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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

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

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

“CREATE YOUR OWN CONTEXT”EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING FOR STUDENTS STUDYING SPIRITUAL CARE

Preparing seminarians adequately in this rapidly changing, complex society requires new directions and paradigms to respond to the changing nature of community, culture, and religion/spirituality. Seminarians increasingly need a wide variety of creative contextual  experiences to help them discern their call and explore the many options for their gifts, talents and passions. The Dept. of Formation, Vocation and Innovation can provide you with opportunities to do short-term, individualized mini-internships -- an afternoon gathering, a day long experience, or a multi-week volunteer opportunity -- to complement your academic and vocational pursuits and provide professional networking opportunities.  (more…)

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

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

Water is Life: A Sacred Witness

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

Interview with Dr. Awes Freeman on Upcoming Screening of Ending the Silence

Ending the Silence: Confronting Sexual Shame in the Church, produced by Leigh Finke, explores patriarchal and hierarchical structures in the church that foster the devaluing and demonizing of sex, women, and the LGBTQ community. The film challenges viewers to look beyond the church’s longstanding binary-based dogma and embrace the full spectrum of gender and sexuality. United is hosting a screening and discussion of the film on Friday, September 27 at 7 pm, organized by Theology and the Arts professor Dr. Jennifer Awes-Freeman. The following interview is with Dr. Awes-Freeman about bringing this film to United. How did Ending the Silence find its way to United? How did this event happen? I first learned about Ending the Silence because my friend Leigh Finke produced it. I’ve been friends with Leigh for 20 years, and so was really excited to collaborate on this event and showcase this important film.  Why should a seminary be showing this kind of documentary/be part of this conversation? United is in a unique position to host these kinds of conversations because here we are training and surrounded by faith leaders who will be and are equipped to take on these issues—and hopefully help move the church towards health and wholeness. How does the medium of documentary invite an audience differently than, say, a talk or lecture? Documentaries often employ storytelling techniques and incorporate interviews from multiple figures. In that way, they have the ability to create a fuller picture on a given issue, as well as demonstrate its complexity. I also appreciate the ways that documentaries can model a sense of dialogue for the audience. Ending the Silence is a good example of that, and I think will prompt productive conversations. What about the current political/social/religious climate makes this movie timely? In a sense, this film is timely and speaks directly to political divisions we’re seeing, but it also tells a very old story. Ultimately, I think there’s hope to be had through healing, and so it’s a forward-facing film. And it seems like an opportune time for conversations about what it means to be part of a faith community, and of course, what it means to be a person of faith. In times of crisis--whether they be personal, or political, or social--faith leaders have an important role to play. That role might be thought of as prophetic.  How does this documentary fit in with United's values and history? United has been at the forefront of LGBTQ rights and conversations around the intersections of gender, sexuality, and religion since its founding, as evidenced in the work of our staff and faculty, such as James Nelson, Carolyn Pressler, and, most recently, Justin Sabia-Tanis. Ending the Silence, and our conversation around it on September 27, will become part of the story of our values and history, and we live into that.  

Selma Commemorative March

Sunday, March 8, 2:00-4:00 PM State Capitol to Central Presbyterian, St. Paul This Sunday! March in the memory of the walk from Selma. Among the featured speakers is United President Dr. Barbara A. Holmes, who marched with her father 50 years ago. You can hear her account of that time in interviews scheduled for this evening's All Things Considered on MPR, KARE-11 TV News, and in print and online publications, including the Twin Cities Daily Planet. The event is expected to generate a lot of media interest throughout the weekend. (more…)