Author: Diane Riggs

Featured Post

April 16, 2026
Activism leadership Legacy VOICES

Dr. Ginger Morgan Announced as New Associate Professor and Program Director for Interreligious Chaplaincy

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, April 16, 2026 — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is thrilled to announce that Dr. Ginger Morgan will join its faculty as the new Associate Professor for Pastoral and Spiritual Care and Program Director for Interreligious Chaplaincy. Dr. Morgan will come to United from Madison, WI, where she is concluding her role at the Presbyterian Student Center Foundation as director of Candid and Community Initiatives. She is a highly qualified program director and chaplain with experience in healthcare, campus ministry, and higher education. With a PhD in Religion and Psychological Studies from Iliff School of Theology at the University of Denver, as well as a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) from Vanderbilt Divinity School, Dr. Morgan draws from her theological and multidisciplinary education in her work. Interreligious studies is one of United’s four pillars, and the Interreligious Chaplaincy (IRC) program—unique among peer institutions—constitutes the largest and fastest-growing of the seminary’s programs over the past five years. In alignment with United’s ethos, Dr. Morgan is a gifted scholar of religious pluralism, highly educated in progressive theological education, and foregrounds justice in chaplaincy and pastoral care. These values are evident in a chapter titled “Many Doors: Expanding Thresholds for Grace,” written by Dr. Morgan for the upcoming book Dispatches from Campus (Augsburg Fortress Press). Dr. Morgan’s career also reflects her personal experiences and identity. Writing to the search committee, she shared, “My formation includes reconciling my lesbian identity with my faith and living as a religious minority in India during high school, both of which shaped my intercultural perspective and vocational commitments.” She continued, “Throughout my career, I have sought to create inclusive spaces of belonging, whether supporting LGBTQIA+ students, young adults in recovery from addiction, or building programs attentive to justice and equity." Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall, President, reflects, “United welcomes Dr. Ginger Morgan with confidence and great enthusiasm. Her varied leadership roles, especially in chaplaincy, equip her uniquely to lead our robust IRC program and to teach pastoral and spiritual care.” In his announcement to the student body, Dr. Kyle Roberts—Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs—noted that Dr. Morgan’s “career in chaplaincy spans hospital, hospice, and higher education contexts, and extensive program leadership experience.” He added, “I want to thank Dr. Demian Wheeler for leading this search process, especially during its formative stages during my sabbatical.” After participating in a months-long faculty search and on-site candidate lecture, being recommended by a unanimous faculty vote, and gaining approval from the Board of Trustees’ Academic Committee, Dr. Morgan will officially begin on July 1. Students, faculty, and staff are eager to welcome her to United for this exciting new chapter. For more information about United’s Interreligious Chaplaincy program, click here. 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. Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • (651) 255-6138 Admissions and Enrollment admissions@unitedseminary.edu

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April 15, 2026
Activism leadership Legacy VOICES

A Legacy of Generosity: President Marshall on Patricia Shield Ayres

A friend of mine for more than 40 years, Patricia Shield Ayres, is known for her integrity, kindness, leadership, and generosity. Born as an only child into a Texas family with interests in oil and cattle, she prevailed upon her father to allow her to attend Wellesley College in Boston. He wanted her to go to the University of Texas, but she promised she would study economics if he allowed her to go to her preferred school. Remarkably, she has maintained friendships with six of her classmates (now all in their 90s). They called themselves the “sizzling six.” Reflecting on that title, Pat said: “We didn’t sizzle then and certainly not now.”  Though she decries the “sizzle” moniker, Pat has made an indelible impact in her community. She has been a leading voice in Texas for the support of children, a demonstration of her progressive Christian values. The Shield-Ayres Foundation, founded in 1977, is based on a 6,600-acre ranch, 5,300 acres of which her parents purchased in 1938, that lies just 22 miles from the heart of Austin.  Through the foundation, now co-run by Pat’s children, Bob and Vera, the ranch hosts El Ranchito summer camp for urban children and youth. It is an opportunity for them to learn about the many forms of conservation the foundation practices, see what it’s like to be immersed in radically different environs, and experience the unique spiritual joy of what Pat calls the “tapestry of nature.” It is a generous way to use the family’s land.  I came to know Pat when the two of us were involved in voicing our opposition to the hostile takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention by fundamentalist forces. Her strong convictions about religious freedom and liberty of conscience led her to support movements that resisted the eroding of Baptist identity. Her unwavering support for the leadership of women in the Baptist ecology naturally drew us together.  Pat has become a generous donor to United. A member of the Joshua Society—a group of friends and alums who have given cumulative gifts of $50,000 or more—she has invested in our mission with interest and joy. When I delivered the Joshua statuette to her a couple of years ago, she absolutely loved the celebratory image of the raised shofar and anticipated the walls that are tumbling down at United.  This spring, we will welcome Pat into our Esther Society for donors who have given cumulative gifts of $100,000 or more. Her commitments to justice align with United’s clear call to construct a beloved community here and beyond the seminary.  I am delighted at the depth and similitude of our beliefs, and having Pat’s stalwart support of this good seminary. For her abiding dedication to eco-justice and conservation, her philanthropic generosity, and her unequivocal support for religious freedom and the rightful equality of women, I give heartfelt thanks.

