social transformation Archives - Page 2 of 5 - United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

November 19, 2020

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Message from United Faculty on Trans Day of Remembrance 2020

Transgender Day of Remembrance calls us to honor transgender and non-binary people who have needlessly lost their lives due to violence, medical neglect, and suicide. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities decries these deaths and grieves the loss of these human beings, disproportionately from communities of color, created in the image and likeness of God. (more…)

September 25, 2020

Anti-racism Bible CARJ justice ministry Race social transformation Voice Women

Cycles of Violence: On Breonna Taylor, the Verdict, and Sacred Protest

The following message comes from CARJ, United's Committee Advocating for Racial Justice: Above all else, our politics initially sprang from the shared belief that Black women are inherently valuable, that our liberation is a necessity not as an adjunct to somebody else's but because of our need as human persons for autonomy. -The Combahee River Collective, “A Black Feminist Statement” (more…)

September 2, 2020

Chaplaincy ministry social justice social transformation Vocation

Unexpected Healers: How the next generation of chaplains is changing the way we think about spiritual care

Back when I was a CPE educator in a large, metropolitan hospital system, I often gave my students an interactive assignment for their first day of training. I asked them to place themselves in busy lobbies, cafeterias, and waiting rooms at their assigned hospital, then sit at a table with open faces, a video camera, and a sign that said, “Tell Me What a Chaplain Does?” (more…)

July 9, 2020

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Alum GIVEBACK: United Community After Graduation

A key component of United’s community is curiosity. From the classroom to the chapel, students learn to question their beliefs and deconstruct contexts to become more mindful, ethical, and creative in their work as faith leaders. And this community value of curiosity doesn’t stop when students graduate. (more…)

June 16, 2020

black lives matter Community resources social justice social transformation

United Responds to the Killing of George Floyd: A collection of statements, reflections, and resources

Reuters/Eric Miller In the wake of the brutal killing of George Floyd while he was detained by Minneapolis Police officers, and the local and global calls to address systemic violence against Black lives, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has compiled the following list of statements, ministry and reflections, articles, petitions, educational resources, and community funds. This is a living document that will be updated as we get more information, so remember to check back. (more…)

April 3, 2020

Alums Community ministry social justice social transformation UUA Voice

‘Live out your faith and values in your own life and in ministry:’ 2019 Distinguished Alum Meg Riley

United celebrates 2019 distinguished alum Meg Riley. Meg has focused her ministry around world peace and justice for over 25 years. She has inspired and mentored many church leaders in this community and beyond. Her mantra is, “live out your faith and values in your own life and in ministry.” (more…)

February 7, 2020

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Statement Regarding the Expanded Travel Ban From the Academic Council of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

The Trump administration recently added six countries to the travel ban list which, as a recent New York Times article puts it, “will virtually block immigration from Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, and from Myanmar, where the Muslim minority is fleeing genocide.” (more…)

November 19, 2019

Inclusion Jesus justice lgbtq ministry Open and Affirming social justice social transformation Theology Voice

“Being faithful sometimes requires us to break the rules:” A Response to the Issue of LGBTQ Inclusion in the UMC.

“I’d rather be excluded for who I include than included for who I exclude.” This sentence, often appearing on a church sign, shows up fairly regularly on my social media feed, a moving reminder of what the communities of faith are called to be. The Rev. Eston Williams, a United Methodist pastor, said these words in 2016 to a reporter for a story on his rural Texas church’s decision to begin offering same sex weddings. The congregation voted overwhelming to offer the services, even though they are banned by the United Methodist Book of Discipline. (more…)

October 14, 2019

Ecology Environment justice social transformation Theology Voice Water

Water is Life: A Sacred Witness

The voice of a young Indigenous drummer echoed out over Lake Itasca at the headwaters of the Mississippi River as faith leaders, elders from the White Earth Nation, and climate activists from a variety of traditions gathered last weekend in a respectful prayer circle. Other spiritual voices included a Muslim call to prayer, Jewish singing, a Zen Buddhist chant, a Unitarian Universalist prayer/poem (included in this post), and a Christian homily. Organized by Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, Honor the Earth and the RISE Coalition, the event focused on protecting waters sacred to indigenous peoples and necessary to sustain life for all in this region. Rev. Karen Hutt and Rev. Dr. Justin Tanis, joined by their families, represented United Theological Seminary. Rev. Hutt led the UU contribution to the program, drawing connections between the experiences of African-American and Native experiences of water, which you can read below. (more…)