Faculty Archives - United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

April 16, 2026

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

March 1, 2026

Faculty Feminism Women

Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler Reflects on Women’s History Month

Dear Friends of United, The National Women’s History Alliance’s theme for the 2026 Women’s History Month, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” reverberates in very concrete, localized, and urgent ways in the context of ICE’s months-long, brutal occupation, a federal “reckoning and retribution” that savaged our immigrant neighbors and tested our resolve. Women—including numerous members of the United Community—have worked with men and gender fluid folk to sustain our state. Women leaders have sustained political resistance, organizing and showing up for large and small demonstrations, sit-ins, and vigils. As constitutional observers, women, along with people of all genders, have sought to sustain legal accountability. Minnesotan women have worked to sustain life, offering aid—groceries, medicines, rent money— to people with reason to be afraid to leave their homes. Medically trained women have made house calls. Women have sustained courage and connection, leading singing resistance pods in hard-hit areas, as a way of letting neighbors know that they are seen and that they matter. And immigrant mothers, aunties, grandmas, and friends, have sustained families, calming terrified children, holding the family together when members are disappeared. This Women’s History Month, let us honor the thousands of women and girls who, as their foremothers did in earlier occupations, stepped up to sustain political will, life, courage, and families. Carolyn Pressler is the Professor Emerita of Biblical Interpretation at United. Learn more about her here. >

July 7, 2025

Ethics Faculty Faith lgbtq Liberation Theology

50 Years Later—The Impact of Jim Nelson’s “Homosexuality: An Issue for the Church”

Faith communities have long struggled to reach consensus on the inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people. Debates in congregations and conferences have led to harmful statements and schisms and highlighted sharp disagreements over theology, ethics, and justice. Of course, these are never merely debates, never just “disagreements;” these are questions of fundamental rights, theology, one’s sense of self, and what it means to love. Whereas some denominations reject the very existence of LGBTQ+ identities out of hand, others have sought the counsel of their LGBTQ+ members and committed to structural equality and solidarity. Fifty years ago, this shift was happening at United, owing to the advocacy of students, faculty, and a prescient professor’s willingness to articulate a clear theological case for affirmation. In United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities: An Ecumenical Venture, Dr. Arthur L. Merrill† (Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, 1958–1995) recounted the impact of Dr. James B. Nelson’s† (Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics, 1963–1995) paper titled “Homosexuality: An Issue for the Church,” published in the Winter 1975 issue of Theological Markings, United’s journal. In it, Nelson identified what he viewed as the four primary theological positions against other sexual orientations, and he graciously engaged each of them while arguing his clear conviction as a Christian ethicist: unequivocal affirmation. Nelson wrote, “An ethics of the Gospel ought never forget that moral responsibility is intrinsically related to self-acceptance, and that self-acceptance is intrinsically related to acceptance by significant others and, ultimately, by God.” In a section titled “A Personal Note,” Jim posits that acceptance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people might be a source of “augmented liberation” for all, “bringing new possibilities of tenderness, lessened competitiveness, and greater emotional intimacy.” Just two years later, United’s Faculty Senate adopted a statement affirming “equal educational opportunity for all our students regardless of race, sex, or affectional preference” (sexual orientation). It avowed that “we do not believe that such an orientation in and of itself disqualifies a person from preparing for ministry at this seminary.” Nelson’s progressive theological vision and visionary scholarship continue to impact United, its students, and the communities they lead. For his prophetic witness for the common good, we give thanks. ________________________ † Deceased

May 5, 2025

Academics Faculty gratitude VOICES

Rossmann Faculty Development Award Launches in 2025

We are thrilled to share that Jack and Marty Rossmann have endowed a fund to support faculty development at United. Jack, a current United board member, is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Macalester College, and Marty is a Professor Emerita of Family Education at the University of Minnesota. The Rossmanns, who prize education by word and deed, have already established faculty development and excellence awards at Macalester and the University of Minnesota. Now they have generously extended faculty support to United. As they explained recently, “Faculty excellence is crucial to the continued success of United Seminary. We hope that the Rossmann Faculty Development Award will play a role in helping to maintain that excellence.” Starting this year, United faculty members can apply for support twice each year. Applications are due either February 1 or October 1. If granted, awards will support activities such as attending professional meetings, offsetting publication-related expenses (including stipends for students who assist with publication tasks), and hiring consultants to assist with writing or teaching activities. “Jack and Marty Rossmann established this award,” noted President Molly T. Marshall, “because of their own academic careers and their love of supporting faculty development.” For their continuing service and generosity, Jack and Marty Rossmann have our deepest gratitude. We honor their lifelong commitment to education and working toward the betterment of society.

