News

Started UPSem 2005: Rev. Noe Juarez-Loayza (MDiv 2010)

…my calling is in the community, places where church ministries intersect with the community.” After graduation, he continued his efforts to link the witness of the church with work in the community. First, he completed a Clinical Pastoral Education residency at Duke University Hospital. Then, he took a call at a multicultural church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Until recently, he…

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BLACK ALUMNI ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER: November 2022

…24: 40-42 “Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming” (Matt. 24:42). Rev. Veronica Thomas Let us recap the last issue of Gems for the Journey: We are experiencing signs of the time, Routine History. Signs we can’t fast or pray away, it is Routine History. Jesus talked about the end times and…

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CE Certification Online Course – Worship & Sacraments

…Presbyterian Seminary Course Dates: This course will meet online April 5 – May 12, 2021. Course Format: This course will meet entirely online, both asynchronously and synchronously. Each week, asynchronous online course work will be assigned. Those assignments and course documents will be posted on Blackboard. Each registered participant will receive login credentials to Blackboard, the seminary’s learning management system….

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Back to School? Race, Faith, and COVID-19

The global coronavirus pandemic sheds a blacklight on the need for educational reform. In response to the stay-at-home orders in early March, schools, colleges, and universities across the nation shifted instruction to virtual platforms, thus exposing unequal access to the internet and computers in marginalized communities and school segregation. As federal, state, and local governments, school boards, administrators, and teachers…

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Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon’s Legacy: A Griot Teaching Griots

…for Dr. Gise-Johnson’s class was Dr. Cannon’s book, “Black Womanist Ethics.” In the fall of 2002, my classmate Natalie Jones and I took our first class with Dr. Cannon, Theology and Culture. In doing so, my passion for life and learning was awakened even more, especially when Dr. Cannon said to the class, “I am giving you the best that…

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Presbyterian Polity, Program, and Mission

…program and mission of the PC(USA).   Required Reading Book of Confessions, Study edition. Online version is at http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/boc2014.pdf or on course documents, Blackboard Book of Order, 2013-2015 edition. Online version is at http://www.pcusa.org/resource/book-order-2013-2015/ or on course documents, Blackboard Historic Principles, Conscience, and Church Government, adopted by 195th General Assembly (1983) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) http://www.pcusa.org/resource/historic-principles-conscience-and-church-governme/ or on course…

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Dr. McFayden to lead Workshop in Troy, OH

…8:30 A.M.-2:30 P.M., at First Presbyterian Church, Troy, will explore an alternative to this aimless drifting, looking at ways of understanding ways of intentionally moving and working through change. The workshop is sponsored by First Presbyterian Church, Troy, and the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. The leader will be the Rev. Dr. Ken McFayden, Academic Dean, Union Presbyterian Theological Seminary and…

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Seminary for a Day workshop “Freedom and Form in Christian Worship” led by Dr. Voelz

Register for “Seminary for a Day” to attend this workshop led by Dr. Richard W. Voelz. Freedom and Form in Christian Worship: Discerning the Balance for Your Congregation The PC(USA)’s Book of Common Worship identifies the principle of “form and freedom” as a marker of Christian worship. In this workshop, we will consider how the historic form of Christian worship…

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(Self-Paced, Ongoing) Old Testament Bible Survey – Pathways Online Course

This is a self-paced online course that is open to all. All lectures are pre-recorded, with quizzes included. Course: Old Testament Bible Survey Course, Pathways online course Course Description: This online course offers a general introduction to the Old Testament. It surveys the major themes of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. The lectures and the readings unpack the literary features…

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Dr. Jennifer Ayres to lead Howie Center Events

…and communities as well. Come learn how the diversity of stories helps individuals and communities understand a particular place, its wounds, and its healing. Participants are invited (though not required) to bring two or three photos , print or digital, of places significant to them.   Wednesday, March 23, 7:30 p.m., Lake Chapel in the Early Center / Live-streaming available…

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Online Application

The SONIS application is only one part of the application process. Please visit our applications page for complete lists of application requirements for each degree program.   Getting Started With SONIS Steps to complete an online application: Open UPSem SONIS website Select APPLY ONLINE Select CREATE NEW APPLICATION Select the degree program you are interested in applying for from the…

