Written by: United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities January 3, 2025

Remembering Rev. Dr. Clyde J. Steckel, Professor Emeritus

Faculty

In June 1970, Rev. Dr. Clyde J. Steckel joined United’s faculty as associate professor of Theology and Psychology. He was also asked to provide counseling, supervise communication groups, and facilitate the North Central Career Development Center. Originally from Indiana, Clyde earned his BD at Chicago Theological Seminary and his MA and PhD from the University of Chicago Divinity School. His connection with and myriad contributions to United, however, began a few years before that formal appointment and extended far beyond his official retirement.

In the mid-1960s, while working as a campus minister at the University of Minnesota, Clyde served as an interim professor. Clyde also provided important leadership on United’s Advisory Council during the 1960s.

In 1974–75, Clyde and Rev. Dr. Don White received Lilly faculty grants through The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) to investigate the feasibility of using competency education at a theological school. After Dean Tom Campbell’s death in 1979, President Dayton Hultgren appointed Clyde as interim academic vice president. He was the inaugural director of the DMin program and director of the MDiv program at the time. In 1980, Clyde became the permanent academic vice president (dean). United Remembers Rev. Dr. Clyde J. Steckel

During the ten years he spent as dean, Clyde accomplished many things while serving as the person of continuity. In 1982, following Hultgren’s resignation, Clyde brought United through its accreditation. He also worked to relieve faculty of the burden of administrative detail and helped United make good on its commitments to women, feminism, LGBTQ+ students and faculty, and Native American students and faculty. In 1983, Clyde’s book Theology and Ethics of Behavior Modification was published.

He relinquished his position in 1989 to pursue his primary passions—teaching and writing. Many alums remember Clyde from his teaching days. As Rev. Michael Ciba (’92) asserted, Clyde “was the epitome of a pastor/scholar/teacher. I had four classes with him in my time at United. He graciously traveled to Ohio to preach at my ordination service. I am grateful that he answered God’s call throughout his whole life.” Rev. Terri Akkerman (’89) added “I’m so glad Clyde was a part of my theological education and training. And that I was able to claim him as a friend. Thanks be to God for his life and ministry.”

Others were won over by Clyde’s gentle soul, generous and curious spirit, and academic gifts. Rev. Dr. Christie Cozad Neuger (’80), Professor Emerita of Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Theology, was Clyde’s student, colleague, and friend. As she reflected, “Clyde Steckel was a beloved teacher, scholar, musician, novelist, colleague, family man, and friend. He was a deeply spiritual person who devoted his life to the church. From a personal standpoint, Clyde was my teacher, my mentor, and my dear friend over the past almost 50 years. His stalwart encouragement gave me the confidence to pursue a life of teaching and scholarship in pastoral theology. It was an enormous personal and professional honor to become his colleague and then his successor at UTS in 1992. I, along with so many other friends, former students, colleagues, and fellow congregants, will miss him and grieve him deeply even as we experience profound gratitude for his life well-lived.”

Sue Ebbers (’78), Professor Emerita of Theological Bibliography, recalled, “Clyde was a wonderful teacher, combining his dry wit with thorough knowledge of his discipline and of the church.” Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler, Professor Emerita of Biblical Interpretation, noted that “Clyde embodied the best of UTS and the UCC. His death leaves a big hole…how his humor, wisdom, and brilliance enriched our lives.”

Though Clyde formally retired in 1995, he did not really leave. After a short break, he returned to teaching as an adjunct professor at United, writing, and participating in the life of the UCC. Clyde contributed chapters to various publications, including Theomusicology: A Special Issue of Black Sacred Music, Prism: A Theological Forum for the United Church of Christ, and Theology Today.

Clyde was also the interim conference minister in the UCC Minnesota Conference and an interim senior minister in local congregations. In New Ecclesiology and Polity: The United Church of Christ, published in 2009, Clyde argued that the UCC needs to reshape its ecclesiology and polity to ensure its future as a faithful and strong ministry in the post-modern world. In 2012, he completed a book about the Minnesota Conference titled Fifty Years of Covenant Keeping.

After serving as a United trustee three times between 1972 and 1979, Clyde returned as a trustee in 2017. In 2018, he wrote Finding the Church: A Personal Memoir. In 2023, he turned to fiction with Therefore, We Celebrate: Igitur, and in 2024, he published the more reflective Meditations on Aging.