April 12, 2025

Faculty Holidays Judaism

Passover Reflections from Dr. Mary Lane Potter

Passover is a time of joy. As Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav says, “When the mind is linked to joy, it is taken out of bondage and becomes free.” In my family, we sing, drum, fill Miriam’s well of living water beside Elijah’s cup of wine, take turns walking through two shimmering blue walls of water as everyone sings Wade in the Water or Yismechu Hashamayim, and end by dancing on dry land. Passover is also a time of deep reflection on oppression, justice, mercy, the enslaved, liberation, freedom, refugees, all those who hunger for food, shelter, and justice, and the oft-repeated commandment “Befriend the stranger; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Dt. 10:19) I am grateful every year for this ritual of remembering and reflecting, but especially this year, given the turbulence in the U.S., Gaza, Israel, and elsewhere. In my family, we invite that reflection in many ways. Here are just a few. Before we begin the maggid, the telling, we remind ourselves that ours is not a triumphalist, us/them, or othering story but a profoundly theological telling that invites us to a complex view of Jewish life and all human life. “In the beginning our ancestors served idols,” we say. “My ancestor was a wandering Aramean,” we add, recalling a man whom tradition identifies as Laban, who tried to get rid of his own son-in-law, Jacob. “We were slaves but now we’re free,” we chant, yes, but it is not only the Egyptians who caused us to suffer, we are reminded. We, too, have gone astray and acted unjustly, misused our freedom, before, during, and after our liberation from Egypt. Our telling is one of hope and thankfulness, not righteousness and purity. At the start of the maggid, following a custom of Rav Huna (3rd century CE), a man familiar with poverty, we stand by the open door of our house as we sing “This is the bread of affliction…Let all who are hungry come and eat.” It is our pledge that we will welcome the stranger in need. During the telling, we follow a Sephardic custom of wrapping a piece of matzoh—the bread of affliction and the bread of the journey to freedom, a symbol of hope and trust that our struggles, our bitterness, our constricted hearts and imaginations, our terror will be transformed into abundant life—in a napkin, throwing it over our shoulder, and walking around the room. “Where are you coming from?” someone asks. “From Egypt, The Narrow Place!” we reply. As we walk, we each reflect on what we need to leave behind. What values, attitudes, and actions are we carrying with us that we learned from our oppressors? What habits are keeping us prisoners? What have we grown accustomed to that is no longer serving us, that may cause harm to ourselves, others, and our society? What burdens do we need to lay down? As Rabbi Hanoch of Alexander said, “The real exile of Israel in Egypt was that they learned to endure it.” Then, when the leader asks, “Where are you going?” We answer, “To Jerusalem, City of Peace! City of Joy!” As we make another circuit round the room carrying our journey bread, we each reflect on what a truly free life looks like for ourselves, our people, our country, all humankind, the earth. What will we do with our freedom? Will we resist injustice? Pursue justice? Spread compassion? When we take our seats, we unwrap our journey bread, break off a piece—symbol of broken dreams, broken promises, broken laws, broken bodies—and set it in a communal bowl, as a pledge to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with M’qom HaOlam, Dwelling of the World, M’qor ‘Or, Fountain of Light, Ein Chayyim, Wellspring of Life, as a token that we owe tzedakah, righteousness, to those who are today enslaved, those whose spirits are crushed, refugees, exiles, prisoners, and that we will fulfill it. For when one of us is in chains, not one of us can be free. Chag Pesach Sameach! A joyous and meaningful Passover to all! _______________________________ Note: Artwork used in this reflection (from artist David Moss' beautiful 1983 art haggadah, based on the Ashkenazic medieval Birdshead haggadah but showing Jews caged and free) was supplied by Mary Potter.

