The Womanist Leadership Institute offers online courses in Womanist theology and leadership, co-sponsored by The Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership and the Leadership Institute. Open to all, these small Zoom-based courses can be taken individually or as part of a larger program of study and include CEUs for continuing education. UPSem students, staff, and faculty participate at no cost, and financial assistance is available for others. Courses are capped at 30 participants and all courses award 3.0 CEUs.

The Leadership Institute provides all the online courses required for the PC(USA) Certified Christian Educator (CCE) program, offering solid theological grounding and practical tools for those leading Christian formation. Courses rotate regularly, can be taken individually or as part of the certification pathway, and are open to anyone—not just those pursuing the credential. Each course blends live online sessions with flexible weekly assignments and awards CEUs to support ongoing professional development

Designed for pastors in their first seven years of congregational ministry who are preaching regularly, The Bridge provides the encouragement, skills, and support necessary for sustained preaching ministry.

Annual cohorts include:

Public programming includes quarterly webinars on issues facing early career preachers and the monthly Preachercast podcast featuring scholars, practitioners, and participants.

Funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Compelling Preaching Initiative, The Bridge strengthens preachers for long-term, faithful ministry.

• Quarterly workshops (three online, one in-person) focused on preaching amid social issues, diverse communities, digital technologies, and relationships

• Peer coaching groups and individualized coaching

• Digital media consultations tailored to each participant’s ministry context

• An annual retreat in Richmond for community, worship, and rest

Presbyterians Supporting Christian Education provides collegial, personal, and professional support for those engaged in ministry. In 2026, the program will provide two different types of cohorts: one for professional educators, volunteer educators, and pastors; the second for Commissioned Ruling Elders (CRE/CP), those persons serving as solo pastors in small congregations. Cohorts will meet together monthly for a year and will be guided by a facilitator. Applications open each year in the fall. 

StoryPath is a resource from the Center for Excellence in Christian Education of Union Presbyterian Seminary, equipping parents and all who nurture faith by connecting God’s story with the stories in our lives so that we see the presence of God in everyday life. StoryPath is an excellent resource for those involved in educational ministry in the church, featuring a searchable theme index, a scripture index, the Revised Common Lectionary, the Narrative Lectionary, and the Justice Lectionary. StoryPath also hosts reviews of faith-based children’s literature, and regularly invites writers to share their reviews.

The Font & Faith initiative at the Center for Excellence in Christian Education helps congregations live into the promises of baptism by nurturing the faith of children through worship and prayer. This initiative supports churches seeking to make worship more hospitable, participatory, and spiritually formative for children.

Font & Faith hosts in-person summits for solo-staff congregations, multi-staff congregations, and individual church leaders. Summits include biblical and theological exploration, deep listening, contextual analysis, leadership development, and practical tools for congregations.

Journey Groups are small communities united in a common commitment to walk together as they grow in welcoming (children), worshipping (children), and praying with children sharing experiences and being sustained by Font & Faith.

Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., the Children’s Spirituality Hub explores how children’s spiritual lives are shaped in today’s rapidly changing world. The Hub engages scholars, practitioners, and families in research, conversation, and innovation, and provides research grants.

Real Kids Real Faith, launched in 2021, turns research into practical tools for raising and supporting spiritually grounded children. Through blogs, vlogs, podcasts, and downloadable resources, Real Kids Real Faith offers guidance on:

• Spiritual practices

• Talking with children about social issues and popular culture

• Creating effective learning environments

• Nurturing faith at home and in church

The Charlotte Resource Center at UPSem Charlotte is a community hub for students, congregations, and churches across the Presbytery of Charlotte and neighboring presbyteries. With an updated barcoding system, patrons receive a library card and can access self-service checkout, online curriculum resources, and on-site support.

The CRC is open whenever the Charlotte campus is open, with personalized assistance available by appointment with Renda Brinson on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from noon–4:00 p.m. and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Created in partnership with the Presbytery of Charlotte, the Center now serves hundreds of leaders from more than 35 congregations and continues to grow as a regional resource for Christian education.

UPSem’s libraries welcome pastors, alumni, congregations, researchers, and neighbors. The libraries provide print and digital collections, research support, study spaces, and instruction. Community memberships are available for a modest annual fee of $25.

Richmond (Morton Library)

Community members, UPSem alumni, and guests may register as patrons. A Patron Lounge provides comfortable seating, a refrigerator, microwave, kettle, computer access, and printing.