His impact on the UCC and congregational leadership cannot be overstated. Rev. T. Michael Rock, Director of Contextual Education and Spiritual Direction, notes, “Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel was the consummate United Church of Christ theologian and ecumenical scholar. He so believed in the experiment that began as the United Church of Christ that he always encouraged its evolution and alignment with following Jesus. Clyde loved his faith and the community gathered, and we were all blessed to witness that love.”

Through Clyde’s role on the board of trustees, his status as a major UCC theologian, and attendance at various events, many new students and faculty got to know the person some dubbed “Mr. UCC.” Tributes have poured in.

Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Professor Emerita, reflects, “For 25 of my cherished, nearly 50-year friendship with Clyde, we served together on the board of the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research. All the gifts for which we treasured him at United were put to fruitful use in the work of the Institute: the depth and breadth of his generous heart and intellect; his prodigious memory; his astonishingly broad knowledge of music, art, architecture, and literature; and, always, his kindness. He lived a deeply ecumenical life by embodying and sharing the best of his own tradition. Clyde was my guide into the history and polity (a word I learned from Clyde) of the progressive Protestantism that animates United, and he has been my guide into the mysteries and happenstances of old age. I will miss him forever.”

United faculty observed the loss as well. Dr. Demian Wheeler stated, “We have lost a true pillar of our seminary community.” Dr. Jennifer Awes Freeman added, “His wit, good humor, and warmth will be missed. May his memory be eternal!” Rev. Dr. Ry Siggelkow said, Clyde “was a wonderful man. Curious, faithful, and incisive.…And, my oh my, did he love United.” Rev. Dr. Andrew Packman asserted, “What a loss and what a witness. I’m so grateful to have known Clyde and to have caught a whiff of his supreme commitment to theological education. May his memory be a blessing.”

President Molly T. Marshall remembers Clyde, writing, “A consummate theologian, professor, and UCC ecclesiologist, Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel was a colossus in the story of United. Bridging disciplines, understanding the intersectionality of all learning, and encouraging younger colleagues, Clyde embodied the vision of the fledgling UCC seminary throughout his long service from its first decade until the present (1970–2025). His more recent tenure as a board member bore witness to the best of that vision while embracing the necessary changes in education delivery, curricular innovation, and faculty development. We give thanks for his long presence with us and his enduring imprint on United.”

Remarking on his predecessor and colleague, Dean Kyle Roberts adds, “Dr. Clyde Steckel’s legacy and imprint upon the academic life and quality of United Seminary is profound and deep. As a faculty leader, a scholar of pastoral and practical theology and ecclesiology, a mentor to countless students, and the academic dean for a decade, Clyde helped shape United’s innovative, ecumenical, and integrative culture which continues to this day. For me personally, he offered invaluable wisdom and insight in generous conversations and through his faithful work on the Academic Committee of the Board. He will be missed, and his memory will be forever cherished.”

As we observe the passing of this transformational and stalwart United faculty member at the age of 96, we honor the blessed memory of Clyde and give thanks for all of the ways he mentored, taught, and inspired students at United and steadfastly supported the seminary. United grieves with his family for the loss of this brilliant and humble man and is truly grateful for the legacy of Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel.

The memorial service for Clyde took place on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at First Congregational Church of Minnesota (500 8th Ave SE, Minneapolis).

Explore More Articles

July 16, 2026

Announcements News Releases President

Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall to Retire in 2027 Following Six Exemplary Years as President

