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July 16, 2026

Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall to Retire in 2027 Following Six Exemplary Years as President

Her Vision and Leadership Have Transformed United Following six historic and transformative years as President of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall will retire on June 30, 2027, upon completion of the seminary’s 65th academic year. President Marshall secured United’s financial standing, advanced institutional objectives toward long-term sustainability, and catalyzed historic growth in institutional fundraising and student enrollment. Rev. Dr. Marshall assumed her role as Interim President in March 2021 following thorough vetting by a search committee and the Board of Trustees’ unanimous vote. Having served in theological education for more than 40 years, her reputation preceded her. She made headlines as the first woman appointed to the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ordained as a Southern Baptist, she later received the privilege of call by the American Baptist Church.  In 1997, she joined the faculty of Central Baptist Theological Seminary as professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation, thereafter stabilizing and revitalizing the school as President from 2004 to 2020, becoming the first woman ever to lead a Baptist seminary or divinity school. President Marshall’s respect and renown culminated in her executive report on effective seminary leadership, written for The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) before she arrived at United. Her experiences as a congregational minister, feminist theologian, prodigious academician, and her achievements as an administrator in theological education augured well for the seminary’s future in her care. Less than a year later, her position was made permanent, formally making her United’s tenth president, and, desiring to honor United's legacy, she pursued and received clergy standing with the MN United Church of Christ. United trustees outlined a set of priorities at the beginning of President Marshall’s tenure, on which she began immediate work. She invested much of her first several months in office in forming connections with alums, donors, and faculty. She concentrated her relational acumen on Advancement, and donors responded enthusiastically. In September 2021, United announced the Johnson-Fry Chair in World Religions and Intercultural Studies, endowed by Rev. Dr. Andrea Johnson (’17, ’23) and David Fry. Cultivating “respect for the lived religion of others,” as President Marshall often asserts, is a pillar of her scholarship and the seminary’s academic ethos. The Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies, funded by a generous gift from Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski—Professor Emerita of Religious Studies (1976–2004)—and her husband and former trustee, Keith Bednarowski, followed in 2024. Finally, in 2025, a cadre of friends, alums, and former faculty established the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts. These chairs, paired with substantial growth in endowed scholarships, feature prominently in President Marshall’s legacy and will endure as a witness to her faithful stewardship of alum and donor relations. Rev. Dr. Cindi Beth Johnson, Vice President for Advancement, reflects, “President Marshall’s enthusiasm, attention, and engagement with our donors have been important components of her leadership. She has honored our alums and delighted in our students. Molly has valued United’s history even as she has led us into new ways of being. She has built a culture that reflects her dedication, vision, and generosity. She has been a bright light in the broader community, embodying her passion for and dedication to United. Molly arrived with both expertise and heart, and she has shared them generously. She leaves a lasting imprint, and we are better for that. On a personal note, it has been a great gift to be her colleague.” Historic enrollment has been a fixture of President Marshall’s tenure. Between fall 2020 and fall 2025, degree-seeking student enrollment grew 57 percent, with the seminary welcoming its largest incoming class of degree-seeking students ever in fall 2025. In a climate where many theological schools have experienced stable or declining enrollment, United has surged. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), one of the seminary’s two accrediting bodies, named United in its 2023 Holiday Colloquy Online issue as one of only 18 ATS-accredited seminaries to have demonstrated “steady year-over-year growth during the past five years.” President Marshall has positioned United as a leader in progressive theological education and a model for historically Mainline Christian schools. Commenting on what makes the seminary unique, President Marshall astutely noted United’s “desirable curriculum that emphasizes social transformation, theology and the arts, interreligious engagement, and public theology” and the intentional welcome of “students with myriad religious, spiritual, and theological leanings.” She sharpened and raised the seminary’s prophetic voice, believing that progressive theological education exists to serve the common good. From considerable growth in the Interreligious Chaplaincy program to the establishment of the Sims Scholars Initiative, she has expanded the student body’s depth and breadth. Under President Marshall’s fastidious leadership, United completed a Five-Year Strategic Plan in 2026. David S. Anderson, former Chair of the Board of Trustees (2020–2026), witnessed firsthand President Marshall’s effective management of United’s revitalization and her manifold accomplishments in office. On his close friend and colleague, David writes, “In her writings, President Marshall, Molly to me, once observed, ‘. . . following the Spirit will require of all of us faith—all the guidance we usually get is enough to take the next uncertain step.’ United, in late 2020, was indeed in a state of uncertainty, and President Marshall’s emergence as its next president must be seen as a revelation of the Spirit. She has led United to a platform of stability from which it will move forward with confidence, heeding the Spirit toward an uncertain, as human endeavors are, but bright and sustainable future.” Dr. Kyle Roberts, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, shared the news of President Marshall’s retirement with students this morning. With profound gratitude for her enrichment of the seminary’s faculty and scholarship, he remarked, “President Marshall has been just the leader this seminary needed to reclaim its vision, its vibrancy, and its voice in theological education. She has led a process of internal healing and of increasing external influence. She has been a champion of rigorous but applied theological education for spiritual leadership, supporting and encouraging the faculty in their teaching and the staff in their work. United,” he affirmed, “will always be indebted to her years of service and to her passion and care in moving the seminary to its next stage. United is, once again, a leading voice in progressive seminary education in large part because of President Marshall.” Rev. Dr. Dianne Oliver, Chair of the Board of Trustees, celebrates President Marshall’s transformative tenure and looks toward a bright future ahead. She affirms, “President Marshall’s impact on United is really extraordinary, and she will leave a profound legacy at the institution. Clearly, she has been successful in the ways often highlighted for an outstanding President—record enrollment, expanded academic programs, and financial stability, building a strong foundation for the next steps on United’s journey. Add to these leadership successes Molly’s theological acumen and prophetic voice in challenging times, and it is easy to see the scope of her leadership. Just as importantly, though, Molly has helped create a deep sense of community among the faculty, staff, students, trustees, and the broader community who support the work of United. Her leadership and accomplishments ensure United will keep living into the fullness of its mission and vision as the context for theological education continues to evolve.” Reflecting on her service to the seminary, President Marshall writes, “Serving as United’s President has been a joyful pursuit over these past several years as I have lived into the storied history of this good seminary. I have been invited into a theologically expansive landscape where courageous learning and creative ministries have renewed my own vocation in theological education.” She continues, “Faculty, staff, students, board members, donors, and friends have welcomed me to help craft this chapter of our shared mission. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to serve as United’s tenth president. (Don’t say goodbye to me yet; there’s still work to be done!)” A Presidential Search Committee, comprised of trustees and representatives from the student body, alums, faculty, and staff, has been engaged in faithful preparation ahead of the public search for President Marshall’s successor. The seminary will share details about this process in the days ahead. Friends and colleagues from throughout President Marshall’s career were invited to submit reflections in her honor. These have been published on our announcement page. United eagerly anticipates celebrating President Marshall and her myriad contributions to the life of the seminary community during special events in spring 2027. Details will be made available in the months ahead. Strengthened and invigorated by President Marshall’s faithful leadership over these six years, United enters its 65th year of progressive theological education, steadfast in its mission: preparing innovative and compassionate leaders for the equipping of churches, other faith communities, and society toward justice and peace. Honoring President Marshall In celebration of President Marshall's tenure, a webpage featuring images, reflections by friends and colleagues, and opportunities to honor her achievements is now available. Visit the link below to learn more. Learn More 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. Media Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • 651.255.6138

