25-26 Pathways: Polity & Administration
2025-08-12 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Course Description:
This course will examine the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order, its underpinnings, and its implication for mission and ministry. As part of the course, participants will review administrative tasks which grow out of the Book of Order (e.g., session meetings, committee meetings, stewardship season, personnel matters and policies, financial matters, presbytery meetings, annual statistical reports).
Meet the Instructor

Rev. H. Carson Rhyne Jr. served as the general presbyter and stated clerk of the Presbytery of the James for over 21 years, retiring in 2019. Known for his visionary leadership, Carson established mentorship programs, stewardship and evangelism ministries, and a mission co-worker in Haiti. He is recognized for his deep knowledge of the Presbyterian Church’s polity and his ability to apply it with grace and humor. Carson’s dedication to the church and community is celebrated by colleagues and congregations alike. He holds degrees from Presbyterian College and Union Theological Seminary and has taught polity and practical theology at Union Presbyterian Seminary since 2005.
Dates: Tuesdays, 7-9pm EST, August 12 – September 16, 2025
Registration closes 2 days before the first class meeting on August 10, 2025.
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “PWPA:Financial Aid”.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address.

25-26 Pathways: Introduction to Pastoral Care
2025-08-28 19:00 - 21:00
Course Description:
An introduction to the theories of pastoral care and counseling. The course offers various theological and psychological perspectives and tools to help participants develop confidence in responding to circumstances of pastoral care and counseling in the context of parish ministry and other institutional settings. Topics include the art of listening, loss and grief, pastoral care with couples and families, and the pastoral function of worship and the sacraments.
Meet the Instructor

Dr. Joshua Morris is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ and a Board-Certified Chaplain. He served in pediatric healthcare for 11 years, most recently as Assistant Director of Spiritual Services at Children’s Mercy Hospital. Dr. Morris has 15 years of experience as an army chaplain in the United States Army Reserve, including a deployment to Afghanistan. He has taught at Phillips Theological Seminary, Claremont School of Theology, and Saint Paul School of Theology. Dr. Morris is the author of “Moral Injury Among Returning Veterans” and numerous peer-reviewed articles. He speaks nationally and internationally on moral injury, reintegration, and spiritual care. Passionate about cultivating compassionate ministers, he integrates theory and practice to promote love for God and humanity.

Dates: Thursdays, 7-9pm EST, August 28 – October 2, 2025
Registration closes 2 days before the first class meeting on August 26, 2025.
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “PWIPC : Financial Aid”.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address.

25-26 WLI Course: Womanist Leadership & Innovation
2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00
Course Description:
Join a transformative learning experience that blends womanist ethics, Afro-futurist imagination, and strategic innovation. This course centers Black women’s wisdom as a force for visionary leadership and sustainable change.
Featuring core texts by Alice Walker, Katie Cannon, and Renita Weems, participants will explore how to lead with purpose, resilience, and radical imagination in a rapidly changing world.

Ideal for professionals in ministry, nonprofits, education, entrepreneurship, and the arts.
Grounded in justice, creativity, and collective care.
Innovation redefined—not just tech, but systems of care and cultural visioning.

#WomanistLeadership #Innovation2025 #BlackWomenLead #ContinuingEducation #LeadershipDevelopment
Meet the Instructor

Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes is a pastor, public theologian, innovation strategist and author. She is the founding-co lead pastor of The Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, New York and The Inaugural Director of The Technology, Innovation & Digital Engagement Lab Fellowship at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. Gabby has a heart for God’s people and prioritizes creating experiences of connection and love through the physical church, the digital space and local community engagement.
Her work has been featured in Essence, Forbes & The New York Times. She is the co-author of the best-selling book, Psalms for Black Lives: Reflections for the Work of Liberation. The book has sold over 10,000 books and counting. She is the recipient of numerous awards and citations including the 2024 National Action Network Woman of Excellence Award from Rev. Al Sharpton, the Guy R Brewer Religious Leadership Award from their Queens Democratic Club, The Yale University Charles S Mersick Preaching Prize as well as the Outstanding Graduate Student Award from The Yale Af-Am House.
Dr. Gabby’s voice echoes in the public square. In 2023 she was a featured guest in the HBO Max/Own Docu-Series, A Time of Essence. She and her church were featured in the 2024 GOSPEL documentary by Skip Gates on PBS & she was a guest speaker in the first documentary film of The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture, GODTalk. She’s also a frequent guest on the nationally syndicated radio show: Get Up Mornings With Erica Campbell.
Dr. Gabby holds a doctorate from Duke University, a Masters of Divinity from Yale University, a Masters of Arts from NYU and a Bachelors from Hampton University. She is the current President of the Yale Divinity School Alumni Board and a member of the prestigious Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers.
Dr. Gabby is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and is committed to the work of love and justice. She resides in Brooklyn, New York with her husband, Rev. Dr. Andrew Wilkes.
Dates: Mondays, 7-9pm EST, September 8 – October 13, 2025
Registration closes 2 business days before the first class meeting on September 4, 2025
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “WLIWLI: Financial Aid”.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address.