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April 9, 2026
Faith gratitude interreligious chaplaincy VOICES

Called beyond the Corporate World: Why Rev. Catherine Duncan (’10) Chose Chaplaincy

An ordained UCC minister, integrative spiritual consultant, author, and public speaker, Rev. Catherine Duncan found her calling through pivotal life-and-death struggles. Her cancer diagnosis around age 10, she recalls, “threw our family upside down.” It was a frightening and lonely experience; though she felt her parents’ love, they said little about her condition. “I felt like I was on a tightrope between life and death. And out of nowhere, I just started to pray.” Catherine adds, “Not long after, this profound feeling of peace, some presence, flooded my body. I knew I was going to live, and knew I wasn’t alone.”  Looking back, Catherine notes that she found faith through that early trauma, but it didn’t instantly translate into a spiritual career. Instead, the youngest of six followed her father and siblings—many of whom were attorneys and executives—into a corporate career. After college, she found an “incredible job” with Time Magazine. It was a position Catherine loved, but she admits, “my heart was feeling restless.” A CHANGE OF HEART During a corporate trip in her mid-thirties, Catherine survived another near-death experience while whitewater rafting. A month after the harrowing episode, she began listening closely and asking herself, “Where is God calling me?” Her faith gave her the courage to walk away from her corporate career, much to everyone’s surprise. “My husband,” she confides, “was really supportive.”  After more praying, journaling, and consulting work, Catherine’s girlfriend suggested she might want to study theology. The same friend mentioned a program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. When she received the material about St. Catherine’s theology and spiritual direction programs, Catherine recalls, “My body started physically shaking…I knew this was the right path.” At St. Catherine’s, she earned a Master’s in Theology and became certified as a spiritual director. Catherine then worked with City House co-founders Tim Allen and alum Rev. Jim Dodge† (’79) to support people on the margins. “I was doing in-depth spiritual direction with the unhoused and in homeless shelters,” Catherine explains, “and I loved it.”  LEANING INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER In the early 2000s, another significant life event opened the doors to the next chapter of Catherine’s life. Her mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, and Catherine was invited to accompany her through the final days. “She had this glow about her,” Catherine shares, “as she surrendered and let go. It was so beautiful. It was life-changing to witness someone so fully.” Catherine’s proclivity to work with people one-on-one, her burgeoning interest in chaplaincy, and a desire to become ordained in the UCC made her seek out a seminary. This time, she chose United. Catherine credits Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel,†  Professor Emeritus of Theology (1970–1995), for creating a customized degree program that didn’t negate her previous master’s degree. Steckel also supported Catherine through her ordination. “You can see how important Clyde was on my path,” she observes. She remembers other professors with gratitude as well. Dean Richard Weis† and Rev. Dr. Jann Cather Weaver (Associate Professor Emerita of Worship and Theology and the Arts), she notes, were exemplars of faith, grace, and empowerment. Dr. Sharon Tan’s ethics course coincidentally enabled Catherine to serve more effectively as the ethics lead for Hennepin County Medical Center during her time at United. United, Catherine asserts, “brought all of my education together in affirming I’m on the right path, and deepened my understanding of the United Church of Christ and my next steps.” She continues, “I can’t think of anything but positive things to say about every class, professor, and my experience. I just felt supported.” Fundamentally, she also believes that United’s emphasis on openness, inclusivity, CPE, and ecumenical understanding is key to effective chaplaincy.  Now, as the author of Everyday Awakening: Five Practices for Living Fully, Feeling Deeply, and Coming into Your Heart and Soul (2023), Catherine is using what she’s learned to support others. She has been interviewed on television and in print, hosts a podcast, and offers her valuable integrative spiritual consulting services. It’s a calling she accepts with gratitude. ______________ † Deceased