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November 23, 2022

Art as a Companion on the Spiritual Journey

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. Our spiritual pilgrimage or journey is a deep and profound undertaking, for it has to do with the religious questions we seek answers to as we live within the arc of religious faith with its stories, beliefs, images, and community. It has to do with our search for the ultimate meaning of our lives and with the moral life that our spirituality embodies and gives shape to. And, perhaps most significantly, it has to do with the acceptance or denial of a relationship to God or of another primal source of life. What emerges from such engagement is a spirituality that gives definition to who we finally are as religious individuals, as religious people. This journey, as a journey of a spiritual pilgrim, is a serious undertaking and precisely because of that it is much more than the journey of spiritual tourists who dip into the religious scene when such dips are in season or who go to mountain tops to gain a better view of God. Rather it is an ongoing pilgrimage marked by continuity and commitment, struggle and insight—with insight that can offer a new way of seeing. It is the greatest journey of our lives, for it is concerned with matters of the ultimate meaning and destiny of our lives. But it is also a journey that needs understanding and discipline else it loses itself in the briar patch of spiritual gurus or secular solutions sold in pious wrap. The spiritual pilgrimage is fraught with difficult questions. It is a journey concerned with the purpose of our being on this earth, with the struggle to define ourselves amidst the brokenness and alienation we experience; it is concerned with our efforts to live a morally responsible life even as the ambiguity of moral action mires us into inaction; and it is a journey where we seek to understand and be present to Whoever God is whether a God removed beyond all of history, all of our comprehension, or a God present within us stirring us as with eagle wings that we might awaken to the possibility of new life. Or a God who is both.  The spiritual journey is not an easy one for those of us who live everyday lives in a secular world, for it calls us to go beyond or, if you will, to go beneath the surface of everydayness. It calls us to commune not with the lightness of being but with the Depths of Being, not with the piety of being but with the threat of non-being, not with the domestication of being but with the startling glimpse of the Ground of Being—of the Spirit of God. A glimpse that comes in our moments of seeing—seeing the petal of the first crocus through the light of the winter’s snow; seeing in a Rembrandt painting the power of Christ’s face to engage us; seeing in our anguish the fall of a black boy’s body from a police bullet’s pierce; seeing in the face of a Ukrainian mother’s tears that which shakes us and bruises our soul. We are given a glimpse of the God who will be there in our facing and living with the mystery of life itself, who will be there in the dark morning light of sleeplessness—a glimpse of the God who will be there in our reaching out to the other in a gesture of kindness, of help, of reassurance. The spiritual experience: it is there in the deep red bloom born on the crooked branches of the blooming Weigela that speak of the crucifixion. But, you see, it is there too, as you listen to the laughter of a child.  How to describe our venture? It is a pilgrimage, a journey of experiences in which we encounter both the frightening fall into the abyss of uncertainty and destructiveness, as well as the joyous moments of the Spirit touching our hearts. And within this paradox we find our spiritual home. Our spiritual journey. If we choose to undertake it with seriousness then it will move us into the interior spaces of our life as well as that world that seems beyond our grasp; into the dark night of the soul and into the peace that passeth all understanding. It invites us to know that with love comes kindness and mercy, comes our seeking justice in the world—justice that is the social face of love. And our journey invites us to hone that love in the virtues of kindness and courage, forgiveness, and sometimes, before reconciliation and forgiveness are even possible, anger at what innocent people of the world are asked to endure in the face of the evil marshaled against them.  And what of the arts?    A simple assertion: the arts are good and important companions on our spiritual journey. Few would disagree. But I would press the matter further by saying that the arts are not only important companions but are crucial companions upon which we are dependent. For through them—through the sound of notes from the violin and voice; through the images cast in glass and paint, stone and fabric, wood and metal; through the movement of the body in gesture and dance; through the metaphor of poetry, the narrative of story, and the dramatic moment of the play;  through the form and shape given in architecture; through the very art that is the liturgy itself—if we engage them fully in a communion of dialogue, they will enable us to understand the contours of our religious faith; to see judgment proclaimed against idolatry and injustice; they will invite us to experience the Divine and create space for the Spirit to move in our soul; and they will help us envision a world made whole. And that after all, lies at the heart of our pilgrimage. The arts become crucial companions when we realize that works of art—mundane, profane human creations—can become burning bushes that tell us to remove our sandals for we are standing on holy ground, tell us that the One that is “I Am,” the Holy Living God, will speak to us through image and sound, gesture and story, form and space. To make the point even more pointed, I wish to take worship and its dependence on the arts. We have alluded to the relationship. A continuing albeit brief visit is in order.    Leading to the place of worship, we encounter the architecture of the building whether a rising neo-gothic tower or a storefront church with a cross above the door and, upon entering, worship within the aesthetic design of liturgical space whether simple or elaborate, whether a high altar or a bold central communion table, whether pews seated in rows or chairs in a moon-crest of a circle. We see the minister with a robe and stole and see the paraments on the communion table and pulpit—all forms of fabric art. We know the rudiments of dance in our acts of standing, sitting, folding of hands, bowing of heads, kneeling in prayer—all performed in unison, a choreography of body movement.  We participate in music as we listen to instruments and the choir and as we join in the singing of hymns; we experience the literary arts in the hearing of stories from the Hebrew scriptures and the Christian gospels, from worldly stories and poetry from the Psalms; we see the craft arts in carved wood and pottery, in the shape of the communion cup; we see the visual arts in stained glass and paintings, in sculptures and wood carvings, in the shape of furniture and the color of banners. We engage in a drama in which we are the actors, for worship, Kierkegaard insisted, is a religious drama performed in the presence of God. All worship of whatever religious tradition is a reenactment of the tradition’s religious story that draws on the arts for its expression. It is not difficult to see how they are crucial to the worship of a people and become necessary forms in the person’s spiritual experience and formation, whether we are speaking of the simplicity of a Quaker Meeting or the elaborateness of an Eastern Orthodox Mass. They may lead us to revolutionary commitment, or they may engage us in reaffirming the traditions of our faith—or perhaps, by necessity, both. Either way, the arts, as earthen vessels, will shape, in the worship life of a people, the relationship we will have with ourselves, with nature, with the world, with God. The arts can offer hallowing moments, can become burning bushes in our pilgrimage. They can call us into quietness and call us to act in the face of inequities and injustice. You will find the arts, therefore, to be good, indeed, necessary companions on your spiritual pilgrimage.