BTSR Legacy Celebration
2025-09-23 16:00 - 2025-09-25 12:00
Join us in celebrating the legacy of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond at the Union Presbyterian Seminary campus in Richmond, Virginia!
The event will provide opportunities for reunion and fellowship, activities at the former BTSR campus, and will highlight a keynote lecture along with a chance to share your past and present experiences in Baptist Ministry.
Please register for the event at the bottom of this page. This event is entirely free and we hope you will join us!
FAQs

What’s included in registration? Attendance and meals are included in registration, except for the first dinner of the event.
What’s not included in registration? The first dinner will be held at Hardywood Park Craft Brewery. Dinner and drinks during the first dinner are not included in registration. Accommodation and transportation are also not included in registration.
How do I register? You can register using the form at the bottom of this page.
I have dietary restrictions or preferences. There is a space in the registration form to indicate your dietary restrictions or preferences.
I have more questions about the details of the event. Once you register, your email will be added to the list of people to receive updates about the event. Here is a link to the schedule, subject to change before September 1, 2025. More details will be released as they become available, and the schedule and this website will be kept up to date. If you have any pressing questions, you can contact Deborah Keyes, Administrative Assistant at the Leadership Institute, with subject line: “BTSR:Question”
I’d like to share my past and present experiences in Baptist Ministry during the event. We hope you will “sign up” to share your past and present experiences during one of our mealtimes! There is a section in the registration form where you can indicate your interest.

You will receive more information about this opportunity in your email updates about this event after you register.

I need somewhere to stay during the event. Accommodation is not included in registration, but if you’d like to reserve a room in Thompson Hall on the UPSem campus, or would like more information about Thompson Hall, please contact Deborah Keyes, Administrative Assistant at the Leadership Institute, with subject line: “BTSR:TH”. These rooms are limited and first-come, first-serve.

What if all the rooms in Thompson Hall are taken? We suggest the following three hotels close to campus:

Courtyard Richmond Scott’s Addition, 3800 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23230 (7m from campus)
Holiday Inn Express Richmond- Midtown, 2000 Staples Mill Rd, Richmond, VA 23230 (9m from campus)
SpringHill Suites Richmond North/Glen Allen, 9701 Brook Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23059 (15m from campus)

On the registration page it says I can “make a donation.” Who am I donating to? All donations will help cover the cost of the event.

Register below:

Senderos: Motivos Pastorales en el Antiguo Testamento
2025-09-23 19:00 - 21:00
Descripción del Curso
Curso introductorio del Antiguo Testamento desde una perspectiva pastoral. El curso busca proporcionar herramientas exegéticas y pastorales a ministros y personas laicas, dentro de los parámetros estipulados en el programa de educación continua.
Fechas: Martes, 7-9pm (tiempo de Nueva York, en línea) 23 de septiembre – 28 de octubre, 2025
Conoce al Instructor

Edesio Sánchez Cetina, mexicano
Reside en Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, México

Maestría y Doctorado (PhD) en el Union Presbyterian Seminary de Richmond, Virginia, Estados Unidos
Grado Honorífico de Doctor en Letras Bíblicas (DLB) del Instituto Internacional de Estudios Superiores, Ciudad de México.
Es consultor emérito de traducciones bíblicas con las SBU (Sociedades Bíblicas Unidas) en las Américas. He participado en las siguientes traducciones de la Bíblica como Consultor: Maya de Yucatán, México; ´Tzotzil de Chiapas, México; Guaraní de Paraguay; Miskitu y Sumo de Nicaragua; Poqomchí de Guatemala; Kuna de Panamá; Biblia de Estudio de la Dios Habla Hoy; Coordinación general de la Traducción en Lenguaje Actual. Responsable del Departamento de Traducciones para todas las publicaciones para niños, Editor con Esteban Voth de los Comentarios para la Exégesis y la Traducción. Ha editado y publicado los siguientes libros y comentarios: Descubre la Biblia, Enseñaba por Parábolas, Sabiduría para Vivir (estudios en el libro de Proverbios), Qué es la Biblia, Antiguo Testamento y América Latina; Comentarios a: Deuteronomio, Josué, Jueces y Malaquías, 1y 2 Reyes, Proverbios. Autor de muchos artículos sobre exégesis y teología bíblica, formación y desarrollo de la Biblia y traducción de la Biblia.
Miembro de la Society of Biblical Literature (USA e internacional)
Miembro de la Fraternidad Teológica Latinoamericana.

