United Insights
And News

Featured Post

July 16, 2026
Academics Antiracism Black Liberation Theology Book

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

Read More >

September 18, 2025
Academics Antiracism Black Liberation Theology Book

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

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, September 18, 2025.  United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is thrilled to be hosting a book launch to celebrate Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green, II’s upcoming publication, Playing the Game: Embodied Brilliance beyond the Moral Limits of Race in Sport, on Wednesday, November 19, starting at 7:00 PM CT. Fortress Press, which has scheduled publication for November 4, states that “Playing the Game investigates the intersection of race and ethics in cultural misinterpretations of Black athleticism in the United States.” Green is United’s associate professor of Pastoral Theology and Social Transformation and director of Racial Intelligence Systems. The book applies womanist theological ethics and theologies of embodied spirituality to three exemplars—Marshawn Lynch, Steph Curry, and Deion Sanders. These men epitomize the play of racial politics surrounding Black male athlete depictions as “beast.” All three are celebrated public figures who illustrate, and then frustrate, cultural attempts to flatten the Black athlete’s embodied brilliance based on moral rationalities that reflect a racist history. As an athlete, the son of a former NFL cornerback, and a theological scholar, Green has long been troubled by the way in which Black athletes are routinely commodified and dehumanized, especially when compared with their white counterparts. Appellations for Black athletes (including “beast”) typically focus on physical capability versus descriptors of white athletes as cognitively superior and sound in terms of character. Green argues in his book for the recognition of the divine embodiment of Black athletes and the inextricable link between mind and body. “In this soon-to-be celebrated book,” observes President Molly T. Marshall, “Dr. Gary Green emerges as both cultural critic and theological anthropologist. His keen observations about race, spirituality, and the commodification of Black players in professional sports shed light on the current zeitgeist. I believe the author opens up an uncharted critical pathway of interpretation as he writes of ‘embodied brilliance.’”  Dr. Demian Wheeler, Acting Dean, adds, “Dr. Gary Green is an emerging constructive theologian whose cutting-edge research arcs across multiple academic disciplines, from pastoral theology and cultural theory, to social ethics and African American studies, to neuroscience and religion and sport. His first book, Playing the Game, promises to break new ground, illumining the divinity of Black athletes and the racial politics that work to stifle it. We are thrilled to celebrate his scholarly debut on November 19!” At the November 19 event, Green will welcome three panelists to elucidate more themes in Playing the Game: Dr. Lakisha R. Lockhart-Rusch is a womanist play facilitator and innovative educator who teaches Christian education courses at Union Presbyterian Seminary. Her most recent book is titled Doing Theological Double Dutch: A Womanist Pedagogy of Play. CJ Ham, #30, is a fullback for the Minnesota Vikings, where he has been a starter since 2017. Off the field, he takes pride in giving back. In 2024, the Vikings selected CJ as their Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee. Tamice Spencer-Helms is both a United student and staff member. While pursuing their DMin in Social Transformation, Tamice is also serving as one of United’s amazing admissions counselors. Tamice will offer the student response. United is delighted to extend this invitation to celebrate Rev. Dr. Green’s outstanding accomplishment with his new book on November 19, 2025. View details, including onsite and online registration, 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 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