Her Vision and Leadership Have Transformed United Following six historic and transformative years as President of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall will retire on June 30, 2027, upon completion of the seminary’s 65th academic year. President Marshall secured United’s financial standing, advanced institutional objectives toward long-term sustainability, and catalyzed historic growth in institutional fundraising and student enrollment. Rev. Dr. Marshall assumed her role as Interim President in March 2021 following thorough vetting by a search committee and the Board of Trustees’ unanimous vote. Having served in theological education for more than 40 years, her reputation preceded her. She made headlines as the first woman appointed to the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ordained as a Southern Baptist, she later received the privilege of call by the American Baptist Church. In 1997, she joined the faculty of Central Baptist Theological Seminary as professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation, thereafter stabilizing and revitalizing the school as President from 2004 to 2020, becoming the first woman ever to lead a Baptist seminary or divinity school. President Marshall’s respect and renown culminated in her executive report on effective seminary leadership, written for The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) before she arrived at United. Her experiences as a congregational minister, feminist theologian, prodigious academician, and her achievements as an administrator in theological education augured well for the seminary’s future in her care. Less than a year later, her position was made permanent, formally making her United’s tenth president, and, desiring to honor United's legacy, she pursued and received clergy standing with the MN United Church of Christ. United trustees outlined a set of priorities at the beginning of President Marshall’s tenure, on which she began immediate work. She invested much of her first several months in office in forming connections with alums, donors, and faculty. She concentrated her relational acumen on Advancement, and donors responded enthusiastically. In September 2021, United announced the Johnson-Fry Chair in World Religions and Intercultural Studies, endowed by Rev. Dr. Andrea Johnson (’17, ’23) and David Fry. Cultivating “respect for the lived religion of others,” as President Marshall often asserts, is a pillar of her scholarship and the seminary’s academic ethos. The Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies, funded by a generous gift from Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski—Professor Emerita of Religious Studies (1976–2004)—and her husband and former trustee, Keith Bednarowski, followed in 2024. Finally, in 2025, a cadre of friends, alums, and former faculty established the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts. These chairs, paired with substantial growth in endowed scholarships, feature prominently in President Marshall’s legacy and will endure as a witness to her faithful stewardship of alum and donor relations. Rev. Dr. Cindi Beth Johnson, Vice President for Advancement, reflects, “President Marshall’s enthusiasm, attention, and engagement with our donors have been important components of her leadership. She has honored our alums and delighted in our students. Molly has valued United’s history even as she has led us into new ways of being. She has built a culture that reflects her dedication, vision, and generosity. She has been a bright light in the broader community, embodying her passion for and dedication to United. Molly arrived with both expertise and heart, and she has shared them generously. She leaves a lasting imprint, and we are better for that. On a personal note, it has been a great gift to be her colleague.” Historic enrollment has been a fixture of President Marshall’s tenure. Between fall 2020 and fall 2025, degree-seeking student enrollment grew 57 percent, with the seminary welcoming its largest incoming class of degree-seeking students ever in fall 2025. In a climate where many theological schools have experienced stable or declining enrollment, United has surged. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), one of the seminary’s two accrediting bodies, named United in its 2023 Holiday Colloquy Online issue as one of only 18 ATS-accredited seminaries to have demonstrated “steady year-over-year growth during the past five years.” President Marshall has positioned United as a leader in progressive theological education and a model for historically Mainline Christian schools. Commenting on what makes the seminary unique, President Marshall astutely noted United’s “desirable curriculum that emphasizes social transformation, theology and the arts, interreligious engagement, and public theology” and the intentional welcome of “students with myriad religious, spiritual, and theological leanings.” She sharpened and raised the seminary’s prophetic voice, believing that progressive theological education exists to serve the common good. From considerable growth in the Interreligious Chaplaincy program to the establishment of the Sims Scholars Initiative, she has expanded the student body’s depth and breadth. Under President Marshall’s fastidious leadership, United completed a Five-Year Strategic Plan in 2026. David S. Anderson, former Chair of the Board of Trustees (2020–2026), witnessed firsthand President Marshall’s effective management of United’s revitalization and her manifold accomplishments in office. On his close friend and colleague, David writes, “In her writings, President Marshall, Molly to me, once observed, ‘. . . following the Spirit will require of all of us faith—all the guidance we usually get is enough to take the next uncertain step.’ United, in late 2020, was indeed in a state of uncertainty, and President Marshall’s emergence as its next president must be seen as a revelation of the Spirit. She has led United to a platform of stability from which it will move forward with confidence, heeding the Spirit toward an uncertain, as human endeavors are, but bright and sustainable future.” Dr. Kyle Roberts, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, shared the news of President Marshall’s retirement with students this morning. With profound gratitude for her enrichment of the seminary’s faculty and scholarship, he remarked, “President Marshall has been just the leader this seminary needed to reclaim its vision, its vibrancy, and its voice in theological education. She has led a process of internal healing and of increasing external influence. She has been a champion of rigorous but applied theological education for spiritual leadership, supporting and encouraging the faculty in their teaching and the staff in their work. United,” he affirmed, “will always be indebted to her years of service and to her passion and care in moving the seminary to its next stage. United is, once again, a leading voice in progressive seminary education in large part because of President Marshall.” Rev. Dr. Dianne Oliver, Chair of the Board of Trustees, celebrates President Marshall’s transformative tenure and looks toward a bright future ahead. She affirms, “President Marshall’s impact on United is really extraordinary, and she will leave a profound legacy at the institution. Clearly, she has been successful in the ways often highlighted for an outstanding President—record enrollment, expanded academic programs, and financial stability, building a strong foundation for the next steps on United’s journey. Add to these leadership successes Molly’s theological acumen and prophetic voice in challenging times, and it is easy to see the scope of her leadership. Just as importantly, though, Molly has helped create a deep sense of community among the faculty, staff, students, trustees, and the broader community who support the work of United. Her leadership and accomplishments ensure United will keep living into the fullness of its mission and vision as the context for theological education continues to evolve.” Reflecting on her service to the seminary, President Marshall writes, “Serving as United’s President has been a joyful pursuit over these past several years as I have lived into the storied history of this good seminary. I have been invited into a theologically expansive landscape where courageous learning and creative ministries have renewed my own vocation in theological education.” She continues, “Faculty, staff, students, board members, donors, and friends have welcomed me to help craft this chapter of our shared mission. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to serve as United’s tenth president. (Don’t say goodbye to me yet; there’s still work to be done!)” A Presidential Search Committee, comprised of trustees and representatives from the student body, alums, faculty, and staff, has been engaged in faithful preparation ahead of the public search for President Marshall’s successor. The seminary will share details about this process in the days ahead. Friends and colleagues from throughout President Marshall’s career were invited to submit reflections in her honor. These have been published on our announcement page. United eagerly anticipates celebrating President Marshall and her myriad contributions to the life of the seminary community during special events in spring 2027. Details will be made available in the months ahead. Strengthened and invigorated by President Marshall’s faithful leadership over these six years, United enters its 65th year of progressive theological education, steadfast in its mission: preparing innovative and compassionate leaders for the equipping of churches, other faith communities, and society toward justice and peace. Honoring President Marshall In celebration of President Marshall's tenure, a webpage featuring images, reflections by friends and colleagues, and opportunities to honor her achievements is now available. Visit the link below to learn more. Learn More About United Founded by the United Church of Christ (UCC) as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the creative edge of progressive theological thought and leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to educate leaders who, through the eyes of faith, engage in the dismantling of systems of oppression, exploring multi-faith spirituality, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Media Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • 651.255.6138

