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July 16, 2026
Announcements Chaplaincy Faculty interreligious chaplaincy

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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April 16, 2026
Announcements Chaplaincy Faculty interreligious chaplaincy

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

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April 15, 2026
Activism leadership Legacy VOICES

A Legacy of Generosity: President Marshall on Patricia Shield Ayres

A friend of mine for more than 40 years, Patricia Shield Ayres, is known for her integrity, kindness, leadership, and generosity. Born as an only child into a Texas family with interests in oil and cattle, she prevailed upon her father to allow her to attend Wellesley College in Boston. He wanted her to go to the University of Texas, but she promised she would study economics if he allowed her to go to her preferred school. Remarkably, she has maintained friendships with six of her classmates (now all in their 90s). They called themselves the “sizzling six.” Reflecting on that title, Pat said: “We didn’t sizzle then and certainly not now.”  Though she decries the “sizzle” moniker, Pat has made an indelible impact in her community. She has been a leading voice in Texas for the support of children, a demonstration of her progressive Christian values. The Shield-Ayres Foundation, founded in 1977, is based on a 6,600-acre ranch, 5,300 acres of which her parents purchased in 1938, that lies just 22 miles from the heart of Austin.  Through the foundation, now co-run by Pat’s children, Bob and Vera, the ranch hosts El Ranchito summer camp for urban children and youth. It is an opportunity for them to learn about the many forms of conservation the foundation practices, see what it’s like to be immersed in radically different environs, and experience the unique spiritual joy of what Pat calls the “tapestry of nature.” It is a generous way to use the family’s land.  I came to know Pat when the two of us were involved in voicing our opposition to the hostile takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention by fundamentalist forces. Her strong convictions about religious freedom and liberty of conscience led her to support movements that resisted the eroding of Baptist identity. Her unwavering support for the leadership of women in the Baptist ecology naturally drew us together.  Pat has become a generous donor to United. A member of the Joshua Society—a group of friends and alums who have given cumulative gifts of $50,000 or more—she has invested in our mission with interest and joy. When I delivered the Joshua statuette to her a couple of years ago, she absolutely loved the celebratory image of the raised shofar and anticipated the walls that are tumbling down at United.  This spring, we will welcome Pat into our Esther Society for donors who have given cumulative gifts of $100,000 or more. Her commitments to justice align with United’s clear call to construct a beloved community here and beyond the seminary.  I am delighted at the depth and similitude of our beliefs, and having Pat’s stalwart support of this good seminary. For her abiding dedication to eco-justice and conservation, her philanthropic generosity, and her unequivocal support for religious freedom and the rightful equality of women, I give heartfelt thanks.

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April 9, 2026
Faith gratitude interreligious chaplaincy VOICES

Called beyond the Corporate World: Why Rev. Catherine Duncan (’10) Chose Chaplaincy

