’s Love embodied as you await the birth of our Savior?   Alumna Jordan B. Davis is Transitional Associate Pastor at Kirk of Kildaire Presbyterian Church in Cary, North Carolina, and editor of Congregational Corner.  …

UTS Entering Class of 1979 Reunion

…our community life, with your return to the seminary some 40 years after you enrolled! Please come again, and invite your classmates to do the same!” In the Alumni photo gallery, you may see some photos taken during their three-day visit to the Richmond campus in late September. We trust you will enjoy reviewing some of the photos, recalling some…

Congregational Corner: Take on A Bit of Kindness

…I sat through one episode after another the other day, I wondered how I would respond to a stranger asking if they might stay in my home for the night. I realized that there are more times than I am comfortable with that I have completely ignored the request for something as simple as food and my heart broke as…

Gems for the Journey: Justice or Injustice

…as a positive description of himself. He found himself in good company with a list of extremists. A few of those he named include: Jesus, the Son of the living God, who was a living and dying example of unselfish love; Amos who proclaimed that the people of God were to do justice and live a righteous life; President Abraham…

Congregational Corner: Where is the Kingdom of God?

…it is – in so many ways. This approach is full of the privilege of God’s grace and a desire to share that with everyone and not just those who we agree with. This approach is full of the privilege of the unconditional love of God which we (or at least, I) struggle to comprehend and seek ways to emulate…

India travel seminar: Observing faith formation practices

…practices in other religious traditions similar to the way Christian formation happens? How do the practices compare in varying cultural contexts? We have been able to observe and learn about some faith formation practices as we visit religious monuments and places of worship. This morning we explored and experienced the Birla Mandir, a local Hindu Temple. While taking in the…

Student spotlight: The twisting path to seminary

…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 BY JEFF STAPLETON Growing up, Master of Divinity student Matt Argonauta knew his path would lead him to seminary….

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…