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March 26, 2026
Activism Community Relationships Ethics Interreligious justice news releases

United to Honor Jackie Baugh Moore and Julie Strathe Baugh with Doctors of Humane Letters (honoris causa)

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, March 26, 2026 — In celebration of their leadership in social justice, ecumenism, and interreligious engagement, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities—with unanimous support from its faculty and board of trustees—will confer Doctors of Humane Letters (honoris causa) upon sisters Jackie Baugh Moore, President of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, and Julie Strathe Baugh, Vice President, during its 64th Commencement Exercises on April 26, 2026. The faculty noted that the values guiding the family’s foundation are closely aligned with United’s inclusive values. The Board approved the recommendation of the faculty at its November meeting. Established in 1994 by Sysco founder John Baugh and his wife, Eula Mae, the Baugh Foundation has awarded tens of millions of dollars to organizations that share its Baptist ethos and tradition. Jackie and Julie are the daughters of Barbara “Babs” Baugh— the daughter of John and Eula Mae—who became President of the Baugh Foundation in 2007. After Babs died in 2020, Jackie was appointed President, and Julie became Vice President in 2021. Both sisters serve in roles outside of the Foundation that reflect their interests and the Foundation’s long-standing connections to prominent Baptist institutions. Jackie has served on the Baptist Joint Committee, the board of Baptist News Global, as a trustee of Mercer University, and was named the 2025 Distinguished Alum by the Baylor Line Foundation, an independent alumni association. Julie is chair of the board of the Interfaith Alliance, has served on the Strategic Advisory Board for Good Faith Media, and was also an executive board member for Perkins School of Theology. As leaders of the Baugh Foundation, Julie and Jackie have sharpened the organization’s progressive vision and funding priorities, directing grants toward justice, inclusion, and equity initiatives. The Foundation prioritizes nonprofits working in six categories: meeting basic human needs, faith-based higher education, inclusivity initiatives, social justice and advocacy, arts and enrichment, and faith-based journalism. At times, their support for progressive causes has faced resistance. In 2025, Baylor University rescinded a Baugh Foundation grant awarded to the Center for Church and Community. The funds supported evidence-based research into the impacts of disenfranchisement of women and LGBTQ+ people in congregations in an effort to “nurture institutional courage and foster change.” In a statement, the Foundation decried the University’s decision and asserted that the decision “disserves Baylor students, faculty, and the broader Christian community.” The Foundation also reaffirmed its “commitment to supporting progressive, inclusive, and justice-oriented work.” While proudly Baptist in its heritage, the Baugh Foundation shares with United a steadfast dedication to social justice, ecumenism, and interreligious engagement. The Foundation’s belief in the transformative potential of theological education has extended to the seminary through its support of United’s contextual education programs and, more recently, endowed scholarships.  Decades of substantive work by myriad organizations, academic institutions, and progressive initiatives can be credited to The Foundation’s material contributions to the common good. This is owed no doubt to Jackie and Julie’s faithful stewardship of the Foundation’s mission and the path paved by their forbears. Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall, president of United, has a personal connection with the Baughs. President Marshall shares her Baptist roots with the Baugh family and was a dear friend of Babs. On the opportunity to honor Jackie and Julie’s faithful support of progressive theological education, President Marshall reflects, “These dear friends have extended the foundation’s priorities to key issues of our day—LGBTQ+ equity, interfaith engagement, and support of progressive theological education. It is a privilege to honor them.” United is eager to celebrate the graduating class of 2026 along with Jackie and Julie on Sunday, April 26, at 3:00 PM CT, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, MN. Details, including onsite and online registration, can be viewed here. 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 train 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. Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • (651) 255-6138 Admissions and Enrollment admissions@unitedseminary.edu

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March 19, 2026
Black Church Black Liberation Theology Public Theology VOICES