An ordained UCC minister, integrative spiritual consultant, author, and public speaker, Rev. Catherine Duncan found her calling through pivotal life-and-death struggles. Her cancer diagnosis around age 10, she recalls, “threw our family upside down.” It was a frightening and lonely experience; though she felt her parents’ love, they said little about her condition. “I felt like I was on a tightrope between life and death. And out of nowhere, I just started to pray.” Catherine adds, “Not long after, this profound feeling of peace, some presence, flooded my body. I knew I was going to live, and knew I wasn’t alone.”  Looking back, Catherine notes that she found faith through that early trauma, but it didn’t instantly translate into a spiritual career. Instead, the youngest of six followed her father and siblings—many of whom were attorneys and executives—into a corporate career. After college, she found an “incredible job” with Time Magazine. It was a position Catherine loved, but she admits, “my heart was feeling restless.” A CHANGE OF HEART During a corporate trip in her mid-thirties, Catherine survived another near-death experience while whitewater rafting. A month after the harrowing episode, she began listening closely and asking herself, “Where is God calling me?” Her faith gave her the courage to walk away from her corporate career, much to everyone’s surprise. “My husband,” she confides, “was really supportive.”  After more praying, journaling, and consulting work, Catherine’s girlfriend suggested she might want to study theology. The same friend mentioned a program at St. Catherine University in St. Paul. When she received the material about St. Catherine’s theology and spiritual direction programs, Catherine recalls, “My body started physically shaking…I knew this was the right path.” At St. Catherine’s, she earned a Master’s in Theology and became certified as a spiritual director. Catherine then worked with City House co-founders Tim Allen and alum Rev. Jim Dodge† (’79) to support people on the margins. “I was doing in-depth spiritual direction with the unhoused and in homeless shelters,” Catherine explains, “and I loved it.”  LEANING INTO THE NEXT CHAPTER In the early 2000s, another significant life event opened the doors to the next chapter of Catherine’s life. Her mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, and Catherine was invited to accompany her through the final days. “She had this glow about her,” Catherine shares, “as she surrendered and let go. It was so beautiful. It was life-changing to witness someone so fully.” Catherine’s proclivity to work with people one-on-one, her burgeoning interest in chaplaincy, and a desire to become ordained in the UCC made her seek out a seminary. This time, she chose United. Catherine credits Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel,†  Professor Emeritus of Theology (1970–1995), for creating a customized degree program that didn’t negate her previous master’s degree. Steckel also supported Catherine through her ordination. “You can see how important Clyde was on my path,” she observes. She remembers other professors with gratitude as well. Dean Richard Weis† and Rev. Dr. Jann Cather Weaver (Associate Professor Emerita of Worship and Theology and the Arts), she notes, were exemplars of faith, grace, and empowerment. Dr. Sharon Tan’s ethics course coincidentally enabled Catherine to serve more effectively as the ethics lead for Hennepin County Medical Center during her time at United. United, Catherine asserts, “brought all of my education together in affirming I’m on the right path, and deepened my understanding of the United Church of Christ and my next steps.” She continues, “I can’t think of anything but positive things to say about every class, professor, and my experience. I just felt supported.” Fundamentally, she also believes that United’s emphasis on openness, inclusivity, CPE, and ecumenical understanding is key to effective chaplaincy.  Now, as the author of Everyday Awakening: Five Practices for Living Fully, Feeling Deeply, and Coming into Your Heart and Soul (2023), Catherine is using what she’s learned to support others. She has been interviewed on television and in print, hosts a podcast, and offers her valuable integrative spiritual consulting services. It’s a calling she accepts with gratitude. ______________ † Deceased

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April 7, 2026
President statement United States of America

Statement by President Molly T. Marshall on the War against Iran

Dear United Community, The terrorizing threat posed by the United States against Iran is against all principled advocates for peace and justice. While we do not know whether these threats of devastating destruction, tantamount to genocide, will come to pass, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities firmly opposes wreaking suffering on vulnerable civilians. We call for a merciful resolution to the escalating conflict. Rev. Molly T. Marshall, PhD President Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • (651) 255-6138

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March 26, 2026
Activism Community Relationships Ethics Interreligious justice News Releases

United to Honor Jackie Baugh Moore and Julie Strathe Baugh with Doctors of Humane Letters (honoris causa)

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, March 26, 2026 — In celebration of their leadership in social justice, ecumenism, and interreligious engagement, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities—with unanimous support from its faculty and board of trustees—will confer Doctors of Humane Letters (honoris causa) upon sisters Jackie Baugh Moore, President of the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, and Julie Strathe Baugh, Vice President, during its 64th Commencement Exercises on April 26, 2026. The faculty noted that the values guiding the family’s foundation are closely aligned with United’s inclusive values. The Board approved the recommendation of the faculty at its November meeting. Established in 1994 by Sysco founder John Baugh and his wife, Eula Mae, the Baugh Foundation has awarded tens of millions of dollars to organizations that share its Baptist ethos and tradition. Jackie and Julie are the daughters of Barbara “Babs” Baugh— the daughter of John and Eula Mae—who became President of the Baugh Foundation in 2007. After Babs died in 2020, Jackie was appointed President, and Julie became Vice President in 2021. Both sisters serve in roles outside of the Foundation that reflect their interests and the Foundation’s long-standing connections to prominent Baptist institutions. Jackie has served on the Baptist Joint Committee, the board of Baptist News Global, as a trustee of Mercer University, and was named as the 2025 Distinguished Alumni by the Baylor Line Foundation, an independent alumni association. Julie is the chair of the board of the Interfaith Alliance, has served on the Strategic Advisory Board for Good Faith Media, and was also an executive board member for Perkins School of Theology. As leaders of the Baugh Foundation, Julie and Jackie have sharpened the organization’s progressive vision and funding priorities, directing grants toward justice, inclusion, and equity initiatives. The Foundation prioritizes nonprofits working in six categories: meeting basic human needs, faith-based higher education, inclusivity initiatives, social justice and advocacy, arts and enrichment, and faith-based journalism. At times, their support for progressive causes has faced resistance. In 2025, Baylor University rescinded a Baugh Foundation grant awarded to the Center for Church and Community. The funds supported evidence-based research into the impacts of disenfranchisement of women and LGBTQ+ people in congregations in an effort to “nurture institutional courage and foster change.” In a statement, the Foundation decried the University’s decision and asserted that the decision “disserves Baylor students, faculty, and the broader Christian community.” The Foundation also reaffirmed its “commitment to supporting progressive, inclusive, and justice-oriented work.” While proudly Baptist in its heritage, the Baugh Foundation shares with United a steadfast dedication to social justice, ecumenism, and interreligious engagement. The Foundation’s belief in the transformative potential of theological education has extended to the seminary through its support of United’s contextual education programs and, more recently, endowed scholarships.  Decades of substantive work by myriad organizations, academic institutions, and progressive initiatives can be credited to The Foundation’s material contributions to the common good. This is owed no doubt to Jackie and Julie’s faithful stewardship of the Foundation’s mission and the path paved by their forebears. Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall, president of United, has a personal connection with the Baughs. President Marshall shares her Baptist roots with the Baugh family and was a dear friend of Babs. On the opportunity to honor Jackie and Julie’s faithful support of progressive theological education, President Marshall reflects, “These dear friends have extended the foundation’s priorities to key issues of our day—LGBTQ+ equity, interfaith engagement, and support of progressive theological education. It is a privilege to honor them.” United is eager to celebrate the graduating class of 2026 along with Jackie and Julie on Sunday, April 26, at 3:00 PM CT, at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, MN. Details, including onsite and online registration, can be viewed 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 train 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