St. Mark’s UCC Gifts an Endowed Scholarship to United

United graduates have an impact on United in countless ways. President Molly T. Marshall notes that they are, in fact, our letters of recommendation. They embody the educational experience they had at United in the work they pursue, in how they live out their faith traditions, and in the impact they have in the world. We see this in myriad ways. There is the alum who is a recurring donor and the alum who creates a legacy gift to support future students. There is the alum who introduces President Marshall to a new donor. And there is the alum who sees another person’s interest in theological education and encourages them to pursue a degree at United. Recently, we have seen up close the impact of the work of Rev. Jennifer Jaimez (’98). Jennifer’s first call was to St. Mark’s UCC in Bloomington, Minnesota, which was founded in 1954. Jennifer served at St. Mark’s for 28 years and, like other pastors, she had a significant influence on members and the broader community. St. Mark’s also had an impact on United. During Jennifer’s ministry, eight students from United completed nine-month internships at St. Mark’s. As interns, these students were part of a learning community that helped them hone skills in teaching, preaching, counseling, and administration. The congregation, along with Jennifer, mentored and encouraged them. They have all gone on to do a multitude of things: serving in nonprofits, rural churches, city churches, and more. St. Mark’s investment in United students had a significant impact. As for many congregations, the pandemic was difficult for St. Mark’s. Three years ago, they made the painful decision to complete their ministry and intentionally repurpose their assets while it was still their choice. In addition to supporting the Minnesota Conference UCC and the Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority, they made a significant gift to United. A relationship that began with mentoring interns grew into a newly endowed UCC scholarship. The St. Mark’s endowed scholarship will provide financial support for UCC students who wish to attend seminary. This gift creates an enduring legacy for St. Mark’s and will provide support for future students. As the gift was announced, their moderator, Cindy Russell, said, “This gift will defray the cost of seminary education. Support for future leaders of the church remains important as the church continues to evolve into new ways of being the church.” This spring, we have been blessed to establish several new endowed scholarships in addition to the one from St. Mark’s. Estate gifts from Joanne* (’82) and Thomas* Rohrict, and Elden* (Yankon, ’55) and Norma* Zuern have created a lasting legacy and investment in United. A recent gift from George (Mission House, ’55) and Joyce Schowalter will allow them to see, while they are living, the impact of scholarship support. Currently, 57 percent of scholarships are covered by generous gifts and endowed scholarships. The other 43 percent is paid out of United’s annual budget. Each scholarship gift, each new endowed scholarship, or gift to an already endowed scholarship, helps us expand offerings to our students. We don’t want financial limitations to become a barrier for students who feel called to attend United. Your scholarship gifts supported Jennifer while she was a student. Her experience at United, along with the skills she has learned along the way, helped her shepherd St. Mark’s for more than two decades and through the difficult decision to complete their ministry. Your gifts to United continue to make this happen. We give thanks for the lasting legacies created by these and many other faithful donors. __________________________ * Deceased