Read More >

July 7, 2025
Ethics Faculty Faith lgbtq Liberation Theology

50 Years Later—The Impact of Jim Nelson’s “Homosexuality: An Issue for the Church”

Faith communities have long struggled to reach consensus on the inclusion and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people. Debates in congregations and conferences have led to harmful statements and schisms and highlighted sharp disagreements over theology, ethics, and justice. Of course, these are never merely debates, never just “disagreements;” these are questions of fundamental rights, theology, one’s sense of self, and what it means to love.   Whereas some denominations reject the very existence of LGBTQ+ identities out of hand, others have sought the counsel of their LGBTQ+ members and committed to structural equality and solidarity. Fifty years ago, this shift was happening at United, owing to the advocacy of students, faculty, and a prescient professor’s willingness to articulate a clear theological case for affirmation. In United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities: An Ecumenical Venture, Dr. Arthur L. Merrill† (Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, 1958–1995) recounted the impact of Dr. James B. Nelson’s† (Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics, 1963–1995) paper titled “Homosexuality: An Issue for the Church,” published in the Winter 1975 issue of Theological Markings, United’s journal. In it, Nelson identified what he viewed as the four primary theological positions against other sexual orientations, and he graciously engaged each of them while arguing his clear conviction as a Christian ethicist:  unequivocal affirmation. Nelson wrote, “An ethics of the Gospel ought never forget that moral responsibility is intrinsically related to self-acceptance, and that self-acceptance is intrinsically related to acceptance by significant others and, ultimately, by God.”  In a section titled “A Personal Note,” Jim posits that acceptance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people might be a source of “augmented liberation” for all, “bringing new possibilities of tenderness, lessened competitiveness, and greater  emotional intimacy.” Just two years later, United’s Faculty Senate adopted a statement affirming “equal educational opportunity for all our students regardless of race, sex, or affectional preference” (sexual orientation). It avowed that “we do not believe that such an orientation in and of itself disqualifies a person from preparing for ministry at this seminary.” Nelson’s progressive theological vision and visionary scholarship continue to impact United, its students, and the communities they lead. For his prophetic witness for the common good, we give thanks. ________________________ † Deceased

Read More >

July 1, 2025
Antiracism Beliefs Community Relationships justice Legacy

Helping Others: The Impact of Frank Sims

“We were put on earth to help one another.” From a young age, Frank Sims’ mother instilled this message in her children, urging them to love their neighbors by getting involved and giving back. A business person, educator, and philanthropist, he is guided by the question, “What can you do to help uplift others?” Frank’s connection to and involvement with United originated in an unlikely place: corporate America. He moved to the Twin Cities region in the 1970s for a position with Cargill, Inc., an international agricultural company based in Minnetonka, MN, where he became corporate vice president. It was while at Cargill in the 1990s that he met Dr. Kita McVay (’96, ’09), a member of United’s Board of Trustees, who invited him to join the board. He eagerly accepted the invitation after meeting with President Ben Griffin, establishing an expansive relationship with the seminary that has thrived for over 30 years.  Success at Cargill allowed Frank to orient his life toward education, a passion that complemented his core values and personal experiences. In addition to his involvement with United, Frank, who now lives in Atlanta, has served as Board Chair and Interim President of Fisk University, a Historically Black College and University based in Nashville. “I don’t think there’s anything more important than education,” Frank avows. “When we deprive students of that opportunity, I think it’s a disservice. Any time my wife and I can, we do something to help in that way.” In the realm of theological education, Frank believes United stands out. “There is what I would call an underpinning understanding of the value of diversity that’s not only instilled in the students at United, but constantly supported throughout their education. They leave United with a better understanding, but also a willingness to be a voice for those values.” These convictions, coupled with a lifelong admiration for seminary instructors, laid the groundwork for Frank’s commitment to student support at United. “It is so difficult to finance an education, and this is especially true for first-generation scholars,” Frank says. Seeking to address those imminent needs, Frank and his wife, Robyn, endowed a scholarship in 2013 that has provided support to students for over a decade. More recently, their giving evolved in 2024 to become the Sims Scholars Initiative. Designed to educate and equip leaders to constructively engage issues confronting Black spiritual communities, the Initiative provides intra-program mentorship and a tailored, tuition-free Master of Arts in Leadership degree to a select cohort of students. Received with enthusiasm by students and faculty alike, the inaugural cohort began in the fall of 2024. The second is slated to start this fall, and it will be the first to engage students outside the Twin Cities. Frank and Robyn’s impact is deeply felt. In an essay written for members of United’s Lydia Society, Sims Scholar Elwyn Young poignantly reflects, “Since I entered United,…I have had five professors, and each of them has made themselves available with knowledge, patience, and understanding, giving a feeling that they desire us all to succeed. Without this Sims Scholar Initiative, I would not have had the opportunity to experience such richness.” At last month’s Commencement ceremony, Frank was honored for his community leadership, service, and stalwart support for theological education with a Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa). As President Molly T. Marshall remarked, “Over the years, Frank Sims has demonstrated his care for theological education and the church through providing generous scholarship assistance to United.... He has contributed greatly to higher education and, particularly, to this good school.” United gives thanks for this visionary advocate whose impact on theological education spans generations.  