Regístrese abajo

Las inscripciones cerrarán el 19 de septiembre, 2 días laborables antes de la primera clase.
Ofrecido por el Leadership Institute de Union Presbyterian Seminary
Si necesita ayuda financiera adicional, por favor contacte a Deborah Keyes e indique “Senderos: Ayuda Financiera” en el título del correo.
Miembros de la facultad, empleados y estudiantes de UPSem pueden inscribirse para esta clase de forma gratuita. Si usted es maestro empleado o estudiante de UPSem, puede inscribirse aquí con su email de UPSem.

25-26 Christian Educator Certification Course: Presbyterian Polity, Program, and Mission
2025-10-08 12:00 - 14:00
CECE Course instructed by Joyce MacKichan Walker and Jenna Campbell: Presbyterian Polity, Program, and Mission
Course Description:
This course provides knowledge of current resources and mission emphases of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and integrates the study of the Presbyterian Constitution (Book of Confessions and Book of Order) and the Program and Mission of the PCUSA into the context of the educator. Scripture, polity, and the structure, mission, and program of the PCUSA, as it is described and resourced by presbyteries, synods, and the General Assembly, usually provides the content for this certification course. Critical examination, guided exploration, and careful integration of those key resources provide educators an opportunity to draw upon the richness of the Presbyterian tradition as they take leadership roles in their congregations and ministries. The course will provide opportunities for educators to explore how the polity, program, and mission of the PCUSA will impact, guide, and influence their educational programs and events.
Meet the instructors

Joyce MacKichan Walker is a Certified Christian Educator who has served the larger church as a keynote speaker and workshop leader. She was honored as the Educator of the Year by the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators in 2008. She taught Presbyterian Polity at Princeton Theological Seminary for eight years and continues to teach the polity certification course for the PCUSA educator certification process, and “Teaching for Transformation” for POAMN (Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network). Joyce served the Nassau Presbyterian Church in Princeton NJ as Director of Christian Education and then, following ordination to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament in 2007, as Minister of Education and Mission until her retirement in July 2018. A 1979 graduate of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (now Union Presbyterian Seminary) in Richmond VA, she lives in Princeton, NJ where she continues to write and teach online and travel at every opportunity!

Jenna Campbell is a Certified Christian Educator and serves as the Director of Children and Youth Ministry at First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, OK. She earned her master’s degree in Christian Education from Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond. She is passionate about engaging children, youth, and their families in a faith that actively pursues justice and compassion in the world. Jenna is the 2023 Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) ENRICH Educator of the Year. She enjoys life with her husband Casey and their two teenage daughters.
Dates: 9 synchronous online course meetings from 12-2pm EST on Wed. Oct 8, Fri. Oct 10, Mon. Oct 13, Wed. Oct 15, Fri. Oct 17, Wed. Oct 22, Wed. Oct 29, Wed. Nov 5, and Wed. Nov 12.
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

Registration closes on October 5, 2025, 2 business days before the first class meeting.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address. If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “CEPPM: Financial Aid.

25-26 Pathways: Teaching the Bible
2025-10-16 19:00 - 21:00
Course Description:
This interdisciplinary course examines selected approaches to Bible teaching from the perspectives of biblical scholarship and Christian education. The purpose of this course is to equip participants to develop planning, implementation, and evaluation skills for teaching the Bible.
Meet the Instructor

Dr. Rebecca L. Davis is the Sarah Belk Gambrell Professor of Christian Education, Director of the MACE program and the Center for Excellence in Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary. She is a Teaching Elder and a Certified Educator in the PCUSA. For over thirty years, her teaching ministry was embodied in congregations and beyond. She now teaches those preparing for leadership and advocacy in the church and world. Her passion for child advocacy led her to serve on staff of the Children’s Defense Fund and the National Council of Churches’ working for justice for children and their families. She was the founding chair of the Presbyterian Child Advocacy Network and served on the National Committee for the Self-Development of People foe the denomination. She was named APCE’s 2018 Educator of the Year.

Dates: Thursdays, 7-9pm EST, October 16 – November 20, 2025
Registration closes 2 days before the first class meeting on October 14, 2025
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “PWTTB : Financial Aid”.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address.