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September 1, 2022

John Aeschbury: United’s 2022 Distinguished Alum

United celebrates 2022 Distinguished Alum John Aeschbury! Since his graduation in 1985, John has lived deeply into United’s missional values. He started out as Pastor and Teacher of Hale United Church of Christ in inner-city Dayton, Ohio. In the late 1980s, moved to more fully live out the call to do justice, John gathered clergy and lay leaders to talk about building a congregation-based community organization in Dayton. Soon he was the first head organizer of Leaders for Equality and Action in Dayton (LEAD) in 1990. In 1996, John founded and became the lead organizer of a group in Columbus, Ohio called B.R.E.A.D (Building Responsibility, Equality and Dignity.) In 2008, B.R.E.A.D.—as part of a statewide coalition—kicked off a campaign that resulted in capping the soaring interest rates on payday loans at 28 percent. In this campaign and dozens of others, thousands of congregational members gathered and challenged public officials to take specific, concrete action. Both LEAD and B.R.E.A.D were part of the DART (Direct Action and Research Training) network. DART’s mission is to engage congregations in doing justice. DART is rooted in diverse faith traditions and creates a space where members can find common ground in values of justice and fairness. DART trains community leaders and professional organizers to build power and take direct action on problems facing their communities, so that all people are treated with the respect and dignity that various faith traditions tell us they deserve. Congregations learn to advocate for justice and policy changes on the local and statewide level. Recognizing John’s success and justice for passion, DART’s Board of Directors asked John to use his skills as the executive director when the founding executive retired. Today the DART network includes 31 grassroots organizations that bring people together across racial, religious, and socioeconomic lines to pursue justice. Reflecting on the work of DART in Florida, alums Revs. Judy ('86) and Brian ('96) Bagley-Bonner write, “DART is doing an inspiring and powerfully effective job of 'doing justice.' " Judy and Brian’s church, Faith UCC in Bradenton, was a founding member of the DART affiliate in Manatee County, Florida. They write, “We watched DART stretch the perspectives of our congregants, light them with the flame of justice, and change unjust policies in Manatee County.” Ultimately, what is most important to John and his colleagues in DART are the people they engage. Of his work John writes, “I started as a full-time community organizer in Dayton, Ohio in 1990. Since that time, I have worked with grassroots leaders and organizers on any number of winning campaigns that addressed serious community problems related to housing, education, crime, healthcare, and payday lending, among others." He continues, "The issue victories are tremendous. What is just as important are the relationships with grassroots people in Dayton, Columbus, and now all of the cities of the DART network. There are a lot of reasons these days to be discouraged about progress towards justice. The relationships are deeply encouraging. I am so happy to be in the fight for justice with all of these people.” Through the work of DART, hundreds of clergy and thousands of lay people have gotten involved in justice ministry in the last decade. They have learned to build relationships, to read scripture from a collective justice perspective, to negotiate with public officials, and to build and use power. Since 2013, under John’s executive leadership, DART has grown from 20 affiliates in six states to 30 affiliates in ten states including Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Currently more than 600 congregations are part of DART and the network continues to grow so that the work of justice might continue to flourish. In a letter of support for John’s nomination, Dr. Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus at Columbia Theological Seminary, writes, ”John Aseschbury is a community organizer of the first rank. He has found effective ways to translate our common passion for social justice into concrete community-based transformative action. Not only is he wise about such work, but in his quiet way he is effective in mobilizing, equipping, and supporting others to do the work as well. He is deeply church based, but manages to open his work to move beyond the church for the sake of the community." He is, Dr. Brueggemann adds, "of course, a person of high integrity, deep faith, and honest conviction, all marks that make him a winsome candidate for the award. In honoring John, the seminary will surely bring honor to itself. I commend him for this award with immense enthusiasm.” In nominating John for the Distinguished Alum award, Judy (‘86) and Brian (‘96) Bagley-Bonner reflected on the Biblical mandate “to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.” They note that the church has excelled at the latter two, but has often failed to live up to God’s call to bring justice to a world awash in its painful absence. Thankfully, there are those, like John, who dedicate their entire ministry to equipping the church to fulfill this call and inspire others to claim this view. Join us in celebrating and congratulating John as this year’s Distinguished Alum!