Read More >

June 23, 2025
Alums Community Relationships VOICES

Mary Ann Murray (’76) Treasures the Relationships She Established at United

In 1969, when Mary Ann Murray (’76) enrolled at United, America was embroiled in the Vietnam War, and the seminary, which opposed the war, had spent its first seven years led by and attended by men. It was also a residential school, where faculty and students lived on campus and forged a collegial bond. Along with Rev. Marilyn Creel (’72), Mary Ann was one of the first two women to enroll in the Master of Divinity (MDiv) program. Unlike their colleagues, neither lived on campus. Mary Ann was married, with young children, and Marilyn was not allowed to live on campus as a single woman. Considering Seminary Though Mary Ann was raised in the American Baptist denomination, she first learned of United at a community church where the pastor also served as an adjunct faculty member at the seminary. At the time, Mary Ann was teaching at the church and felt a strong call to study theology. In March of 1969, she met with Dean Louis Gunnemann† “to discuss my options for studying theology.” United offered a certificate in Christian education and the MDiv, so Mary Ann resolved to begin the degree in the fall. “I couldn’t wait to begin my seminary career,” she remembers telling her pastor, and she wanted to read every book in the library. He loaned Mary Ann his copy of Paul Tillich’s The Courage to Be, and said, “Theological education isn’t about reading books; it is about relationships.” United Highlights This spring marks the 50th anniversary of her graduation from United, and Mary Ann still remembers key elements of her experience. For example, she notes that faculty members did not have posted office hours. “A blessing I took for granted,” she reflects, “was the availability of faculty; I remember many robust conversations with professors over coffee in the refectory.” She also vividly remembers the first session in her Christian Ethics course. “We were asked to describe how we made an ethical decision. By the end of the term, we each had expanded that initial statement and honed our own ethics method.” In September of 1971, Mary Ann, Tracy Godfrey, and two students from Luther Northwestern Seminary entered the first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at what was then Hennepin County General Hospital (now HCMC). At the hospital, Mary Ann was the first woman in the chaplain’s CPE units. Dean Gunnemann’s words at Spring Convocation 1972 created one of her most moving memories. “The relationships in our lives that are truly redeeming,” Dean Gunnemann advised, “are grounded in gratitude.” Enduring Relationships “My commitment and loyalty to United are grounded in gratitude for the relationships from my time at United, which have bridged the years and enriched my life.” Mary Ann is pleased to support United’s mission to provide transformative theological education to equip students to make a difference in the world through their unique ministries. She makes this possible as a generous donor who is a member of the Barnabas, Bossard-Ward, and Joshua Societies. “Theological education,” Mary Ann observes, “is a lens through which we see the world and how to respond to it.” For her devotion to relationships at United and for sharing her story, we are deeply grateful to observe this 50th anniversary of Mary Ann’s graduation _______________ † Deceased

