news releases Archives - United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

October 30, 2025

United Celebrates Largest New Class in Seminary’s History

(SAINT PAUL, MN) United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities celebrated a record-breaking 73 new students for the fall 2025 term, making it the largest incoming class of degree-seeking students in the seminary’s history. Total fall enrollment increased to 231 degree-seeking students, with an additional ten students enrolled in one of three available certificate programs. (more…)

September 25, 2025

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Donors Establish the Wilson Yates Chair of Theology and the Arts

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, March 6, 2025. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is thrilled to announce the establishment of the Wilson Yates Chair of Theology and the Arts. This tenure-track, endowed faculty position will be made possible by gifts from a cadre of United friends, alums, and former faculty. (more…)

September 18, 2025

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United Will Host Book Launch for Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green, II’s Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2025. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is thrilled to be hosting a book launch to celebrate Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green, II’s upcoming publication, Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport, on Wednesday, November 19, starting at 7:00 PM CT. Fortress Press, which has scheduled publication for November 4, states that “Playing the Game investigates the intersection of race and ethics in cultural misinterpretations of Black athleticism in the United States.” Green is United’s associate professor of Pastoral Theology and Social Transformation and director of Racial Intelligence Systems. (more…)

April 10, 2025

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United Will Award Frank Sims with Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) Degree at Its 2025 Commencement

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, April 10, 2025. In honor of Frank Sims’ decades of community leadership and support for innovative education, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (United) is thrilled to announce that it will award Sims with a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa) at its 2025 Commencement Exercises on April 27. Since the 1990s, Sims—now a retired corporate vice-president from Cargill, Inc., and former Board Chair and Interim President of Fisk University—has generously blessed United with his time, expertise, and stalwart support for its values and mission. (more…)

October 25, 2024

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Remembering Rev. Dr. Barbara A. Holmes, President Emerita

(SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, October 19, 2024) — United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is saddened to have received news of the death of President Emerita Barbara A. Holmes, known affectionately as Dr. B., who faithfully served as United’s eighth President from 2012 to 2016. (more…)

October 9, 2024

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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. (more…)

February 7, 2024

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United Creates Two New Theological Certificate Programs

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, February 8, 2024. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (United) is pleased to announce the creation of two new theological certificate programs. The Certificate in Theological Studies and the Certificate in Applied Ethics and Justice will be available this fall. These 15-credit, five-course certificates offer yet another option for students who wish to gain graduate-level expertise without committing to a multi-year degree program. Ideal for individuals who do not want or need a degree, but would like advanced training in theological studies or social change agency, leadership, and social justice organizing, potential candidates include church-based lay leaders, bi-vocational pastors, and leaders within nonprofits with religious or spiritual concerns. Others may do so for personal or professional enrichment. Those who earn certificates can also decide to apply them to a future degree. Credits from both programs can be transferred into United’s MA, MDiv, or MAL degree programs. (more…)

January 25, 2024

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United is One of Only 18 ATS-Accredited Seminaries with Five Consecutive Years of Growth

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, January 25, 2024. In its 2023 Holiday Colloquy Online issue, ATS (The Association of Theological Schools) noted that just 18, or 6.5 percent, of 279 ATS-accredited seminaries demonstrated steady year-over-year growth during the past five years. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities—one of those 18—realized an 82 percent five-year growth rate, and is one of the only theologically progressive seminaries on the list. United’s growth is a remarkable achievement, especially in a timeframe when more than half of seminaries have been seeing stable or declining enrollment. (more…)

October 25, 2023

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United’s Enrollment Climbs to Best Level Since 1996

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, October 24, 2023. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is exceedingly proud to announce that 239 students are enrolled for the fall 2023 term, representing a historic 281 percent increase from 2017. To put this good news into perspective, we must remember that United began in 1962 as a newly constructed residential seminary. In its first 10 years, United grew to 30 graduates, and by 1990, 45 graduates matriculated, including six Doctor of Ministry recipients. Recent figures tell the story of significant, sustained growth: In the fall of 2017, 85 students were enrolled. As the chart below shows, enrollment has since continued to rise year over year. This fall represents United’s largest enrollment in 27 years. (more…)