Living into the Promise of the Sims Scholars Initiative

“The Sims Scholars Initiative,” recently asserted Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green II (associate professor of Pastoral Theology and Social Transformation and director for Racial Intelligence Systems), “has surpassed my expectations, and expanded my hopes for what this program can become.” Launched in February 2024 and made possible through a generous donation from former trustee Dr. Frank Sims and his wife, Robyn, it is designed to address racial inequities in society and to educate and prepare leaders who wish to constructively engage issues confronting Black spiritual communities. Gary oversees the Initiative.  SIMS SCHOLARS WEIGH IN  Elwyn Young, a scholar in the cohort that started in 2024, describes the Initiative as a “rare and precious opportunity.” Though she began the program apprehensively, Elwyn’s experiences in classes and with her professors have transformed her perspective and outlook. Dr. Demian Wheeler’s “Invitation to Theology: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty” course and her classmates, Elwyn attests, created “the best start that I could have been exposed to coming into seminary.” She is equally excited about the other professors and courses she encountered. It is not just the kindness and support, Elwyn explains, each of her five professors has imparted “a feeling that they desire us all to succeed.” Naryn Carter, another 2024 cohort member, notes that “mentorship [in the Initiative] is genuinely multi-layered—peer mentorship within the cohort, guidance from faculty and staff, and wisdom from [alums] and doctoral students.” “I’ve been grateful,” she continues, “to connect with and learn alongside some amazing people— relationships I truly don’t think I would have formed without the program.”  Akwése Nkemontoh, a member of the second cohort, was drawn to the Sims Scholars Initiative due to the mentorship aspect as well as other key features. “I had been searching for a space,” she recounts, “where I could be mentored and truly challenged to think more deeply, where I could show up as all of myself and engage the intersections that I’m most curious about,…and where I could always come back to my faith and connection with God as the one leading it all.”  DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION ADDS VALUE  As a second cohort member, Akwése can also take advantage of the new distance learning feature (first-year scholars were local to the Twin Cities). “I’m grateful that the Sims Scholars program opened up to distance learners,” she opines, “…because it makes this kind of transformative educational experience so much more accessible, making its reach and impact greater. It has already done so much to affirm where I’m at right now and where I’m hoping to go.”  “After only one semester,” Akwése adds, “I can say this program truly has been a gift and has helped me to honor and author my own voice in ways that feel different from academic spaces in the past.” She expounds, “At its heart, this program is designed to engage multiple forms of intelligence and to create ‘play space’ to bring out our most imaginative, co-creative selves.… The fact that I’m surrounded by other Black leaders is also amazing and rare, especially in academia. And the fact that all these other leaders…are passionate about the intersection of faith and social transformation is just wow.”  HOPE FOR THE FUTURE When she looks into the future, Naryn is thrilled by the ways in which the Sims Scholars Initiative provides “tools to widen the aperture of our souls and to do deeper, more impactful work in our communities and the world.” In addition, she posits, “We are being compassionately equipped to lead in ways that many previous and even current leaders have not [been]. I’m excited not only about the knowledge I’m gaining, but about the embodied excellence of how this learning is happening.” As Akwése phrases it, “We’re here to grow, to be challenged and to challenge, to be held and to hold. We’re here to develop our voices as the powerful healers, lightbearers, and agents of change we are.” For his part, Gary concludes, “Our shared learning experience was deeply transformative and clarifying for the kind of beacon United can become for Black religious scholarship. I am excited to see how things continue to develop!” This article is featured in the Winter 2026 Issue of VOICES. Read this issue and our other publications here. >

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December 17, 2025
Alums Community Entrepreneur