Read More >

June 9, 2025
Activism Community Relationships Distance Education VOICES

At United, Kateri Boucher Is Inspired to Chase Her Childhood Dreams

Kateri Boucher, who is pursuing an MDiv in Church Leadership, felt a call to ministry very early. “I was three when I told my mom I wanted to be a priest,” she recalls. She adds, “I would preach homilies and make [my mom] write them down.” Raised in Upstate New York, Kateri’s family attended a progressive Catholic church untethered from Roman Catholic strictures. Watching a woman priest serve communion sparked her pronouncement. Years later, after attending a liberal arts college, Kateri jumped at a chance to work on an “urban agriculture” project in Detroit. The community she found through the Catholic Worker and an Episcopal church rekindled her sense of calling, so she moved there. Now, at United, Kateri is making her dreams a reality. Searching for a Seminary About four years ago, Kateri began searching for a seminary. She researched a few schools, but realized she didn’t want to leave Detroit. She had just been hired at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and hoped to continue that work. Sarah Holst (’20) recommended United. The more she learned about United, the more it seemed like the best choice. “I wouldn’t have to sacrifice what I [wanted] to do an online program,” she remembers thinking, “and it would allow me to stay rooted in Detroit and…work at St. Peter’s.”  Transformational Teachers During her first semester at United, Kateri took two classes with Rev. Dr. Andrew Packman, assistant professor of Theological Ethics and Formation. Class assignments and interactions, Kateri notes, really opened her mind to ways in which theology has evolved. “It is such a gift,” she declares, “to get to study with someone for whom teaching is so clearly a vocational call. I’ve rarely interacted with someone who has such a sharp mind and such a generous spirit.” Dr. Jennifer Maidrand—visiting assistant professor of Bible, Culture, and Interpretation, supported by the Louisville Institute—taught courses that Kateri took recently. A guest poet in the Hebrew Bible class was a “really cool” highlight. And, in the Bible and Palestine-Israel class, Kateri asserts that Dr. Maidraid “led us so gracefully through really challenging conversations throughout the semester [and] basically every…assignment for this class is something applicable to the real world.” Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis, Kateri’s preaching professor, created another memorable experience. “His passion [for preaching],” she quips, “was palpable from miles away over a Zoom screen! He really brought it to life and held us in a beautiful way.” Through the class, Kateri notes that she learned strategies for telling “compelling stories.” She can use that at St. Peter’s, when she preaches each month. Distance Learning Because she wanted to balance her part-time work at St. Peter’s, service projects, and seminary, Kateri sincerely appreciates United’s distance learning program. “I remember telling people in my first semester that it’s clear that this school didn’t just start doing online classes during COVID;” they’ve had years “honing the art of hybrid classes.” She’s also made a lot of seminary friends. It’s so easy, Kateri shares, to message someone and say, “Hey, do you want to connect out of class?” The chat feature in Zoom also makes the in-class learning process more interactive. Formulating a Future Kateri describes another support from United, the Dayton Scholarship, as a “total blessing and game changer.” The funding, she reveals, “has enabled me to keep working … at St. Peter’s and participate in the church’s service outreach programs.” She’s hoping to add a second MA, made possible by the scholarship. As she looks ahead, Kateri knows changes will come. She’s started ordination and will leave St. Peter’s for a new call. In the United community, she sees “a real beauty, that we are scattered like seeds around the country and the world,” asking key questions. Still, she admits, “it was nourishing to come to United for Symposium Week; it “helped me to feel more rooted in the community.” In sum, Kateri exclaims, “I just love United so much! I’m so grateful it exists.”

Read More >

May 5, 2025
Academics Faculty gratitude VOICES

Rossmann Faculty Development Award Launches in 2025

We are thrilled to share that Jack and Marty Rossmann have endowed a fund to support faculty development at United. Jack, a current United board member, is a Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Macalester College, and Marty is a Professor Emerita of Family Education at the University of Minnesota. The Rossmanns, who prize education by word and deed, have already established faculty development and excellence awards at Macalester and the University of Minnesota. Now they have generously extended faculty support to United. As they explained recently, “Faculty excellence is crucial to the continued success of United Seminary. We hope that the Rossmann Faculty Development Award will play a role in helping to maintain that excellence.” Starting this year, United faculty members can apply for support twice each year. Applications are due either February 1 or October 1. If granted, awards will support activities such as attending professional meetings, offsetting publication-related expenses (including stipends for students who assist with publication tasks), and hiring consultants to assist with writing or teaching activities. “Jack and Marty Rossmann established this award,” noted President Molly T. Marshall, “because of their own academic careers and their love of supporting faculty development.” For their continuing service and generosity, Jack and Marty Rossmann have our deepest gratitude. We honor their lifelong commitment to education and working toward the betterment of society.