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August 11, 2022

Making the Most of Community: Damen Jensen-Heitmann Balances Brewing and Ministry

To hear him talk, Damen Jensen-Heitmann has had pastoral aspirations since he was confirmed in the Trinity United Church of Christ in rural Marengo, Iowa in seventh grade. He grew up in a small town nearby (Victor, population about 950), and remembers that his church family helped him to feel cared for and supported. Now, decades later, Damen is the one offering care—both as a pastor and the co-owner of Steeple Brewing Co. in Hastings, Nebraska.  Just how did Damen become a pastor and brew master in Nebraska? Slowly and serendipitously. The key was community.  A Long and Winding Road After high school, Damen attended Wartburg College, a private Lutheran liberal arts college in Waverly, Iowa. He started out in television production, and then switched to elementary education with a science emphasis. After he realized he loved kids but did not want to have them under his charge every day, he switched his major a third time—to religion—so he could graduate on time. As Damen admits, it was “part homecoming and part happy accident.”  So, was seminary next? Not yet. Damen decided to do a year of service after college, so he joined AmeriCorps and became a VISTA worker at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Fortunately, it was during this volunteer year that fortuitous forces began to turn the trajectory of Damen’s life toward greater service and abundant community. “I realized,” Damen explains, “that I did not think I would ever know what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I knew what I wanted the world to be. I wanted the world to be all the things that the Christian faith espouses—a place of hospitality, a place of love and welcome, and a place of peace, kindness, and justice.” Choosing United Since he had grown up in and been confirmed in a UCC church, Damen knew about United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. The UCC connection was important, and since he was already in Minnesota, United was the obvious choice. At United, Damen found the community that would shape him as a pastor and lead to his career in brewing. A classmate, Lindsey Kluver (MA '09), and her husband Thomas—a couple from Nebraska—became close friends. Thomas, it turns out, was a dedicated home brewer. As he was going through seminary, Damen learned about brewing beer from Thomas, and discerned his call to ministry through United. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2009.  Moving to Nebraska Lindsey (pictured at left with Damen) and Thomas moved back to Nebraska after she graduated, and Damen accepted his first call as a pastor at First United Church in Little Falls, Minnesota—a small town in central Minnesota where famed aviator Charles Lindbergh grew up. He served in Little Falls from 2010 to 2014, a time in Minnesota when the number of craft breweries was starting to surge. At that point, Lindsey emailed Damen from Nebraska about a job opening. Hastings College, the school that both she and Thomas attended before coming to Minnesota, was looking for a chaplain to serve its students. Ready for his next call and eager to reconnect with his friends, Damen applied for and secured the chaplain position.  Next, Damen shares, “I got to Hastings…and thought this town needs a bicycle shop, better donuts, and better beer. So I started working on the one I could actually work on; I could start a brewery.” To do that, he enlisted help from his friend Thomas, and Thomas’ friend, Anthony May, a 2006 Hastings College graduate and co-owner of a local marketing firm.  By the end of 2017, Steeple Brewing Co. had become a reality and Damen had started part-time as an associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church where he worked with senior high youth, preached once a month, and promoted mission activities. He was also still working as Hastings College's chaplain. Steeple Brewing Co.  An Omaha World-Herald story dated October 2, 2017, profiled the recently launched Steeple Brewing Co. Titled “Beer and Faith Go Hand in Hand at Steeple Brewing in Hastings, Where Head Brewer is a Minister,” it opens as follows: “When you think about it, the minister said, church and beer have a few things in common. “Brewing does, after all, require certain virtues: patience (for the weeks required for the beer to ferment) and faith (that a host of unknowns won’t spoil a batch). “But most importantly, beer brings people together much the way that church does. It’s a reason for people to meet, to talk, to support each other.” The brewery (pictured at right) is located in a former gun shop in downtown Hastings and has a deliberate, church-like feel. Under a wood-beamed ceiling (very reminiscent of a chapel), patrons sit in pews, and a long wooden Communion rail divides the taproom.  The beers themselves are characters drawn from Damen’s time growing up and pastoring in small-town churches. For example, Lighten Up, Earl – A Mellow Pale Ale, has this back story: “There is a fine line between ornery and grouch, persistent and obstinate, stalwart and stubborn old stick in the mud. Earl crossed them all and didn’t care. Perhaps this smooth pale ale would help Earl lighten up. It’s just cookies after church. It’s not the end of the world.”  The popular Kitchen Kerfuffle – An Easy Drinkin’ Cream Ale hearkens back to the calculated chaos of conscientious church committee members who superintend special occasions such as church potlucks and post-funeral receptions. The description for this ale suggests, “This easy-to-drink cream ale is something everyone can agree on. Just be sure to put everything back exactly where you found it!” Other options include Bats in the Belfry – A Nutty Brown Ale; Divine Lite – A Tried & True American Lager; Wayne Fell Asleep (Again) – A Deep, Restful Porter; and Skip the Last Verse – A Hurry-up Hefeweizen. A Church Life Balance Since Steeple Brewing Co. opened its doors in 2017, a lot has changed. Damen married his long-time girlfriend, Hannah Jensen, in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic radically altered life in 2020, 2021, and into 2022. Fortunately, Damen is now a full-time associate pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hastings, and Steeple Brewing Co. is still in business. There are similarities to the challenges the pandemic posed for both the church and the brewery. There was the issue of how to “get the product to the people,” as Damen puts it. Happily, he adds, the “church and brewery were beneficiaries of strong community spirit and abundant energy around problem-solving.” Creativity, applied intentionally, gave rise to new methods of serving congregants and patrons.  Of course, there were church services on Zoom, but the church organized outdoor worship services too and found other ways—including regular podcasts—to reach out. The brewery switched to carry-out sales of crowlers and growlers for its local customers. They also organized delivery nights in surrounding towns where patrons could come to a set location and pick up their beer orders.  Steeple Brewing also gives Damen a chance to practice self-care. On a brewing day, he typically goes into the pub at 5:00 a.m. by himself and enjoys the quiet and productive solitude of brewing until noon or 1:00 p.m. It’s a set time when he can engage in what he describes as a “more tactile and tangible form of creativity” than his usual work.  Ministry, by contrast, is more of an ongoing “faith life journey.” And while each sermon and lesson for the youth of the church may be finely tuned to current life realities, they are all still part of an inclusive rubric of faith and pastoring. When brewing, as Damen puts it, “You make a beer and it’s done.” How has United helped prepare him for the rewarding adventure of ministry—serving Presbyterian parishioners and brew pub patrons? “One of the biggest ways United prepared me for ministry,” Damen states, “was by instilling in me a deeply held conviction to hold the perspectives of others and experiences of others in high regard.” What has he learned since living and working in Hastings? “In both realms,” he asserts, “it’s nice to have partners I can rely on and trust.” He continues, “It has a lot to do with building community. To survive as humans, we must learn how to relate to one another, perceive one another, and help one another. That is a big part of pastoring a congregation. How do we facilitate a healthy, loving, peaceful community within the church? And then, how do we carry that outside the church walls? How do our members embrace others in the community and foster kind and loving relationships outside of church?” The opening lines of the Steeple Brewing Philosophy statement suggest this idea of community most succinctly: “What is a beer? A beer is an invitation. It’s a call to community. It is an opportunity to share just a few moments of life with one another…. A beer is a reminder that life is to be shared; that we are asked to care for one another.”