February 11, 2025

Academics Faculty Legacy united faculty

Remembering Dr. Marilyn J. Salmon, Professor Emerita of New Testament Theology

Dr. Marilyn J. Salmon, Professor Emerita of New Testament Theology (1989–2014), is fondly remembered as a committed scholar, a dedicated teacher, a faithful religious leader, and an early and passionate advocate for interfaith dialogue and understanding. Born and raised in Minnesota, Marilyn earned her BA from Concordia College, Moorhead, her MDiv from Northwestern Theological Seminary (now Luther Seminary), and her PhD from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she developed a lifelong passion for the relationship between Christianity and Judaism. Marilyn worked on the Gospel of Luke in her doctoral dissertation and, in that research, advanced scholarship about the differences between Christian and Jewish readings of Scripture, work that she continued to explore throughout her life. Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies, shares, “When Marilyn arrived in 1989, she was first among the ‘new’ faculty who arrived at United as members of the original faculty began to retire. Her joy in being at United and her love for her subject matter made her a delightful colleague.” Mary continues, “She certainly opened my eyes to the widespread nature of unintended anti-Judaism in Christian theology and preaching, and she was generous in sharing elements of her own spiritual journey. And, I still have her recipe for lamb stew.” Marilyn was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church in 1990 and served for many years at St. Clement’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul. Active in the diocese, she also worked as part of the Bishop’s Staff in the Episcopal Church in Minnesota as a Missioner for the School for Formation, helping create classes that would serve lay and ordained ministers. In these and other roles, she contributed in significant ways to the vitality and strength of the church. A challenging but revered teacher, Marilyn made a significant contribution to students’ more nuanced and broadened understanding of the New Testament. Students were encouraged to approach texts with creativity and imagination. They were invited to look for new ways to read familiar passages and to experiment with interpretation while also staying true to the text. Artist and sculptor Doug Abbott (’10) affirms that “Marilyn challenged and turned upside down a set of assumptions I had about my religious identity.… The foundation that came from the growth under her tutelage marvels me to this day.” As Karen Larson (’12) attests in a Facebook comment, “I hear her voice every time I run across a passage that sounds anti-Jewish.” Dr. Lyle Schlundt (’15) adds, “She was a great teacher. [I] will never forget her saying, ‘Jesus was a Jew talking to other Jews about Judaism.’” Maureen Smith (’01) notes, “I often quote her in the Bible study I lead at my church. I say my New Testament teacher said one of her missions in life was to restore to the Pharisees their good name.” “She was an engaging professor and always very kind to me,” asserts Amanda McElray Hunter (’10). “Her legacy and commitment to building peace through interfaith work will live on through her students.” Rev. T. Michael Rock, Director of Contextual Education and Spiritual Direction, adds, “As a contextual education supervisor for many of Dr. Salmon’s students, I was always impressed with their exegetical acumen, good historical criticism and knowledge, and practical applications of scripture. Like many gifted seminary professors, Dr. Salmon had a lasting impact on the local church through her students.” In a testament to her myriad achievements, Marilyn was awarded the Founders Medallion by the Graduate Studies department at Hebrew Union College. Awarded to a PhD graduate from at least 25 years ago, she was honored for her support of “vibrant faith communities.” Her leadership skills were also evident at United where she served in a variety of administrative roles, including acting dean. Dr. Kita McVay (’96, ’09), former United President, writes, “Marilyn and I worked closely together as colleagues when Dean Richard Weis took sabbatical and Marilyn stepped in as acting dean. Marilyn could hold in tension the multiple interests within the seminary, from fundraising to analyzing new models of education, and brought her deep experience of United and its singular identity to the role of acting dean. Her own spiritual journey had no stopping point, and Marilyn continued pushing the boundaries to find her authentic place. Her conversion to Judaism was, of course, a major milestone in the journey. She found at Mount Zion a home where her exploration could continue, a warm community, and, much too soon, a locus for final consecration.” Marilyn’s gifts to the community included leadership in interreligious engagement. For many years, she served on the Jay Phillips Center for Jewish-Christian Learning advisory board. The Center was founded in 1985 at the College (now University) of St. Thomas. A gifted speaker, she delivered lectures and led workshops locally and across the United States on the Bible, Feminism, and interfaith dialogue. She taught adult education series for churches and ecumenical and interfaith organizations, and she frequently facilitated Continuing Education workshops, helping participants find creative ways to approach the Lectionary texts for preaching. In 2006, Marilyn’s book Preaching without Contempt: Overcoming Unintended Anti-Judaism was published. She sought to address practically ways in which Christian preachers often unintentionally perpetuate anti-Judaism in their teaching and sermons. This publication, dedicated to her sons, in the hope that one day they would ask her why she had to write it, was a culmination of her lifelong work. Reflecting on her ongoing scholarship, Marilyn wrote, “I want our students to be passionate, creative, responsible interpreters of the Scriptures, knowledgeable about both ancient contexts and contemporary audience….I am committed to raising awareness of the caricatures of Judaism that permeate biblical preaching and teaching and perpetuate Christian anti-Judaism. I believe that the integrity of the Christian Gospel is at stake.” In 2015, just after her retirement, Marilyn was the Didier Seminar Speaker at The House of Hope Presbyterian Church in St. Paul, filling in for the widely respected New Testament scholar and theologian Marcus J. Borg, who had recently died. “Jesus Then and Now” was the title of her address. Later in life, Marilyn’s commitment to her scholarship and devotion to the study of theology and biblical texts led her to discern a calling away from the priesthood in the Episcopal Church and into Judaism. She became an active member and participant in her community of Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul, where she continued to share her many gifts. As President Molly T. Marshall observes, “United grieves the death of this fine scholar-practitioner who expanded the seminary’s inter-religious engagement. Treasured as a professor and beloved colleague, we give thanks for her graceful imprint.” United gives thanks for the many ways in which Marilyn served students, alums, fellow faculty, and the broader community, working to promote peace and understanding about diverse faith traditions and expressions. May her memory be a blessing for us all. A service for Marilyn was held at Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul on Thursday, February 13, at 12:30 PM. You can live-stream the service. A Celebration of Life followed the service at Shamrocks in St. Paul. Everyone was welcome at both events. For more information, you can read Marilyn’s obituary here.