Charlotte

Open to UPSem students, faculty, staff, alumni, consortium members, Sharon Presbyterian Church members, and community guests. Registration is available online or at the circulation desk.

For more information, staff on both campuses are available to assist with patron registration and research needs.

The Instructional Resource Center curates tools and resources to support congregational life—from curriculum tools to digital media resources to downloadable content. Staff continually update lists of recommended materials and welcome suggestions from church leaders.

Digital Learning Lab

A dedicated space in William Smith Morton Library for creating digital multimedia projects for worship, teaching, and communication. Students, faculty, and church leaders can access equipment and training for video, audio, and other media projects.

Digital Audio Collections

Compact discs featuring classic theologians Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich are available for purchase through the Instructional Resource Center.

UPSem’s Special Collections include approximately 5,200 rare books and periodicals dating from 1470–1830, with particular strengths in:

Presbyterian and Reformed traditions

• Biblical studies

• Theology and church history

• Homiletics and Christian education

• Missionary work

The Rare Book Reading Room houses an outstanding collection of 19th-century children’s books and Sunday School materials. The Archives preserve over 1,500 linear feet of manuscripts, newspapers, institutional records, and personal papers of faculty and church leaders.

Access to Special Collections is available by appointment on weekdays when staff are present.

Since 1947, Interpretation has provided pastors, teachers, and scholars with in-depth biblical and theological reflection. Each issue explores a theme or biblical book through major articles, “Between Text and Sermon” essays, and book reviews.

The Sprunt Lectures are UPSem’s signature annual event—one of the longest-running theological lecture series in the country. Pastors, alumni, scholars, neighbors, and Christian leaders gather in Richmond each year for lectures, worship, storytelling, conversation, and connection.

The 116th Sprunt Lectures (2026) featured:

• Lecturer: Dr. Gregory Ellison, Candler School of Theology

• Preacher: Rev. Anna George Traynham

Sprunt is open to the public and requires registration. This event offers theological depth, meaningful worship, and an opportunity to connect with colleagues in ministry, seminary faculty, and old friends.

Yaupon Place is an eco-park and public ministry on the Richmond campus—a space for cultivating community, ecological healing, and spiritual wellness. Named for the native yaupon plant, the park provides space for local, accessible community-building, ecological partnership, and environmental restoration practices that restore mind, body, and spirit and reconcile ecological and historical injustices. Building on UPSem’s history of serving Northside Richmond, Yaupon Place welcomes community partners, neighbors, and congregations into programming rooted in story, eco-spirituality, and healing. The space is open to the public and features a walking trail and a playground. Yaupon Place can also be booked for community events.

During the academic term, the Richmond campus gathers weekly for worship at 11:40 a.m., rotating between Lake Chapel and Watts Chapel. A community meal follows each service. Pastors, alumni, neighbors, and friends from Richmond are warmly invited to join this weekly rhythm of Word, prayer, and community. Chapel space can be requested for community partner events.

Set on the edge of the Richmond campus quadrangle, Thompson Hall offers comfortable guest rooms in a distinctive setting—rich with character, thoughtfully maintained, and genuinely lovely. It’s an ideal home base for alumni gatherings, conferences, leadership retreats, and quiet time away.

Click here to make a reservation

Nightly Rates — Thompson Hall

Single Occupancy: $65/night (UPSem students: $25/night)
Double Occupancy: $90/night (UPSem students: $30/night)

Note: Thompson Hall is a historic building, and the main entrance includes stairs. Please let us know if you have any accessibility requests, and we will do our best to accommodate your stay.

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Why Guests Love Thompson Hall

UPSem at Richmond offers accommodations for guests at the beautiful and charming Thompson Hall.  The building has a prime campus location—located next to the William Smith Morton Library. The three floors of guest rooms are well suited to accommodate individuals, pairs, and groups. We hope to host you soon!

Guest Room Features

En suite bathrooms
Closets in each room
Hair dryers provided
Linens supplied

Shared Spaces and Amenities

Library and parlor—common areas perfect for conversation, reading, or reflection
Full kitchen with Keurig and drip coffee maker and toaster oven
Wi-Fi
Family-friendly touches, including high chairs for children
Iron and ironing board available
Hosting your event in a setting with access to green space, the library, and Yaupon Place

Ideal For

Leadership retreats
Pastoral retreats
Alumni events and gatherings
Church retreats
Conferences and small-group retreats
Hosting your event in a setting with access to green space, the library, and Yaupon Place