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July 15, 2022

United Faculty Recommended Books for Incoming Seminarians (Summer 22)

As incoming students get ready to embark on their seminary journey this fall, faculty members took a moment to consider books they read at the beginning of their journey, or books they wish they’d read at the beginning. While you will soon have plenty of reading once the semester starts, here are a few books to whet your appetite between now and September! If you are searching for spiritual and vocational direction...  Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker J. Palmer Recommended by President Molly T. Marshall, “I have been recommending this book for beginning students since 1999, the year it was published. It is primarily about discernment and how we move toward living the life that is ours to live, not what we think others expect of us. It is a call to authenticity as we learn to listen to and value our true selves.”   Experiences in Theology: Ways and Forms of Christian Theology by Jurgen Moltmann Moltmann integrates his own biography with his theological questions. Memorable is the line: "the road emerged as I walked on it" as he recounts his journey.   If you are trying to figure out what on earth it is we're actually doing at a seminary, Rev. Dr. Andrew Packman suggests the following excellent reads: Vulnerability and Glory: A Theological Account by Kristine A. Culp Feminist theological Kristine Culp shows us what theology can do when it poses old questions in a fresh way. She finds that Christian theology has much more to say about the possibilities for resistance and delight in light of our vulnerability to forces that alternatively threaten and transform us.    Sacred Attunement: A Jewish Theology by Michael Fishbane This book is what happens when a world-renowned scholar of the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature distills his immense knowledge into a short, provocative account of spiritual life.   My Bright Abyss: Meditation of a Modern Believer  by Christian Wiman Wiman probes the theological depths of his experience with cancer. Death and suffering haunt this beautifully written book and it is in his honest and unflinching confrontation with his own mortality that Wilman discovers a religious faith worth clinging to. If you can’t wait to dive into religious history:    Reformations: The Early Modern World, 1450-1650 by Carlos Eire Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean Dr. Kyle Roberts says, “Let me recommend a very well-written book on the history of the Protestant and Catholic reformations. It's a very enjoyable and thorough narrative of the transformation in religion and society prompted by sweeping changes in theological perspectives, interpretation of religious texts, and the intertwining of politics and religious beliefs and practices.”   If you’re interested in Queer and Trans theology:   Queer Religiosities: An Introduction to Queer and Transgender Studies in Religion by Melissa M. Wilcox Recommended by Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, an introduction to Queer and Trans topics in religion and religious history.   If you’re ready to make an impact through social transformation:   Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Kelly Brown Douglas Recommended by Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green, this book materializes white supremacy in helpful but troubling ways.   Another Way: Living and Leading Change on Purpose by Lewis, Williams, and Baker Recommended by Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis for those planning to enter the Social Transformation program. If you're pursuing chaplaincy, Rev. Dr. Jessica Chapman Lape recommends:   Paging God: Religion in the Halls of Medicine by Wendy Cage   A Handbook of Chaplaincy Studies edited by Swift, Cobb, and Todd   How to Get the Most Out of Clinical Pastoral Education: A CPE Primer by Gardon Hilsman   If you are passionate about theology and the arts:   Visual Theology: Forming and Transforming the Community through the Arts edited by Robin M. Jensen and Kimberly Vrudny Dr. Jennifer Awes Freeman recommends this book in part because it is dedicated to Wilson Yates, emeritus professor at United and one of the foundational thinkers in the study of theology and the arts.   For those specifically interested in theopoetics, Dr. Awes-Freeman also recommends... A Beautiful Bricolage: Theopoetics as God-Talk for our Time by Silas C. Krabbe   Way to Water: A Theopoetics Primer by L. Callid Keefe-Perry.     If you’re interested in congregational ministry and preaching, Rev. Dr. Gary Green recommends:   The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form by Eugene L. Lowry

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July 12, 2022
Arts

Queer Theofuturism: A Community Coloring Book, vol. 2

In October 2021 (which was LGBTQ history month), the Theology and the Arts Program solicited art from the community to create the second volume of The Queer Theofuturism Coloring Book. We're sharing the PDF for free download in honor of Pride month now. The history of the surviving and thriving of LGBTQ people in the US has been shaped by folks who imagined new ways of seeing, loving, being, and connecting with the holy. In the United tradition of play and creativity, we invited all students, staff, faculty, and alums to submit line drawings that reimagine myths, sacred stories, or any spiritual or religious images in ways that challenge and play with assumptions about gender, bodies, love, and spirituality. We encouraged folks to reimagine old stories and see what might be possible for a future that is more just, more colorful, and includes all of us.  (Due to the openness in submissions and our value for freedom of expression, some of the artwork in the coloring book may not be safe for work or appropriate for all ages, as some of the images include nudity or sexual themes.)