January 3, 2025

Faculty

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

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). 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).

October 9, 2024

Announcements Faculty

Remembering Rev. Dr. Dayton D. Hultgren, Former President of United

(SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, October 7, 2024) — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has received news of the death of Rev. Dr. Dayton D. Hultgren, a former President and faculty member of the school. From 1971 to 1982, Dr. Hultgren led a period of growth and evolution in seminary education, overseeing milestones throughout his tenure that would have an impact for decades to come. Inaugurated in 1971 at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, President Hultgren was United’s second president, succeeding founding President Emeritus Ruben H. Huenemann. There were exciting programmatic initiatives during President Hultgren’s tenure. United had its first woman graduate, and in the ensuing decade, the school became a leader in the education of women in the fields of theology, ministry, and religious studies. Under President Hultgren’s leadership, Professor Emeritus James B. Nelson and President Emeritus Wilson Yates—with the University of Minnesota Medical School’s program in sexuality—helped develop a joint course in human sexuality. Dr. Nelson’s writings on human sexuality and medical ethics earned national recognition. Dr. Gayle Graham Yates laid the groundwork for teaching women in ministry and taught the first course in feminism and the Church as well as the first course in religious studies in the early 1970s. Rev. Dr. Patricia Wilson Kastner was appointed the first full-time woman professor in 1975, teaching historical and constructive theology. In 1976, Professor Emerita Mary Farrell Bednarowski was appointed to the faculty, becoming the first director of the Master of Arts in Religious Studies (MARS) program that same year. The Antoinette Brown Womenspace and Resource Center, proposed by United’s women’s caucus, was developed in 1977. One of President Hultgren’s most significant early hires was Academic Vice President Thomas C. Campbell in 1974. Following Campbell’s death in 1979, Professor Emeritus Clyde J. Steckel was appointed Academic Vice President and Dean. In his “Recollections of the 1970s,” included in the 40th Anniversary Edition of VOICES, Dr. Steckel describes various steps taken by President Hultgren to revise aspects of United’s organizational structure, including an “opening [of] faculty meetings to the seminary community and appointing [of] students to the senate, board of trustees, and faculty committees.” He also played a significant role in forming the CUE Regional Seminary Support Program, a mechanism through which Chicago Theological Seminary, Eden Theological Seminary, and United received financial support from local congregations. After 11 years in office, President Hultgren stepped down in 1982 and was succeeded by the appointment of Rev. Dr. Mary (Molly) B. McMillan (’78) as interim president. In addition to his tenure at United, President Hultgren served as President of San Francisco Theological Seminary as well as in various roles at Macalester College, the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, and the University of St. Thomas. He would later establish a consulting firm, HBH Associates, and was recognized for his philanthropic work throughout the rest of his life. Professor Emerita Barbara Anne Keely met President Hultgren in 1991 while serving alongside him on a Presbytery committee—which included Rev. Dr. Molly McMillan—focused on raising funds to benefit local congregations. "Dayton brought his sense of ministry and fundraising gifts to the Presbytery, churches, and other nonprofits.” She continues, “He loved the Church, and shared that love through United, the Presbytery, and church consulting." President Emeritus Wilson Yates, a faculty member during President Hultgren’s time in office, notes that Dayton Hultgren brought a new generation of thought about theological education and served as a catalyst for democratizing the institution’s governance structures. “This positioned the school to become a leader in the development of new forms of theological education.” Reflecting on President Hultgren’s kindness at the onset of her term, United’s current President, Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall says, “Not too long after I arrived at United, former president Dayton Hultgren courteously took the time to come for a visit. I was struck by his kind nature and fond reflections on his time serving United. He knew well the complexity of seminary leadership and went out of his way to encourage me as I began my time of service.” She continues, “The Apocalypse writes of such servants: ‘they will rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them’ (14:13). Blessed be his memory among the forebears of this good seminary.” For President Hultgren’s immense contributions to the life of United, his legacy of generosity, and his forward-looking leadership, we give thanks. Blessed be the memory of President Dayton D. Hultgren. A public memorial service for President Hultgren has not yet been announced by his family. Until then, click here to read President Hultgren’s full obituary and honor his rich legacy. About United Founded by the nascent 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 cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to train leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge. Contact Nathanial Green (he/him), Director of Marketing and Communications United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities press@unitedseminary.edu • (651) 255-6138