Alum Rev. Todd Lippert (’03): Living a Public Ministry

As Rev. Todd Lippert was growing up, his life was dominated by two constants: music and church. Both of his parents were music teachers. His dad was the high school choir director, and his mom was the elementary school music teacher. Though his family had been Baptist for generations, they ended up attending a United Church of Christ (UCC) church where his mom was hired to play the organ. It was also much closer to home than the nearest Baptist church. “I always took Christian faith very seriously,” Todd asserts. “The church was a sacred and holy place to me.” In seventh grade, Todd remembers talking to his father. “I was at the bottom of the stairs talking to my dad at the top of the stairs. And that was when I said for the first time, ‘I wonder if I might want to be a pastor someday.’” But, Todd adds, “the idea was really terrifying to me,” so he put it out of his mind. At the University of Iowa, he pursued a music degree. During a philosophy class toward the end of college, a professed atheist professor began asking some of the same questions about faith that Todd was confronting. “I was wrestling with whether I was a Christian or not.” Deciding on Seminary The turning point came one Sunday morning after graduation when Todd and his wife were at church. At the time, he was selling Yellow Pages ads and contemplating an MBA. “I hated it,” Todd confesses. “I was miserable.” Watching the preacher at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, he thought, “Maybe I could do that, and maybe I need to pay attention to this call to ministry that keeps bubbling up.” United was the first UCC seminary that came up on the computer, and when Todd visited, “it felt like home for me as soon as I arrived.” Since his wife was doing graduate work at the University of Minnesota, they moved to the Twin Cities. “At United,” Todd recalls, “I had the space to figure out how Christianity was meaningful and how this faith fit together for me.” Professors who welcomed and encouraged his questions were key to his faith formation, and the “liberation theology that moved through the curriculum, with its focus on justice, was extremely appealing to me.” Todd was also inspired by his classmates. “I saw the student body deeply engaged in the political and social questions of the day.” At United from 2000 to 2003, Todd experienced the Bush v. Gore lawsuit, 9/11 terror attacks, Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone’s tragic death, and the Iraq war launch as he was earning his MDiv. Public Theology Justice-seeking activism, Todd asserts, “really cemented my understanding that the body of Christ is about bringing the realm of God into being wherever it is. And that was something that would have to make my life better and make my community better.” Since graduating, Todd has worked as a UCC pastor, a Minnesota state legislator (2018–2022), a community organizer with ISAIAH, and a community minister with Creekside Church. The clergy organizing work during Operation Metro Surge was especially impactful and reconnected him with United. Todd went through “nonviolent direct action training with Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, one of the authors I read.” He also worked with Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler, his former Hebrew scripture professor. United, notes Todd, equipped him “to be able to understand what is going on in our world, and in our communities, and I had the tools to get better and better at that, reading the present through a biblical and theological lens.” He is extraordinarily proud of the way the church showed up in Minnesota and grateful for United. “I really want,” Todd concludes, “the love-your-neighbor values of the church to be a force in our public life, not an afterthought. I want it to be a force in our political life.”