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June 6, 2022

Indonesian Minister Interweaves Lessons from Home and United

Ordained as Reverend of Indonesia’s East Java Christian Church (Greja Kristen Jawi Wetan) in 2005, doctoral student Hardiyan “Adi” Triasmoroadi leads through three interwoven fundamental ecclesiological principles. He calls them the “3M theses.” They are: Mengatur (regulating), Membebaskan (liberating), and Merengkuh (embracing).  He came to United to examine, test, and further develop the "3M theses" through a new lens and perspective. In his many leadership roles at the church and synod, Adi keeps these principles in mind. He is secretary of the church order revision team, convenes the synod’s organizational and managerial team, and facilitates a new retreat house (Kori Menga—Javanese for open door), all while attending United via distance learning. Adi was first drawn to United in 2017 when he met beloved United professor Dr. Eleazar Fernandez at the Global Institute of Theology sponsored by the World Communion of Reformed Churches in Wuppertal, Germany. In 2021, when Adi’s synod gave him a chance to expand his education, he immediately chose United. Still, the path he’s chosen has distinct challenges. So how does Adi manage to bridge the cultural, time zone, language, and myriad other differences between his church life in Indonesia and seminary work at United? “It was not easy,” he admits, “but I’m grateful for this opportunity.” “I feel like this is me being forged. The distance learning United offered has not been making me live out of my context. I’m able to inhale local concerns and breathe in my church’s challenges. At the same time, I’m able to inhale the insight I’ve gotten from classes and exhale solutions that contribute to my synod and my ministerial setting. “I am grounded in local action and church context while at the same time I have a chance to drink from the cup of wealth offered by United’s professors’ and classmates’ wisdom. This hybrid process and multidirectional perspectives I have gotten has inextricably enriched my pilgrimage and my spiritual foundation as Reverend of the East Java Christian Church.” United’s focus on art and creativity is another touchstone for Adi. A drummer and percussionist, he is also interested in music and theatrical performance art for liturgical purposes. “I love to sketch,” Adi adds, “since my last fall course encouraged me to retrieve my doodling spirit.” In addition to being a student and church reverend, Adi is a devoted husband and the father of two children, 12-year-old Adhya and his eight-year-old sister, Lulu. He describes his mother as a “warrior princess” for working to make sure he received a quality education. “Her persistence,” Adi asserts, “inspired me to courageously face every obstacle in life.” Adi faces the logistical trials of juggling family, work, and school. Recent global and national challenges have included the pandemic and sectarian violence in his country. These devastating environmental factors have brought Adi’s church, he reports, to a liminal or transitional space. “Liminality,” Adi observes, “is an opportunity from which I can learn to pause, embrace the Unknown, celebrate the Mystery, and enter discernment space through United Seminary.” “I hope,” he adds, “United empowers and navigates me to walk the unknown path through its intertwined perspectives on arts, theology, and social transformation. With the help of United’s progressive and constructive character, hopefully, I can listen mindfully to my church problems, map our past glorious and bad time stories, embrace trauma and uncertainty, clearly see the reality, and reveal the soul of my own church organization.” Taking lessons from Mary Magdalene—the apotola apostolorum, or apostle to the apostles—Adi concludes that “being a vulnerable pastor and leader is a must.…In such a crisis that brings humankind to the depth of trauma and misery, a vulnerable leader who compassionately and passionately ministers from the margin, rooted in the awareness of Jesus’ path, is urgently needed. With the help of United Seminary, hopefully, I can fulfill that expectation and diligently work on it!”

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May 5, 2022

The JoJos: Building a Life of Faith and Connection

The JoJos from left to right: Karen Larson (’12), LuAnn Sulimann (’11), Zoe Kuester (’11),  Ruth C. MacKenzie (’11) and Jackie Falk (’12) How does the United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities foster community? The JoJos—five women who attended the seminary more than a decade ago—are a perfect example. Each came to the seminary heeding a call to service that could not be denied. At United they found their purpose and each other. LuAnn Sulimann (’11, MDiv) grew up in Iowa within a Roman Catholic family. After getting married, moving to Minnesota, and raising her children in a Lutheran church, LuAnn began to question her beliefs. A pastor suggested she attend United to investigate her faith more fully. Originally a singer and songwriter, Ruth C. MacKenzie (’11, MDiv) was drawn to United’s focus on theology and the arts. She didn’t intend to become ordained, but as she says, “the more I studied and the more I was part of classwork, the more it began to shape me and I decided to pursue my master of divinity.” Jackie Falk (’12, MDiv) graduated from college in 1970. After raising a family and working as a paralegal in Duluth, she “hit that midlife bump” and began to question what was next. She decided to attend seminary and since she had been a longstanding member of a UCC church, Jackie explains, “United was our best bet.” It also didn’t hurt that United’s professor emerita, Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler, told Jackie that she was “a natural theologian” during a Bible study session.  Like Ruth, Zoe Kuester (’11, MDiv) is very creative. She was a performer and director in professional theater until she realized she wanted to serve a greater purpose. After taking family social science courses at the University of Minnesota, Zoe came to United to explore the tie between spirituality and psychology. Karen Larson (’12, MDiv) grew up on a dairy farm in southern Minnesota, earned a bachelor of science in agricultural journalism at the University of Minnesota, and worked for more than two decades as an advertising copywriter. When her father was dying, Karen took Fridays off to learn more about his life. Their conversations inspired Karen to think more deeply about her own future. Her pastor suggested she attended United to explore theology. The Origin of the JoJos In one of her classes, Ruth remembers, a teacher emphasized how important it was to leave seminary with trusted colleagues. With that thought in mind, she decided to ask a few fellow students to meet outside of class. Initially, the idea was to study the book of John (thus the JoJos), but as the women kept meeting, it was clear the focus was growing much broader and deeper. As Ruth explains, “Pretty quickly we realized we were more than a study group. We wanted to be a group for support, accountability, and helping one another be better ministers.” And they needed each other’s support. LuAnn relates that she found herself overwhelmed at being back in school, sitting in the hall crying and wondering what she had gotten herself into after her first class. Karen had questions about her call to ministry. “The JoJos,” Karen shares, “were key to helping me understand my call and they continued to help me through crises, big moves, and life transitions.” Jackie and Zoe enjoyed the deep discussions and freedom, as Zoe puts it, “to be true to yourself and your whole honest authentic self.” It helped that all five women came to the seminary well into adulthood, at a turning point in their lives. Jackie relates a story about Ruth and her conversation with a Unitarian Universalist elder: Ruth had mentioned that she was going to be a pastor, and he replied, “Well, you better get moving because you are no spring chicken!” Chickens became the group's personal symbol after that. Jackie admits that they even have chicken dish towels and tiny plastic chickens. A more enduring item they share is a special necklace—a rich cream-colored round into which is laid a spiral design. Ruth gave the necklace to all of the women and they began to wear them every time the JoJos got together. Wearing the necklace, notes Jackie, helps them “remember the JoJo mojo; when we take a risk and do hard things, we are not going alone.” Ongoing Support When they started the JoJos at United, the women met every month. Since leaving and going their separate ways, the women have kept up that monthly meeting schedule. During COVID, the meetings became even more frequent and important. What kept the group going? “Truly being friends to one another,” answers Ruth.  Jackie puts it this way, “I think it is the soul comfort we find. We don’t judge one another and give feedback. Most of all we speak the truth and love one another.” “Funny thing to say,” adds Zoe, “but it is so therapeutic and refreshing to be able to talk at length about something you are concerned about and to have wise and attentive friends.…It is like a clearing circle.” Life after United For Zoe, “Seminary was a giant exploration of spirit, ideas, and the nature of God.” Once she became a pastor, Zoe discovered that “there is not a lot of opportunity to fully explore some of the challenges that come up.” She served at several UCC churches in Minnesota and Wisconsin and is now pastor of Spirit of Peace, an interdenominational church in Minnetonka. Zoe relies on the JoJos to keep her centered. “Meeting with the JoJos,” she asserts, “is like therapy.” Though she never intended to become ordained when she started seminary, Ruth became the full-time minister at First Universalist Church of Minneapolis upon leaving. Now Minister Emerita of First Universalist, she recently signed on to become a part-time pastor in residence in Dallas, Texas. After graduating from seminary in 2012, Jackie served as the faith formation pastor at Peace United Church of Christ in Duluth. Then, in 2018, her ministry went in a different direction. She became the part-time spiritual resource and Christian chaplain at the St. Louis County Jail in Duluth. Many prisoners have experienced trauma and abuse. Jackie offered individual pastoral care, and since retiring, has been working to promote ways to help heal adults who have a history of trauma. With the exception of Jackie, the JoJos were based in the Twin Cities right after seminary. Karen started as an interim associate pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis, but then served a two-point parish in rural north central Nebraska for a few years. In 2017, she was called to Zwingli UCC in Berne (south of the Twin Cities) where she is pastor.  Karen also serves on United’s Alum Council.  LuAnn, who attended seminary to learn more about scripture and theology, and to see if she could be a successful student, never felt the call to be a pastor. Instead, she has used the skills and knowledge gained at United to offer premarital counseling, officiate weddings, and help others walk through life. “I don’t know what I’d be like if I never discovered anything about progressive religion,” she confesses. “I have profound gratitude for the person I am today that I owe to United and the JoJos.” Giving Back As alums, the JoJos continue to support United as well. Recently they all contributed to the new Carolyn Pressler Scholarship for Women. Created in honor of the beloved Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler, professor emerita of biblical interpretation, the scholarship will support United students starting Fall 2022. Why did they all support the Pressler Scholarship? LuAnn explains: “All of us feel a particular bond with Carolyn Pressler. She taught my very first class at United when I was still questioning my decision to enroll. If not for that first positive experience with Carolyn and the Old Testament, I may not have continued my seminary education.” Several other JoJos, who served as teaching assistants for Rev. Dr. Pressler, found in her a friend and mentor. In turn, Carolyn’s love of teaching, the Hebrew Bible, and her students helped the JoJos become transformational leaders who are serving, changing, and healing the world today.