Read More >

April 29, 2025
Alums Ecology Ethics

The Living Legacy of Dr. Judith Scoville

“We’ve got to get you a Presidential scholarship,” Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski urged the prospective student in an interview. “Does this mean I’ve been admitted?” the interviewee asked. This is how Dr. Judith Scoville (’90) received a gift that would shape her life and, through her reciprocated generosity, reverberate decades later in the lives of new generations of United students. It was, in her words, “the biggest academic honor I’d ever received.”  Judith came to United after several years in an Education for Ministry program facilitated by an Episcopal seminary. The Education for Ministry program was predicated on asking, “What are we called to do? What is our ministry?” At the time, Judith was working for “not a very ethical company,” she quipped, but this experience sparked her interest in and passion for ethics. “I was in St. Luke’s Episcopal Church,” Judith recalls, “and for four years... it was a small group of us [that] met every week,” studying Scripture, theology, and church history. Nearing the end of the program, the associate minister remarked, “maybe I should go to United.” For Judith, “Coming to United was part of pursuing that question of ‘what is my ministry?’” After graduating from United in 1990, Judith began pursuing her PhD in ethics at the Graduate Theological Union. While there, she taught Christian ethics at United as an adjunct professor. A student, friend, and mentee of Dr. James B. Nelson, Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics (1963–1995), Judith discovered her ministry as an educator. “My students were so special,” she remarks. “I found at United that… if you ran a class so that you were providing students with an opportunity, …they will become a part of shaping the class and making it what it is.” She avers, “You don’t just pour information [into] United students.” Judith later became an associate professor and the Hulings Distinguished Chair in the Humanities for Northland College. She gave United’s first-ever Picard Lecture on Environmental Theology and Ethics, and her participation in the life of the seminary spans decades. From alum to professor to donor, her contributions to the United community are hard to overstate. Now in her mid-80s, Judith—as quick-witted and incisive as ever—is crafting a living legacy. Since the death of her husband, Dr. James (Jim) Scoville, Judith has committed to using her resources for good. Ever conscious of ethics, it became, in her mind, “a moral obligation” to give back. And so, Judith brought her scholarship experience full circle by recently making a significant gift to United’s endowed scholarship fund, securing access to the transformative power of theological education for future students. She is quick to note, “To me, it does not feel like generosity.… It’s what I want to do.” She feels “an ethical obligation” to use her money to build a better society, “richer in all the things that count.” “I don’t want the ability to go to United to be limited by the ability to pay,” she asserts. “I want everybody who… wants to be part of this community to be able to do that no matter what their finances are.” She knows it will “enrich United to have as broad a variety of students as possible,” and that if “we’re all white middle-class people, then it’s a very impoverished community.” Judith and Jim are also celebrated members of the Barnabas Society, which honors individuals who include United in their estate plans or make other qualifying gift arrangements. Asked why others should consider making a gift, she thoughtfully reflects, “It’s a very satisfying thing to give to United. It makes me feel like I’m doing something positive and constructive.” She continues, “I’m proud of the results that I see at United.… It makes me happy.” We give abundant thanks for the vibrant, living legacy of Judith Scoville.

Read More >

April 23, 2025
Alums Open and Affirming Queer VOICES

Rev. A. Leon Tredwell, PhD (’06) Publishes Good News in His New Book

Rev. A. Leon Tredwell, PhD (’06) realized his spiritual calling at age 10. “I came up in the church,” he explains, at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia—a Black church  wrestling with the “narrative of civility.” At the time, “we were down to one lady (Ms. Walker) who shouted” when she caught the spirit. One Sunday, Lee and his friends were in the back row when someone told the youngsters exactly when Ms. Walker would shout. When the prediction came true, the boys broke into suppressed laughter. That’s when Lee heard the Spirit speaking to him. “Why are you laughing at her?” Lee recalls the voice asking. It continued: “She’s only doing that because I’ve been good to her. And I’ve been good to you, too.” Since Lee’s family setting had changed from abject poverty to suburban middle class, he could only agree. The die was cast. Coming to United Though Lee fully recognized his call to ministry, he began his professional life as a grain trader for Cargill. After 10 years of moving with the company, Lee realized his purpose wasn’t being fulfilled. Through a connection with and encouragement from Rev. Drs. Ralph and Alika Galloway, Lee decided to give United a try. Thinking back, Lee says that the first thing he appreciated about United was that “the environment and the content were inclusive, innovative, and it was a place of freedom.” Because he was wrestling with his sexuality, Lee especially needed that kind of open-arms welcome. He continues, “To see other queer people who were just brilliant and living out their brilliance in the fullness of who they were” was remarkably affirming. “Being queer in the Black church,” he observes, “was an anathema.” He remembers Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler and Dean Richard Weis† with great affection. Both teachers, he asserts, “taught us to wrestle with the biblical text until it opened up and spoke.” They also introduced Lee to Black and postcolonial hermeneutics, and Rev. Dr. Weis led him to passages in Jeremiah 38 (Hebrew Bible) that sparked his interest in learning more about a Black character named Ebed-Melech. Spreading the Good Word These days, since earning his PhD in Theological and Religious Studies in 2017, and spending many years preaching and teaching, Lee is excited to be publishing a new book. Titled Black, Queer, and Blessed: My Story and the Biblical Story Churches Don’t Teach, the book is part memoir and part theological reflection on the Ebed-Melech revelation. Lee has launched a new website (blackqueerandblessed.com) to promote the book and serve as a touchstone for young people who are struggling with their faith and sexuality. He is also planning an upcoming tour, including podcast interviews and speaking engagements at universities and seminaries, to share the good news about “blessings and connectedness with God.” “The spirit of God and the energies that God has given us are toward purpose,” he asserts. Reflecting on his time at United, Lee feels gratitude for the openness and creativity he discovered. “I am extremely grateful for the experiences at United and the shaping of my life as a result of being there.” He continues, “Because I was there and they embraced me and encouraged me, they helped me to evolve…to be where I am today.” _______________ † Deceased