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March 19, 2026
Black Church Black Liberation Theology Public Theology VOICES

Living into the Promise of the Sims Scholars Initiative

“The Sims Scholars Initiative,” recently asserted Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green II (associate professor of Pastoral Theology and Social Transformation and director for Racial Intelligence Systems), “has surpassed my expectations, and expanded my hopes for what this program can become.” Launched in February 2024 and made possible through a generous donation from former trustee Dr. Frank Sims and his wife, Robyn, it is designed to address racial inequities in society and to educate and prepare leaders who wish to constructively engage issues confronting Black spiritual communities. Gary oversees the Initiative.  SIMS SCHOLARS WEIGH IN  Elwyn Young, a scholar in the cohort that started in 2024, describes the Initiative as a “rare and precious opportunity.” Though she began the program apprehensively, Elwyn’s experiences in classes and with her professors have transformed her perspective and outlook. Dr. Demian Wheeler’s “Invitation to Theology: Truth, Goodness, and Beauty” course and her classmates, Elwyn attests, created “the best start that I could have been exposed to coming into seminary.” She is equally excited about the other professors and courses she encountered. It is not just the kindness and support, Elwyn explains, each of her five professors has imparted “a feeling that they desire us all to succeed.” Naryn Carter, another 2024 cohort member, notes that “mentorship [in the Initiative] is genuinely multi-layered—peer mentorship within the cohort, guidance from faculty and staff, and wisdom from [alums] and doctoral students.” “I’ve been grateful,” she continues, “to connect with and learn alongside some amazing people— relationships I truly don’t think I would have formed without the program.”  Akwése Nkemontoh, a member of the second cohort, was drawn to the Sims Scholars Initiative due to the mentorship aspect as well as other key features. “I had been searching for a space,” she recounts, “where I could be mentored and truly challenged to think more deeply, where I could show up as all of myself and engage the intersections that I’m most curious about,…and where I could always come back to my faith and connection with God as the one leading it all.”  DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION ADDS VALUE  As a second cohort member, Akwése can also take advantage of the new distance learning feature (first-year scholars were local to the Twin Cities). “I’m grateful that the Sims Scholars program opened up to distance learners,” she opines, “…because it makes this kind of transformative educational experience so much more accessible, making its reach and impact greater. It has already done so much to affirm where I’m at right now and where I’m hoping to go.”  “After only one semester,” Akwése adds, “I can say this program truly has been a gift and has helped me to honor and author my own voice in ways that feel different from academic spaces in the past.” She expounds, “At its heart, this program is designed to engage multiple forms of intelligence and to create ‘play space’ to bring out our most imaginative, co-creative selves.… The fact that I’m surrounded by other Black leaders is also amazing and rare, especially in academia. And the fact that all these other leaders…are passionate about the intersection of faith and social transformation is just wow.”  HOPE FOR THE FUTURE When she looks into the future, Naryn is thrilled by the ways in which the Sims Scholars Initiative provides “tools to widen the aperture of our souls and to do deeper, more impactful work in our communities and the world.” In addition, she posits, “We are being compassionately equipped to lead in ways that many previous and even current leaders have not [been]. I’m excited not only about the knowledge I’m gaining, but about the embodied excellence of how this learning is happening.” As Akwése phrases it, “We’re here to grow, to be challenged and to challenge, to be held and to hold. We’re here to develop our voices as the powerful healers, lightbearers, and agents of change we are.” For his part, Gary concludes, “Our shared learning experience was deeply transformative and clarifying for the kind of beacon United can become for Black religious scholarship. I am excited to see how things continue to develop!” This article is featured in the Winter 2026 Issue of VOICES. Read this issue and our other publications here. >