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April 13, 2022

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross has its origins in the early Christian practice of visiting the sites of Jesus’ passion in Jerusalem. Over the centuries, it has since developed into a kind of mini- or local pilgrimage in which the faithful process through the fourteen stations, often represented by plaques or artwork within a church building. In a time of pandemic, we invite you to join us on an imaginative pilgrimage through the following artists' images, poems, and reflections.  Jesus is condemned to death. By Dustin Wilsor Jesus carries his cross. By Dee Grover Jesus Falls for the first time. By Andrea Roselle Jesus meets his mother Mary. By Elizabeth Jacobson Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross. By Justin Sabia-Tanis Veronica wipes the face of Jesus. By Alaina Hoffman Jesus falls the second time By Jennifer Awes Freeman     Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem By Melissa Miller Jesus spent much of his earthly life comforting, healing, uplifting, protecting, and empowering women. Here, women lean in to offer their consoling embrace to him. They represent the women of the world weeping for justice and mercy, while teaching us the beauty of compassion that flows through our wordless tears. Yet even in his final hour, Jesus stops to comfort the sad; a simple act of grace to calm them as he foretells the destruction to come.   “Do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Jesus falls for the third time By Elizabeth O’Sullivan Jesus is stripped of his clothes. By Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus Note: The original video is not included here due to nudity and sexual content. In lieu of cutting out scenes or censoring images in the video, the artist has agreed to replace their submission with the following passage from the 19th Ecumenical Council held between 1545-1563: “Moreover, in the invocation of saints, the veneration of relics, and the sacred use of images, every superstition shall be removed, all filthy lucre be abolished; finally, all lasciviousness be avoided; in such wise that figures shall not be painted or adorned with a beauty exciting to lust […] In fine, let so great care and diligence be used herein by bishops, as that there be nothing seen that is disorderly, or that is unbecomingly or confusedly arranged, nothing that is profane, nothing indecorous, seeing that holiness becometh the house of God.” Baring the Cross Artist Statement Max Yeshaye Brumberg-Kraus In Station 10, Jesus is stripped of his garments and the Roman soldiers divvy up his clothes. The Vatican links this station to the Edenic tragedy: “the expulsion from Paradise: God’s splendour has fallen away from man, who now stands naked and exposed, unclad and ashamed.”[1] In Eden, the serpent tells Eve: “your eyes shall be open, and ye shall be as gods.”[2] Thus she eats the fruit. Is the serpent simply a liar, or is nakedness a revelation? Human’s first knowledge is knowledge of the nude self: “the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.” Look. Desire. Know: apotheosis. Sight becomes self-sight and sight of the other. Please me, and I will please you: see my nakedness, and we will be as gods. If the gift of Jesus’s body to the world is also his revelation, how might the naked body in Paradise similarly be gift and revelation. What occurred between the opening of their eyes and the eventual shame? Did Eve and Adam experience a frightening, mutual self-objectification, a giving of oneself to the other, a move to queer subject-subject consciousness, a mutual relinquishing of self out of love for the other and in so doing approach divinity? But they ultimately withdraw from divinity. God walks in Eden, and the humans “hid themselves […] amongst the trees of the garden.” They do not give unto God, but hoard their flesh: “I was afraid […] I was naked; and I hid myself.”[3] Unable to relinquish themselves to one another, let alone to God, the humans revert to a hierarchical relationship, a heterosexuality ordained by a God who has seen his humans fail to be gods, failed to give as gods, generously, through their skin. God decrees Adam the doer, Eve the done, Adam the actor, Eve acted upon, subject and object. And if God was any good, perhaps God wept. Christ, divine incarnation, arrives to undo this paradigm, the god/man enacting agency through his own objectification, giving unto others as they should give of themselves. But when the Romans bare Jesus, they still bear clothes upon their backs. They devour him not as living nourishment, but in a perverse Eucharist of Jesus’s possessions and Jesus as possession. Is this the origin of Christianity With an added layer of interpretation through “The Twa Corbies,”[4] a Scots folk ballad in which two birds discuss an abandoned corpse they are about to eat and incorporate into their nest, the Romans are both compared to and contrasted with carrion eaters. For while magpies and crows are emblematic of natural life contingent on death, Rome and Christendom are emblematic of supernatural life contingent on killing. Contrasting Christian colonization, dehumanization, and capital with the genderbent, stripper Christ, Baring the Cross asks how do we see our bodies and give our bodies, how are our bodies seen and taken, how might queer and trans people—the sexual and gender marginalized--know God’s body, and ultimately, what is most shameful: a body stripped or the stripping of the body? [1] “Tenth Station,” https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/2005/via_crucis/en/station_10.html [2] Gen 3:4, 3:7 KJV [3] Gen 3:8, 3:10 [4] “Child Ballad 26: The Three Ravens/Twa Corbies,” in Bertrand Harris Bronsin and Francis James Child, The traditional tunes of the Child ballads: with their texts, according to the extant records of Great Britain and America (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1959).