Lauren Busey (’07) Ministers to a New Beloved Community at Pickledilly Skokie

Lauren Busey (’07) grew up in the Lutheran church,  earned an undergraduate degree from Luther College, and thought she would probably attend a Lutheran seminary. Then, at a Luther College women’s retreat, Rev. Dr. Christie Cozad Nueger (’80)— Professor Emerita of Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Theology (1992–2005)—was the featured speaker and knew Lauren’s campus pastor. “So,” Lauren remembers, “we just kind of got to talking, and within a couple of weeks, I was enrolled at United.”  United “was a good fit,” Lauren asserts. She found a welcoming community of fellow students and treasured professors. Those who had the greatest impact include Rev. Dr. Jann Cather Weaver (Associate Professor Emerita of Worship, and Theology and the Arts, 2001–2012), Dr. Marilyn Salmon† (Professor Emerita of New Testament Theology, 1989–2014), and Dr. Carolyn Pressler (Professor Emerita of Biblical Interpretation, 1990–2020).  After seminary, Lauren accepted a call back home in Evanston, Illinois, at the church where she grew up, Trinity Lutheran Church. Despite being a bit apprehensive about serving as the director of Faith Formation at her home church, Lauren found that the parishioners were warmly welcoming and supportive. She’s been there ever since and notes that the flexibility of the position allowed for a positive work-life balance. Lauren and her wife are raising two children. Just this year, however, Lauren, along with her wife and two business partners, embarked on a new venture—and in February 2025, the four co-owners opened a new state-of-the-art pickleball court in Skokie, Illinois. Dubbed Pickledilly Skokie, the new indoor space features 11.5 courts under high ceilings, lockers, a lounge area, and a pro shop. Plus, the venue is in the same complex as Sketchbook Brewing Company and has abundant free parking. So what happened? “I think my wife would say that I’ve always been the big idea person,” Lauren explains. Usually, she continues, Amy “nods and smiles and keeps on going,” but this time she agreed with the idea. Both Lauren and Amy are avid pickleball players, and Lauren says she found that the activity was much more of a “community-based sport.” Community was the key. As Lauren stated in a July 18, 2025, interview for Ryan Glatzhofer’s The Locals: Stories of Courageous Entrepreneurs, “One of the things that has always been a passion of mine is bringing people together.” Going a step further, she said more recently, “One of our pillars is that this is a safe space, and we are welcoming here.” How did United prepare Lauren for entrepreneurship? “United was really helpful to me in expanding my worldview and my understanding of diversity and not assuming you know where people are coming from.” As for the connection to ministry, Lauren asserts, “We’re still grounded in the same way of taking care of people,  and loving people, and meeting them where they are.” __________________________ † of blessed memory

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December 11, 2025
Academics Activism Black Liberation Theology Community

Alex Sánchez Rodriguez Finds Vocational Inspiration at United

Alex Sánchez Rodriguez, who plans to graduate from United in 2026 with an MA in Religion and Theology, was initially drawn to the seminary’s Interreligious Chaplaincy program. Since taking more classes, engaging with his professors, becoming involved in the Student Leadership Collective, and taking on other extracurricular activities, he has settled on a new calling. “I discovered,” Alex shares, “that I have a natural affinity toward academics.” In fact, he admits, “I want to be like my professors.” Before coming to United, Alex was a substitute teacher in Puerto Rico. Since he moved to Minnesota, he has been working in student development and promoting student success. The priority of student success is the throughline, Alex perceives, from his current role and an academic career. “If I am to go into academia,” he explains, “part of my success as a teacher, professor, and researcher depends on the success of my future students.”  Alex also credits United professors for embodying the kind of academician he hopes to become. Dr. Demian Wheeler and Rev. Dr. Andrew Packman, he notes, “as academics and how they engage with their students…[are] very inspiring to…future academics.” The fact that United faculty are “so accessible and so approachable and so likeable,” Alex continues, made him realize that an academic career does not have to take place in some secluded and inaccessible “ivory tower.”  United’s emphasis on interreligious engagement was another piece of Alex’s transformation. “I grew up in a very Christian environment where everything that wasn’t Christian was considered bad,” Alex recounts. After encountering the diverse faith communities of United’s students and faculty, he suggests, “it made me realize that there’s not just one path toward spirituality and divinity.” Ultimately, Alex hopes that his future work as a theologian can help fellow Puerto Ricans emerge from the shadow of colonization. “I think doing the work of theology is a way to help ’regular people’ realize that they don’t have to live as colonized individuals anymore. They have the opportunity to define who they want to be.”  As Alex stated earlier this year, “While I could have chosen a different specialty or a different seminary, theology and religious studies have brought a sense of wonder that I have not experienced in any other discipline that I have studied, and United has given me more than I can name.”