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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. >

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January 22, 2026
Activism Civil Rights justice Lament

Statement by President Molly T. Marshall on Community Response Efforts

These are fraught days for us. Those who call the Twin Cities home persist under the pall of a federal occupation, bracing each day for word of a new atrocity. In the weeks since an ICE agent killed Renee Good, we have seen the good people of Minneapolis and St. Paul show up for one another as armed federal agents patrol our communities, violating due process and cruelly abducting thousands of people.  I think often of our friends and neighbors—including some members of the United community—as they live under the acute terror ICE has wrought on their neighborhoods. Many rely on the aid of a trusted few to meet their basic needs. Facing an oppressive force, our communities have turned outward with resilience, toward one another, embodying anew the command to “love your neighbor as yourself.” I have been deeply moved by the courage of my neighbors and, in particular, United’s students, alums, trustees, and faculty and staff. They model solidarity despite extreme cold, attending vigils, leading music, creating art, and keeping watch with whistles over their neighborhoods while ICE patrols their streets. Chaplains involved in interfaith organizations are supporting local demonstrations and assisting in de-escalation efforts. Lay leaders, prompted to care for their vulnerable neighbors, are picking up groceries, taking kids to school, and meeting material needs in a vast network of mutual aid. Indeed, this is servant leadership. This week, clergy and faith leaders of myriad traditions are answering MARCH’s call to resist this importunate occupation and bear witness to its harm. With members of our United community engaged in rapid response efforts, the seminary will be closed on Friday, January 23. And, in solidarity with fellow clergy and elected officials, I reaffirm my call that ICE must immediately end its terrorizing of the Twin Cities, leave Minnesota altogether, and bring to justice the agent who killed Ms. Good. Social transformation is one of United’s longstanding pillars, and we are seeing the real-world witness of faith and community leaders equipped for the work of justice and peace. In the words of Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, director of our Social Transformation Program, “Faith leaders are shaping Minnesota’s response to be highly ethical and effective.” The common good, though under grave threat, is in the committed stewardship of our very best. In the days ahead, may we be courageous in our convictions for the love and dignity of our neighbors. Rev. Molly T. Marshall, Phd President 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 train leaders who, through the eyes of faith, engage in the dismantling systems of oppression, exploring multi-faith spirituality, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Media Contact Nathanial Green (he/him), Director of Marketing and Communications United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities press@unitedseminary.edu • 651-255-6138

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January 8, 2026
Activism Beliefs Community justice Lament

Statement by President Molly T. Marshall on the Killing of Renee Good

Dear Friends of United, We are reeling with horror, grief, and anger over the killing of Renee Good by a federal agent in Minneapolis. We hold Ms. Good’s loved ones in our hearts and remember them in our prayers as they navigate sudden, unimaginable loss. This tragedy was wholly preventable, yet it was the consequence of pernicious escalations made by a regime engaged in the systematic marginalization and oppression of immigrants. Since the onset of their operations in the Twin Cities, ICE has deliberately fomented unrest, waged a violent deportation campaign against our most vulnerable neighbors, violated residents' civil liberties, and killed an innocent woman. The government’s cruel actions, bolstered by propagandists, are abhorrent, and they demand our furious denunciation. I join my fellow clergy, our elected officials, and local organizers in calling for ICE to cease its terrorizing of our communities and leave Minnesota immediately. We are discerning additional ways to respond and offer proactive support. Today, over the lunch hour, a few of us gathered in the chapel to light candles of remembrance and intercession for so many feeling the threat of ICE’s actions. In the meantime, Monarca, a local rapid response line, has published freely downloadable resources in English, Spanish, and Somali. Additionally, they offer legal observer trainings throughout the metro area, the next of which will be held on January 15 in Golden Valley. Learn more here. United has, for decades, aspired to help bend the “arc of the moral universe” toward justice. We find courage in our calling, emboldened by the values we share as a community. We remember Renee Good, and we speak her name with clarity of conviction.May justice be done in her memory and for our vulnerable neighbors. Rev. Molly T. Marshall, PhD President

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