July 11, 2024

Announcements Faculty

United Welcomes Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow Dr. Jennifer Maidrand

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, July 11, 2024 — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is excited to announce that it has welcomed another Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow—Dr. Jennifer (“Jen”) Maidrand—for its 2024–25 and 2025–26 academic years. Dr. Maidrand, who started her two-year fellowship July 1, is our Visiting Assistant Professor of Bible, Culture, and Interpretation. An accomplished scholar, educator, and activist, Maidrand holds a PhD in Bible and Cultures from Drew University. For her dissertation, “Excavating Promised Land: The Geopolitics of Scripturalization in Palestine-Israel,” she earned the Rabbi Dr. Sheldon J. Weltman Prize for Excellence in Biblical Studies. Her MA in Theological Studies, also from Drew University, focused on religion and ecology. Professionally, Maidrand has served with Global Ministries (UCC) in Palestine and has robust experience working with an array of churches across the US concerning education and advocacy related to the Middle East. She is a member of the United Church of Christ and is committed to fostering interfaith and intercultural community education and dialogue around sacred texts, the earth, and social justice. At United, Maidrand will teach four courses per year—two in the fall term and two in the spring. Based in Ohio, all of her courses will be taught through distance learning, but Maidrand will commute to United for key community events and maintain a faculty advisory load during her fellowship. “We are delighted to have Dr. Maidrand joining us as a Louisville Institute Fellow,” attests Dean Kyle Roberts. “A biblical scholar focusing on the intersection of Bible, culture, and interpretation, she fills an important role in our curriculum. She will teach introductory courses on religious texts and biblical interpretation, as well as upper-level electives that address crucial issues of geopolitical concern and elucidate ways in which politics and interpretation intertwine. Ministers and spiritual leaders need the kind of biblical and cultural literacy she will offer in these complex and contested times.” President Molly T. Marshall agrees. “Dr. Maidrand brings excellence in biblical studies,” she asserts, “and she connects her scholarship to pressing concerns in our time, e.g., land issues in Israel/Palestine. United has a storied history with Louisville Institute Fellows, and our faculty is adept at mentoring emerging professors in theological education. We are grateful to welcome her to this thriving community.” For her part, Maidrand expresses her gratitude for the opportunity. As she writes, “I am thrilled to be joining the United faculty as a Louisville Fellow. United's commitment to prepare leaders to steward movements of peace and justice, in their faith communities and beyond, is one I share wholeheartedly. I look forward to accompanying students in this part of their journey in hopes that my own interests in contextual biblical interpretation, decolonial methodologies, and ecumenical peacebuilding in Palestine-Israel will be of service to their formation.” Welcome, Dr. Jen Maidrand, to our faculty and to our United community! About United Founded by the nascent United Church of Christ as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to train leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge. Contact Nathanial Green (he/him), Director of Marketing and Communications United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities press@unitedseminary.edu • (651) 255-6138 About the Louisville Institute Funded by the Religion Division of Lilly Endowment, Louisville Institute awards grants and fellowships to those who lead and study North American religious institutions, practices, and movements, advancing scholarship to strengthen church, academy, and wider society.