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November 21, 2025
Arts Methodist Studies ministry

Yolanda Williams (’20) Merges Music, Scholarship, and Ministry

From an early age, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Williams’ (’20) life revolved around making music. “I've been taking piano lessons since second grade,” she shares, “and I started to play violin in seventh grade.” She also has a well-developed talent for singing (soprano and mezzo soprano). At Hamline University, one of her majors was music, and at the University of Minnesota, Yolanda earned a master's in Vocal Performance. So, how did Yolanda earn an MDiv and become the pastor at Fridley United Methodist Church? That seed was also planted early on. Finding Religion  Yolanda explains that she doesn’t come from a religious family; in fact, her father was opposed to organized religion. Still, her parents sent the children to Sunday school at the neighborhood church, John’s Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod). By age 16, Yolanda explains, there was a big change when she became a professed Christian after three pastors broke away from the Lutheran church and started a house church that became Agape Christian Ministries, which is still in operation. In this charismatic environment, Yolanda found the space to develop a personal relationship with God because, unlike her experience at John’s Lutheran Church, a relationship with God was prioritized. That was when Yolanda committed to God that she would become a preacher in gratitude for her changed life. At Hamline University, Yolanda pursued a double major—music and religion. After earning her master’s degree, she went on to tackle a PhD (also at the University of Minnesota) in Education with a graduate minor in African Diasporic Studies. At the conclusion of her dissertation, Yolanda asserts, “The Lord reminded me that I had made a commitment to be a preacher.” Deciding on United The day after her PhD dissertation was accepted, Yolanda was looking for a local seminary because of God’s reminder. Because she owned a house in Minneapolis, she couldn’t imagine pulling up roots to attend seminary elsewhere. As a worship accompanist and leader, Yolanda had been involved with several Lutheran churches and had even played at Luther Seminary services. She had also heard about United. She approached Luther Seminary first and was told to visit the website. The contact at United invited Yolanda to visit the New Brighton campus and meet with staff and faculty. “It was beautiful,” she remembers, “like an oasis from the congestion and chaos of the city.” She also appreciated the eco-friendly aspects of the space, including the rain gardens and native plantings. This led her to choose United over other Twin Cities seminaries. While working full-time, Yolanda embarked on earning her MDiv in Methodist Studies at United. Because she was so busy with work and school, and more focused on theological scholarship, she did not find much time to socialize with other students. Since graduating, though, Yolanda says she’s maintained contact with other United alums. Reflecting on the Journey “From David on,” Yolanda asserts, “music has had a way of speaking to people beyond words.” It can evoke emotion, negative or positive, and has a unique power. It’s also an intrinsic facet of worship and church services.  She credits preachers from her teens for modeling how to be a caring pastor and apt preacher. Dr. Demian Wheeler, though, she exclaims, “had a huge impact on my life!” He is not just a scholar; he is “really an excellent teacher.” Yolanda explains that he organized classes so that he could both impart knowledge and collaborate with students in real time. He also challenged students to think critically about theological precepts. Yolanda is also grateful that United is such a religiously diverse community. “Having people from so many different backgrounds and spiritualities,” she observes, “gave me a broader idea of who might come through the door at my church.”  After years of deep scholarship, teaching, and musical performance, Yolanda is happy to be serving as the pastor at Fridley United Methodist Church. Though she gains much joy and satisfaction from the experiences of theatrical vocal performances at home and abroad, she can now admit, “There’s nothing like standing in a pulpit and seeing the hunger that’s before you and seeing the little light bulbs go off as God feeds the people through you.”

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November 13, 2025
Activism Community Relationships UUA VOICES

Student Cas Burr Gains Inspiration from United’s Gifted Faculty & Relational Ethos

