Slavery, Race, and Civil Rights
William B. Sweetser Jr. (Ph.D. 2000) has written a comprehensive story of the Seminary from its earliest beginnings in his book A Copious Fountain: A History of Union Presbyterian Seminary, 1812-2012 (Westminster John Knox Press, 2016). Union’s history includes much to regret and much to celebrate with regard to matters of slavery, race, and Civil Rights in the United States. These webpages chronicle that history in brief in an effort of reflection, repentance, and renewal.
Explore
Early Thinking about Slavery: The Hoge Years
Leadership Change and Theological Shifts: John Holt Rice and the Spirituality of the Church
Racism and Freedmen: Robert Lewis Dabney and Benjamin Mosby Smith
Physical Change Leads to New Thinking: Walter W. Moore
Social Justice Orientation Leads to Missions
Integrated Community Recreation
To purchase A Copious Fountain: A History of Union Presbyterian Seminary, 1812-2012, use the links below:
Amazon
Westminster John Knox Press
Division & Reunion
We are pleased to present Division and Reunion: a Reflection on American Presbyterianism, a documentary narrated by lifelong Presbyterian Dr. Condoleezza Rice. We at Union Presbyterian Seminary hope this film will be a learning tool and a way to build faith, showing how God works through reconciliation. Special thanks to the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations and the Anne Carter Robins and Walter R. Robins, Jr. Foundation for their support.
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 Carolina, Wilmington
John W. Kuykendall,
President Emeritus, Davidson College
Kathryn L. Johnson,
Professor of Church History and Historical Theology, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Amy Plantinga Pauw,
Professor of Doctrinal Theology, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Stuart Nixon,
Journalist and Lay Lecturer, Presbytery of the James
Sean Michael Lucas,
Professor of Church History, Reformed Theological Seminary; Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg (PCA)
Cynthia Rigby,
Professor of Theology, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary
Samuel K. Roberts,
Professor of Theology and Ethics, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Peter H. Hobbie,
Professor of Christian Religion, Presbyterian College
Marcia Y. Riggs,
Professor of Christian Ethics, Columbia Theological Seminary
Paul J. Achtemeier (d. 2013),
Professor Emeritus of Biblical Interpretation, Union Presbyterian Seminary
Melva W. Costen,
Professor Emeritus of Music, Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary
Mark Valeri,
Professor of Religion and Politics, Washington University in St. Louis