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March 21, 2022

The Anti-War Theology of Last Judgement Sunday

The Lenten liturgies of the Orthodox Church characterize the season as one of exile and darkness, but also of compassion, enlightenment, and reconciliation. Our separation from God and our need for each other are more intensely felt, as our liturgies shape us more and more closely into an exiled community searching for a home in God. This year, the Sunday of the Last Judgement, one of the preparatory Sundays before the beginning of Great Lent, fell three days after Russia invaded Ukraine. Also known as Meatfare Sunday (as it’s the last day of eating meat until the paschal celebration), the Sunday of Last Judgement features Matthew 25:31-46 for the Gospel reading: The Lord said, "When the Son of man comes in his glory and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?' Then he will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." The Church in her wisdom assigns this reading in preparation for Lent so that we are reminded and exhorted to keep the refugee, the incarcerated, the unhoused, the infirm, at the center of our Lenten devotion through prayer, compassion, and the giving of time, money, and resources. And yet, at the same time, the passage implies that these very same acts of love and charity don’t earn us any special claim over salvation or deliverance from death—in that neither the “sheep” nor the “goats” were aware that they were serving the Son in the figure of “the least of these.” At the Last Judgement, we find out that we do not have the power of life eternal—human power is only the power of death. But if we want to serve eternal life, we should serve “the least of these.” This Gospel reading takes on an added poignancy in the current moment as many are dying and thousands fleeing Ukraine, that this season of liturgical exile is quite literally a time of separation, suffering, and death, a Lenten pilgrimage that is not made manageable by the telos of liturgical resolution, but rather one that is unsure, terrifying, and violent. Given that both Russia and Ukraine are historically Orthodox countries, and Putin himself performs public devotion frequently, it’s all the more distressing that many Russian Orthodox religious leaders have failed to condemn this most recent attack on Ukraine. One of the most egregious of these is Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, who on March 6th preached an arrogant and divisive sermon that blamed Ukraine’s so-called Western values (including gay pride parades) for Russia’s invasion. His words indicate that, contra the teaching of Matthew 25, Kirill thinks he knows who the sheep and goats are and considers himself their judge. The tragic irony of his preaching such a sermon on the day of Forgiveness Sunday (also known as Cheesefare Sunday) was certainly lost on him, but hundreds of Orthodox clergy, theologians, and laypeople have since publicly condemned his hate speech, bad theology, and partnership with Putin (see, for example, here, here, and here). (As of last week, the Russians have stopped trying to take territory and have started leveling cities—Mariupol has been all but wiped off the map.) Let us respond to this crisis with open hearts, compassionate actions, and a relentless call for justice and accountability. The global response to the invasion of Ukraine has also highlighted the lack of comparable reactions to other humanitarian crises and military conflicts around the world, and thus presents an opportunity to reflect on the racial, ethnic, and religious biases in our respective responses. Because the Orthodox are not the Last Judge and make no final claim even over our enemies, we pray “for those who love us and those who hate us” and with the same breath we condemn those who make war and claim divine authority for themselves. In our confession that Christ is the Last Judge, the Orthodox take up responsibility to do justice—not as an abstract position against war, but concretely for those who ask for help and against those who have death in their hearts. Resources for supporting those in Ukraine: Ukrainian Congress Committee of America's fundraiser toward purchasing pharmaceutical and medical kits. Donate at ucca.org. Orthodox-organized fundraisers: Rebuild Ukraine: https://www.rebuild-ua.org/about-us https://www.oca.org/donate?c=Ukrainian%20Refugee%20Relief https://domoca.org/dom-to-raise-funds-for-those-suffering-in-ukraine/ Additional organizations: https://www.startribune.com/how-minnesotans-can-help-the-people-of-ukraine/600150829/ International Theologians in Support of Ukraine https://trs.catholic.edu/ukraine/  A Prayer for Ukraine We pray, O Lord our God, for all those who suffer from acts of war, especially for the victims in Ukraine. We pray for your peace and mercy in the midst of the great suffering of your people. Accept the prayers of your Church, so that by your goodness, peace may return to all peoples; hear us and have mercy. Lord have mercy (3x) We also pray, O Lord our God, to remember and have mercy on our siblings in Russia and Ukraine who are involved in violent conflict. Remove from their midst all hostility, confusion, and hatred. Lead everyone along the path of reconciliation and peace, we pray, hear us and have mercy. Lord have mercy (3x) Deliver Your people from civil strife, cease the spilling of blood, and turn back the misfortunes set against them. Lead into sanctuary those bereft of shelter, feed the hungry, comfort those who weep, and unite the divided. Leave not Your own flock, who abide in sorrows on account of their kinsmen, to diminish, but rather, as You are benevolent, give speedy reconciliation. Soften the hearts of the unmerciful and convert them to the knowledge of You. Grant peace to Your Church and to Her children, that with one heart and one mouth we may glorify You, our Lord and Savior, unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Prayer adapted from the Diocese of the Midwest) * One Public Orthodoxy link was added above on March 28, 2022.

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