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CE Certification Online Course – Human Growth & Faith Development

Online Course Title: Human Growth & Faith Development, a Christian Educator certification course This online course meets the requirements for the Christian Educator certification in the PC(USA), but is open to all. Led by: Dr. Cindy Kissel-Ito, Associate Professor of Christian Education, Union Presbyterian Seminary Course Dates: This course will meet online August 31 – October 4, 2020. Course Format:…

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Assoc. Pastor/Director of Youth and Family Ministries–First Presbyterian Church–Boise, Idaho

…with a minimum of 5 years demonstrated experience in creating and successfully leading Christian Education programs for children and/or youth using Reformed theology Position is full-time. Salary range $50,000 – 65,000 plus benefits. Please send a resume and cover letter to: search@fpcboise.org. Please feel free to reach out with questions as well. Church website: fpcboise.org Online sermons: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=first+presbyterian+church+boise+idaho Information-about-Boise Family-Ministry-Staff-Job-Description…

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Started UPSem 2003: Rev. Dr. Ophelia Garmon-Brown (MDiv 2008)

…justice, and hope. Learning to think in a much more critical way was a tremendous gift from the seminary.” After graduation, Garmon-Brown completed a pastoral residency training at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church, eventually becoming one of the congregation’s associate pastors. Still working as a physician and a community advocate for improving access to good healthcare for all segments of…

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Katie Geneva Cannon Legacy Luncheon

Come celebrate the life of theologian Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon. A luncheon honoring Dr. Cannon will be sponsored by the Union Presbyterian Seminary Black Alumni Association Saturday, April 27, 2019, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. at First Presbyterian Church 820 Colonial Ave, Norfolk, VA 23507. Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk. “Our paths connected forty-five years ago (1974) as both…

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Created Summit & Workshop

Join us as we discover how church leaders and faith community members can employ the church and its resources to engage the community by supporting innovation and creative business endeavors. Through this workshop, our desire is for church and ministry leaders to realize and grapple with the compelling call for us to create and build flourishing communities, not just strong…

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Black Alumni Association Newsletter: September 2021

…God and man. While I feel God gave the Hebrews these commandments as a tool to build community, God knows people who have experienced oppression have the custom of picking up the habits of their oppressors. The Hebrews built community, the same community that anyone who interacts with Jews still see today. So, as we celebrate. As we remember. As…

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Seminary for a Day workshop “Tiptoeing on Eggshells” led by Dr. McFayden

Register for “Seminary for a Day” to attend this workshop led by Dr. Kenneth J. McFayden Tiptoeing on Eggshells? Navigating our Way in Ideologically Diverse Faith Communities If we value the presence of the church in the world, how do we work with the presence of the world in the church? To what degree are members and leaders able to…

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(Self-Paced, Ongoing) New Testament Bible Survey – Pathways Online Course

…lectures and studying both the New Testament and an accompanying textbook, students explore the historical setting, literary features, theological message, and contemporary significance of the New Testament writings. Students assess their mastery of course material by completing a set of quizzes. Online Course Format: This course is accessed via a Blackboard classroom management site (login credentials provided). The Bible Survey…

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Seminary for a Day workshop “Looking for the Truth” led by Dr. Blount

…role in how we determine meaning. Context matters! In this workshop, we will investigate the importance of context in our search for meaning as we engage the biblical texts. Brian is president and professor of New Testament at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Richmond, VA, and Charlotte, NC. For workshop descriptions, click here. To register for Seminary for a Day, click here….

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Black Alumni Association News | August 2023

Juneteenth Although it’s only recently been declared a federal holiday, Juneteenth is an important day in history. Learn more at this excellent article online.   Gems for the Journey: Scripture with Practical Meaning by Rev. Veronica M. Thomas MSW, Virginia Commonwealth University ’73; M.Div, Union-PSCE ’07 I came across these practical words of wisdom with scripture backing and wanted to…

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Seminary for a Day workshop “Parables of Jesus” led by Dr. Carroll

Register for “Seminary for a Day” to attend this workshop led by Dr. John T. Carroll Parables of Jesus: Stories to Encourage and Challenge One of the signature features of Jesus’s teaching was his use of parables to communicate his message. This workshop will explore several of the parables, highlighting especially the way in which they leave decision and response…

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