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Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation Student Ambassadors

2023-2024 Academic Year By Erin Mills The Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation welcomes four new Student Ambassadors for the 2023-2024 academic year. CSJR Student Ambassador fellowships are awarded to degree-seeking students in the M.Div., M.A.C.E., M.A.P.T., and dual-degree programs at Union Presbyterian Seminary who demonstrate strong interest in the work of the CSJR and a commitment to social justice…

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$4.5M grant to address religion in families

Research hub will seek new ways to communicate how spirituality is positive in children’s lives RICHMOND, VA (September 15, 2020) – Union Presbyterian Seminary has received a $4.5 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to create a research and innovation hub that will broaden ways of being religious in families and make church more meaningful in their lives. Josiah P….

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Union Seminary benefactor Josiah P. Rowe dies at 90

RICHMOND, Va. (November 8, 2018) – Josiah P. Rowe, a former newspaper publisher who championed Christian education teaching at Union Presbyterian Seminary, died Saturday. He was 90. “Josiah Rowe was a dear friend to the Union Seminary community and the Presbyterian Church,” said seminary president Brian K. Blount. “As chair of the board of the Presbyterian School of Christian Education…

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Strengthening Faith Formation Among Children

This is post 1 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 Seminary Professor Awarded Lilly Endowment Grant When Karen-Marie Yust considers how children…

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Gala & picnic kick off “we are ONE” campaign

With grateful hearts, Union Presbyterian Seminary celebrated the initial successes of its $53 million capital campaign to fund nine new programs for a changing society and a changing church. The public phase of the campaign was launched in November with two great events. President Brian K. Blount and the seminary’s board of trustees welcomed more than 200 donors, faculty, students,…

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Student explores what America’s (dis)trust in Hillary & Donald might mean for the church

Growing up in Kansas, it was virtually impossible to learn about American politics free of a certain partisan slant. Bob Dole was ever-present: I remember voting for him in our kindergarten mock election in 1996 (Yes, they had the kindergartners voting—I’m still unsure why). And even into the early 2000s in classrooms and dinner conversations alike, Ronald Reagan was a…

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A call to surrender

BY AUDREY M. TODD (M.Div./M.A.C.E. 2010) As we reflect on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we must admit that as a nation, we are experiencing dark times. With hate rallies, increased vitriol, communities under attack, and inhospitable daily interactions, our nation is becoming unrecognizable. Once a country of progress and hope,…

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Central America Travel Seminar: Stories of exile and oppression

This is post 8 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…

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Our Central America travel seminar has landed!

This is post 1 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…

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Nancy Myer: Lifelong learning

This is post 9 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:…

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Host Site Coordinator/Stated Supply–Presbytery of Transylvania–Eastern Kentucky

The Presbytery of Transylvania is looking for a Host Site Coordinator/Stated Supply position. This person will partner with 5 of our churches in Eastern KY who do not have consistent pastoral leadership, and also welcome disaster recovery groups to the area. These 5 churches are all in communities hit HARD by a significant (and that’s an understatement) flood in July…

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Director of Youth and Children–Three Chopt Presbyterian Church–Richmond, VA

…morning worship, Sunday school, children and youth group activities, and periodic youth conferences and mission trips. The successful candidate will be skilled in leading and equipping others, structuring and crafting activities, and creating a warm, welcoming environment for children and youth to discover and grow their faith. Cover letter and resumes accepted until April 22, 2024. Please send resumes to…

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Menefee Gau finds relatable story in “Loving” role

By Jeff Stapleton If you look up the name Terry Menefee Gau (M.A./ M.Div’98) on a Google search, the first option you’ll find is her IMDb (Internet Movie Database) profile. The Union alumna and Richmond resident boasts 18 roles including TV series and major motion pictures. One of those is a role in the highly acclaimed 2016 film “Loving,” which…

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Reformation Tour: Bridging the Divide

This is post 2 of 7 in the series “Reformation Tour” Our Reformation Tour lands in Berlin Reformation Tour: Bridging the Divide Reformation Tour: Music & Luther Reformation Tour: Luther the disrupter Reformation Tour: Appreciating Luther’s convictions Reformation Tour: Who? The Reformation and those less well known Reformation Tour: Geneva, our final stop BY EMILY RHODES HUNTER When I walked…

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Union recognized for superior fundraising performance

Union Presbyterian Seminary is a recipient of the 2017 CASE Education Fundraising Award, one of 47 educational institutions in the U.S. and the only seminary to receive the honor for superior fundraising performance. “It is a recognition for the wonderful support from our alumni, donors, campaign cabinet, churches, trustees, faculty, staff, and volunteers who made funding the important mission of…

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Live simply

By Helen Bessent Byrd (M.Div.’07) Paul told his mentee, Timothy, to teach the church in Ephesus that “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim 6:10a).” In the everyday vernacular from Peterson’s Message Bible, Paul advises, “Tell those rich in this world’s wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with…

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Union president to receive humanitarian award

…one of five honorees who will receive the award at a ceremony October 23, 2017. They include: Susan W. Adolf, Vice President, Saxon Shoes William A. Harrison Jr., President and Executive Director, Diversity Richmond Gail L. Letts, Virginia Market President, First Tennessee Bank E. Ayn Welleford, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Gerontology, Virginia Commonwealth University The Virginia Center for…

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Alt-right rally: Love & hope vs evil in our midst

Members of the Union community who joined demonstrators protesting the August 12, 2017, white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, reflect on what they saw, heard, and learned amid the violent clashes. M.Div. student, Charlottesville resident, and University of Virginia graduate Gary Hatter looks back on the weeks since the rally. By Gary Hatter ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inner voice #1: Why is this…

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Hannah Fialor-Agbanyo: Finding God In and Beyond Life

This is post 2 of 3 in the series “international students” Trevor Jayaraj: Solidarity, Generosity and Gratitude Hannah Fialor-Agbanyo: Finding God In and Beyond Life Do Shin Park: Experiencing Two Worlds Hannah Fialor-Agbanyo shares about her calling, preparation to ministry, her spiritual practices, and the impact of UPSem on both her ministry and spiritual life. She is a M.A.C.E. student…

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Degree Program

Master of Divinity

Students come to seminary for the M.Div. degree program in search of knowledge, skills for ministry, and a profound experience in community of the gospel’s liberating power. Graduates of the Master of Divinity program serve in various capacities and ministerial settings: churches, camps, hospitals, schools, non-profit organizations, conference centers, and ecclesial governing bodies. UPSem has a placement rate of 92%…

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Living in Darkness?

By Rev. Sandra Caldwell Williams, (Union Presbyterian Seminary, M.Div., M.A.C.E. ’07) “Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the…

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