Read More >

April 14, 2025
Arts Distance Education Innovation theology and the arts VOICES

Student Rev. Alicia Reese Creatively Mixes Ministry with Improv

Rev. Alicia Reese has followed the pull of two great loves: theatre and ministry. “I spent most of my life in theatre; I think I started when I was seven,” she recalls. As she grew older, Alicia also felt “a strong call toward ministry,” but there were no women pastors in her church setting. “I never saw,” she reflects, “how that call to ministry could be lived out.”  Through high school and college, Alicia threw herself into theatre. At a small Christian school in Florida, she met a theatre director who believed the arts and church could go together. He let her take over the theatre ministry troupe—“a sketch comedy-ish group that used Christian themes and scripture,” Alicia explains.  In her 20s, after moving to Chicago and working in theatre full-time, Alicia experienced another strong nudge toward ministry. This time, she earned an MA in Theological Studies, but had the sinking feeling that she might have to give up theatre. A minister at her church, who recognized her unique gifts, encouraged her to pursue an MDiv. One of Alicia’s professors at North Park Theological Seminary introduced her to a prison education program at a correctional facility in Joliet. She embraced this new challenge and wanted to help those who were incarcerated share their stories. “So I pulled out my theatre bag of tricks,” Alicia shares, and considered using improv. Finding United The success Alicia found using improv to get incarcerated students to re-vision their stories inspired her to go back to school for a DMin through which she could explore the “connection between spiritual formation and improv.” Why United? “From the moment I started interacting with United,” Alicia remarks, “I felt that deep connection between the arts and theology and ministry.”  After meeting with Dr. Jennifer Awes Freeman, she was hooked. Jennifer helped Alicia create an independent study that involved taking classes at The Second City in Chicago, “a life-changing” experience. Alicia credits United’s “openness to exploration,” the ability to have both “a classroom and a laboratory,” and the needs-based scholarship she received as keys to her success. In addition, “every professor has made a stamp on my work along the way,” and interactions with other students have been “just as fruitful and formative.” Real Life Applications For Dean Roberts’ class, Alicia “designed a whole Lenten series of spiritual practices that use improv” for her congregation. For example, one week she asked congregants to practice failure using the “failure bow”—an exuberant, joyous admission of failure that tricks the brain into getting more comfortable with and learning from failure.  More recently, she created a similar series for Advent. When the children’s minister asked her to devise something for the children’s pageant, he and Alicia designed an intergenerational service based on joy and improv. Toward the end of the service, Alicia used an improv game called “Slide Show” to help the children tell the story of Jesus’ birth. For the first slide, Alicia shared a piece of the birth narrative, and the kids acted out the scene on stage. On alternate slides, the children acted out another piece of the story, and Alicia had to explain what they were doing. Along the way, the kids added new characters and became very engaged in the storytelling.  The pageant, Alicia exclaims, was “probably one of the most joyful, wonderful experiences I’ve had in a faith community, ever.” It was also a reminder of how the DMin work is spilling over into her ministry.  This is “a full-circle moment,” Alicia declares. The gift of “bringing art back into my life through my ministry work has felt like I’m living into the fullness of who God really called me to be now.”

Read More >

©Copyright 2025 All Rights Reserved