Cas Burr, who is just four classes away from graduating with an MDiv in UU Studies, traces his first spiritual nudge back to high school. “I was on my Unitarian Universalist church’s Boston pilgrimage, and I fell in love with the history and lineage of the religion and tradition,” he recalls. The ministers on the trip, notes Cas, “noticed a spark, and encouraged me to think about ministry and church work” as a possible vocation.  After high school, Cas attended Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where he majored in English and earned a teaching license. “I wasn’t set on ministry through college,” Cas admits, but I always had it in the back of my mind as a possibility.” Nonetheless, he spent a year after college in New York City earning an Advanced Certificate in Social Justice from Union Theological Seminary of New York. “I had a great year…and learned so much from my classmates and professors,” he says, “but I was ready to come back home and…learn in my home community.”  When it came time to accept his call to seminary, Cas was grateful to find United in the Twin Cities. An alum of St. Paul Academy and Summit School, Cas calls St. Paul home and was glad to find an option nearby. While proximity is important, he was also impressed by the seminary’s ethos of building meaningful relationships. “United appealed to me because of how the faculty and staff communicated with me right from the start.… [I]t was clear that great relationships were at the forefront of United’s mission.”  Professors and CPE Inspire Cas fervently believes that faith communities are uniquely positioned to effect “positive social change,” and was eager to expand his knowledge. United professors, without exception, he asserts, have not only been excellent teachers, but wonderful sources of connection and inspiration. “I have been blessed,” he observes, to take classes “from the amazing Unitarian Universalist professors at United, some of whom I have known for many years.”  Deep scriptural study has been another blessing. “I can’t say enough about both my New Testament and Hebrew Bible courses,” Cas exclaims. “Immersing myself in scripture is something that I feel so lucky to have been able to do,” he adds, “and it allowed me to form some of my own thoughts about these ancient texts. I am forever grateful for that.”  As he works toward becoming a fellowshipped UU minister, Cas has also gained transformational insight from a Social Justice Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), led by Rev. Dr. Laura Thelander and Rev. Dr. Sue Allers Hatlie (’85, ’04). “My clinical placement was at the Volunteers of America (VOA) High School in northeast Minneapolis,” he notes, “where I provided spiritual care to students and staff.” His learning cohort, however, met within Stillwater prison. Cas reveals, “I was in class with both free and incarcerated folks. It was a life-changing experience for me.”  Flexibility Empowers and Funding Supports Though Cas lives in the area, he appreciates the opportunity to take classes on campus or from other locations. “The flexibility to attend class either in person or online has been great for me,” he attests. He also enjoys the ability to make community connections on campus and participate in chapel services.  United scholarships offer great support, too. For Cas, his scholarship “has made achieving my dreams and calling much more accessible, and I am so thankful to United for all that they offer.” In fact, he declares, “it feels great to be at a place where the institution…financially support[s] so many of its students. What a beautiful thing.”

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June 23, 2025
Alums Community Relationships VOICES

Mary Ann Murray (’76) Treasures the Relationships She Established at United

In 1969, when Mary Ann Murray (’76) enrolled at United, America was embroiled in the Vietnam War, and the seminary, which opposed the war, had spent its first seven years led by and attended by men. It was also a residential school, where faculty and students lived on campus and forged a collegial bond. Along with Rev. Marilyn Creel (’72), Mary Ann was one of the first two women to enroll in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program. Unlike their colleagues, neither lived on campus. Mary Ann was married, with young children, and Marilyn was not allowed to live on campus as a single woman. Considering Seminary Though Mary Ann was raised in the American Baptist denomination, she first learned of United at a community church where the pastor also served as an adjunct faculty member at the seminary. At the time, Mary Ann was teaching at the church and felt a strong call to study theology. In March of 1969, she met with Dean Louis Gunnemann† “to discuss my options for studying theology.” United offered a certificate in Christian education and the MDiv, so Mary Ann resolved to begin the degree in the fall. “I couldn’t wait to begin my seminary career,” she remembers telling her pastor, and she wanted to read every book in the library. He loaned Mary Ann his copy of Paul Tillich’s The Courage to Be, and said, “Theological education isn’t about reading books; it is about relationships.” United Highlights This spring marks the 50th anniversary of her graduation from United, and Mary Ann still remembers key elements of her experience. For example, she notes that faculty members did not have posted office hours. “A blessing I took for granted,” she reflects, “was the availability of faculty; I remember many robust conversations with professors over coffee in the refectory.” She also vividly remembers the first session in her Christian Ethics course. “We were asked to describe how we made an ethical decision. By the end of the term, we each had expanded that initial statement and honed our own ethics method.” In September of 1971, Mary Ann, Tracy Godfrey, and two students from Luther Northwestern Seminary entered the first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at what was then Hennepin County General Hospital (now HCMC). At the hospital, Mary Ann was the first woman in the chaplain’s CPE units. Dean Gunnemann’s words at Spring Convocation 1972 created one of her most moving memories. “The relationships in our lives that are truly redeeming,” Dean Gunnemann advised, “are grounded in gratitude.” Enduring Relationships “My commitment and loyalty to United are grounded in gratitude for the relationships from my time at United, which have bridged the years and enriched my life.” Mary Ann is pleased to support United’s mission to provide transformative theological education to equip students to make a difference in the world through their unique ministries. She makes this possible as a generous donor who is a member of the Barnabas, Bossard-Ward, and Joshua Societies. “Theological education,” Mary Ann observes, “is a lens through which we see the world and how to respond to it.” For her devotion to relationships at United and for sharing her story, we are deeply grateful to observe this 50th anniversary of Mary Ann’s graduation _______________ † Deceased

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