Ghana Travel Seminar: Time for church!

…couldn’t imagine what they would do with all that time until I realized that in order to speak to everyone gathered, the three scripture texts would be read in four languages — three distinct Ghanaian tongues plus English. The sermon would also follow this pattern. Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Acts…

Tinsley Jones called to direct Leadership Institute at Union Seminary

…the church and its leaders.” Previously, Jones was director of recreation ministry for Crestwood Church in Midlothian, Virginia, where she planned and directed recreation programs to enhance community engagement and served as both the visionary and the manager of the ministry to participants and families. She also helped launch a learning community focused on connecting Richmond area parish and non-parish…

Campus Minister/Director–Winthrop Wesley Foundation–Rock Hill, South Carolina

…Hold regular meetings with student leadership to plan and execute ministry functions • Work with the Board on creating a yearly budget, remain conscious of budget when spending throughout the year • Work with the treasurer to manage financial matters (ie: deposits, donor records, financial reports) • Maintain an orderly and welcoming space (ie: organization of building storage areas, set…

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Class of 2018 profiles: Sara Pantazes can’t wait to dive in

…she has this piece of advice for those who may be in the same situation she was. “Follow the Lord. If God calls you to this, then God will make it possible. If you have a calling, it’s not going anywhere, be true to what God is calling you to do.” When Pantazes started her online program at Union, she…

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Student spotlight: Longtime educator yearns to learn more

…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 While she enjoys teaching sixth-grade math, Master of Arts in Christian Education student Sandy Asaro also…

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….

Director of Faith Formation–River Road Presbyterian Church–Richmond, VA

Director of Faith Formation River Road Presbyterian Church Job Summary: Serve as a resource to the Faith Formation (FF) Ministry Team. Use gifts, talents, and experience to direct a broad Faith Formation ministry for children, youth, and adults. Provide creative and constructive opportunities for spiritual formation and development integrating education, worship, mission, and fellowship. This is a non-ordained position. Skills…

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church–Solo Pastor–South Easton, MA

…represent • Intelligence and perspective, seeing the big picture as well as the complexities and nuances of a situation • Initiative and willingness to roll up their sleeves • A motivator who gets people engaged and involved Accountability As a PCUSA congregation, we follow the book of order. The pastor is a member of and accountable to the Presbytery and…

The biggest question

…I plan to continue to find the nourishment it needs. Over the last year, these are the points (in no particular order) that I have found myself leaning on as I discern the role of a ministry within a congregation and further, my role within that ministry – What is the quality of the involvement by those the ministry is…

India travel seminar: Leaving our shoes at the door

…longstanding tradition of barring women between the ages of 10 and 50 from entering the temple of the celibate god. Recently the Supreme Court of India ordered that women of all ages should be allowed to worship at this temple. However, crowds of men have (mostly) kept the women out of the temple. In response over a million women formed…

Returning to a place I never knew: Spain and my family connection

…(Palau). A train or plane ride to another country may be as low as $30 Euros. My eldest daughter, Erica, lives in Palau with her husband Carlos, and their new baby girl, Kora. Palau is located in the Montseny mountains, 57 kilometers (53 minutes) from Barcelona and less than two hours from the French border. She has lived in Spain…

A look back at 2016 in pictures

…UPSem. We were so happy to host so many amazing seminary students and fellowship together on a wet and muddy weekend. Dogwoods in Bloom: Our mascot Elmo is spotted in his favorite habitat. Service Day: We had so much fun visiting and pulling weeds for Shalom Farms, a 6-acre nonprofit community farm project in Goochland County with the overarching goal…

Master of Arts in Public Theology

The purpose of the M.A.P.T. degree program is to deepen the capacity of individuals engaging in Public Theology, a field which draws on biblical, historical, theological, ethical, and practical resources of the Christian faith in order to serve the common good of society. The program is designed for students already engaging issues such as public policy, ecological concerns, economic justice,…

Yaupon Place: A Call To Action

…of Arts in Public Theology (M.A.P.T.). The other three centers are The Katie Geneva Cannon Center for Womanist Leadership, The Syngman Rhee Global Mission Center for Christian Education, and The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation. Together, the four centers provide opportunities for community-engaged theological education around the issues of public policy, ecological health, economic justice, gender issues, inter-religious dialogue,…

Living Generously

…to your local church, of course. Similarly, you also plan you gifts for the year to other nonprofit institutions and organizations. Be an Intentional Giver. Finally, we ought be Generous givers. Giving generously often leads to acquiring further wealth and spiritual benefits, but poverty usually awaits those who are stingy. You likely have heard the story that if you keep…

Racism and Freedmen: Robert Lewis Dabney and Benjamin Mosby Smith

…that Dr. J. D. Eggleston be requested, on behalf of this institution, to aid the faculty in any feasible plan of preventing the settlement of an undesirable population in the vicinity of the Seminary.18 In 1874 the faculty had ordered that the students and “the Seminary servants” be informed “that no freedmen can be admitted to the Seminary, for service,…

Division & Reunion Video

…and Walter R. Robins, Jr. Foundation for their support. DVD Copies Available Here Download a discussion guide (PDF) Featuring (in order of appearance): Condoleezza Rice, Professor of Political Economy, Stanford University; former U.S. Secretary of State. Erskine Clarke, Professor Emeritus of American Religious History, Columbia Theological Seminary Walter H. Conser, Jr., Professor of Religious Studies and History, University of North…

Leadership Change and Theological Shifts: John Holt Rice and the Spirituality of the Church

…“servants of the Seminary.” For example, Mrs. Thomas Miller kept the refectory in Steward’s Hall for the theological students. She was often angry about the people she enslaved, accusing them of “back-biting.” There is one entry in which Mrs. Miller continued to read her Bible in order to block out the screams of an enslaved person she had directed to…