25-26 WLI Course: Womanist Pedagogy
2025-10-21 19:00 - 21:00
Course Description:
Focusing on Rev. Dr. Katie G. Cannon’s idea of “unshouted courage,” this course considers the question: What does it mean to teach for courage in various contexts of leadership and ministry? The course will consider three key theoretical and practical components of womanist pedagogy that yields courageous students who work for the humanity of all people, particularly Black humanity.
Meet the Instructor

Dr. Evelyn Parker is a distinguished visiting professor and accomplished scholar in practical theology, with degrees from Lambuth College, Prairie View A&M University, Southern Methodist University, and Northwestern University. She has authored and edited several influential works on adolescent spirituality, race, and gender, including Between Sisters and Trouble Don’t Last Always. A leader in theological education and advocacy, Parker has served as academic dean at Perkins School of Theology and held prominent roles in organizations such as the Association of Practical Theology and the Society for the Study of Black Religion. Deeply rooted in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, she has represented the denomination globally through the World Council of Churches, contributing to policy, education, and humanitarian efforts. Dr. Parker most recently published Tangible Grace, Ministry Interventions for Teen Dating Violence, Fortress Press 2025. The Amazon.com link is here.

Dates: Tuesdays, 7-9pm EST, October 21 – November 25, 2025
Registration closes 2 business days before the first class meeting on Friday, October 17, 2025.
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “WLIWP: Financial Aid”.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address.

Workshop: Navigating Turbulent Times
2025-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Charlotte Campus, 5141 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States
The Leadership Institute invites you to an in-person workshop on the Charlotte campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary.
A workshop for non-profit and corporate leaders for overcoming challenges through purpose, partnership, and perseverance
What you’ll gain:

Clarity: Tools to stay grounded in your values when the world feels off-center
Connection: Strategies to build meaningful bridges across differences
Courage: Practices to sustain emotional and spiritual strength in the face of injustice

Light snacks and refreshments will be provided.
Meet the Workshop Leader

Nisheena Clemons is the CEO of The Called Life Collective: an international coaching and consulting firm aimed at amplifying self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and fulfillment through goal-setting strategies.

Register early for a discounted fee of $15! Early registration ends September 23, 2025. Standard registration closes October 16, 2025.
Register below!

Offered by the Leadership Institute and the Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation at Union Presbyterian Seminary.
We believe everyone should have access to this learning opportunity. If cost is a concern, please reach out to Deborah Keyes at deborah.keyes@upsem.edu, subject line “Workshop: NTT” to discuss options.

25-26 Pathways: Preaching
2025-10-27 19:00
Course Description:
Participants will consider the theological “why” of preaching and learn the practical “how” of preaching, including the basic elements of sermon preparation. The learning will then be put into practice by students crafting and delivering a sermon. Attention will also be given to the giving and receiving of sermon feedback.
Meet the Instructor

Dr. Donna Giver-Johnston is an ordained minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Over her twenty years in ministry, she has served churches in New Jersey and Ohio, and most recently as Pastor of Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Currently, she is a member of the faculty and the Director of the Doctor of Ministry degree program at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She has earned degrees from Vanderbilt University (PhD and MA), Princeton Seminary (MDiv), and Westminster College (BA). Her published books include Claiming the Call to Preach: Four Female Pioneers of Preaching in Nineteenth-Century America (Oxford, 2021); Writing for the Ear, Preaching from the Heart (Fortress, 2021); For Every Matter Under Heaven: Preaching for Special Occasions (Fortress Press, 2022).
Dates: Mondays, 7-9pm EST, October 27 – December 1, 2025
Registration closes on October 17, 2025.
Offered by the Leadership Institute at Union Presbyterian Seminary

If you are in financial need of a discounted registration fee, please contact Deborah Keyes, subject line “PWP : Financial Aid”.
UPSem faculty, staff, and students can register for this class for free. If you are a UPSem faculty, staff, or student, you can register here using your UPSem email address.

Virtual Open House: Doctor of Ministry
2025-11-12 18:30 - 19:30 | online/virtual
Join us for a Virtual Open House exploring our Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Program. Hosted by Ashlee Anderson, Director of Admissions, and Prof. Elizabeth Hinson Hasty, Director of the DMin Program.
Wednesday November 12th at 6:30 pm EST
You’ll hear from current D.Min. student Marina Luckhoo, who’s in the final stages of her program and will share about her experience and the project she’s developing in her ministry context. You’ll also hear from Prof. Hinson-Hasty who will offer insight into the D.Min. final project — what it is, how it unfolds, and the creative ways students have brought their work to life.
We’ll wrap up with a few updates from Admissions and plenty of time for your questions.
Whether you’re seriously considering doctoral study or simply curious, this is a welcoming space to explore how Union can help you grow in your leadership and strengthen your practice of ministry.
👉 Register today: DMin Virtual Open House Registration
