Faith

November 15, 2023
Faith Progressive Christianity Public Theology

What Is Progressive Theology? United’s President, a Faculty Member, and an Alum Explore Answers

On November 4, 2023, President Molly T. Marshall, a Christian theologian, and Dr. Demian Wheeler, United’s associate professor of philosophical theology and religious studies, traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At Spirit of Peace UCC in Sioux Falls, they joined Rev. Charles Owens, a 2013 alum and the church’s senior pastor, to unpack the question: What Is Progressive Theology? The panel was moderated by District 10 Representative Kameron Nelson, South Dakota's only openly gay state representative.  (more…)

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November 8, 2023
Academics Faith Interreligious

“Celebrating a Nearly Six-Decade Connection: United and Collegeville Institute”

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2023 — Founded in the 1960s, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research have been knitted together throughout their histories. At a meeting in November, the two ecumenical faith organizations will celebrate their close and enduring connection. (more…)

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November 7, 2023
Faith Legacy VOICES

The Lasting Legacy of Hildegard and Marion Bunge

  For twin sisters Marion and Hildegard, life centered around church. Their father, Rev. John Bunge, was pastor of Pleasant Prairie Evangelical Church when they were born. Later, he served in judicatory roles and, at the time of his death, was pastor of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ (UCC) in Welcome, Minnesota. Hildegard and Marion grew up in and stayed at St. Paul’s. As their niece, Lisa, explains, “I think church was important to them because that is how they were brought up. Their father was a minister, their mother played the organ, so doing church things were important. It is just what they did.” When their brother, Jonathan (’63†), decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, their mother enlisted the twins to help with tuition expenses. Like many students today, he was able to attend seminary because he had financial support. The sisters gave their first gifts to United in 1967. (more…)

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November 23, 2022
Arts Faith

Art as a Companion on the Spiritual Journey

By Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates, President Emeritus & Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society, and the Arts In these remarks I am concerned with spirituality and the character of the spiritual journey with a recognition of the arts and their importance as companions on this journey—as companions on our religious pilgrimage. Some of you now reading this brief writing were my students and, perhaps, remember the tenor of these remarks. An earlier version was part of an essay I wrote for ARTS, 24:1, 2012–13. (more…)

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February 1, 2021
Baha'i Faith God interreligious chaplaincy news Prison social justice social transformation students Theology Voice

Talking Faith with Kayvan Ghaderi, 1 of 6 Baha’is Wrongfully Detained in Yemeni Prison.

If you’ve had class with me anytime in the last six months, you may remember my asking you to remember the “Sanaa 6”in your prayers. These were a group of six Bahá’ís in prison in Houthi-held Sanaa, one with a death penalty hanging over his head just for being a member of the Bahá’í Faith. But this is one story that ultimately had a happy ending, as Ghaderi has recently been reunited with his family. --Karen Webb (more…)

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September 27, 2018
Faith Feminism interfaith justice ministry seminary social justice social transformation students Voice

Introducing Social Transformation at United: Videos from Students.  

At United, a key question is what makes an ethical leader. According Steve Newcom, Director of the Social Transformation Program, "there are injustices in the world" and for many of our students "their faith calls them to do something about that." In the following videos students discuss what calls them to study Social Transformation at United. (more…)

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September 27, 2018
Faith Feminism injustice justice social justice social transformation Theology Voice

Readings on Rosh Hashana: Hagar, Abraham, and the Wilderness

This semester I am taking Interpretation as Resistance: Womanist, Feminist, and Queer Approaches to the Bible taught by Professors Alika Galloway and Carolyn Pressler. This week’s reading concerns the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. Sarah is unable to bear children, which is unfortunate since her husband Abraham is supposed to father “a great nation” (Gen. 12.2). Sarah comes up with a plan to have Abraham use a surrogate: her Egyptian slave Hagar. Abraham agrees, lays with Hagar, and Hagar conceives. The Bible then tells us that Hagar “saw that she had conceived [and] looked with contempt on her mistress”(Gen. 16.4). Sarah responds by being so cruel to Hagar that she runs away to the desert. Upon finding a spring of water, Hagar meets an angel of God who gives her an ambivalent message: go back and submit to a life of cruelty but also your son Ishmael will be the father of nations. A mixed bag, for sure. (more…)

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