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April 16, 2026
Alums

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 8, 2024
Alums

Clare Gromoll: United’s 2024 Spirit of United Alum

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is delighted to honor Rev. Clare Gromoll (’14) as its second Spirit of United alum award recipient. Established last year, the Spirit of United award celebrates recent alums who have done “exceptional work that reflects the mission of United in the church, in faith communities, or in society.” Clare—an adventurous scholar, gifted pastor, and skilled and thoughtful consensus builder—has accomplished that and more since she earned her MDiv. “At first glance,“ notes Rev. Kimi Floyd Riesch (’19, ’24), “nominating a person who has centered their work in parish ministry might seem strange, but that is only if you do not know the full scope of what Clare does in her life.” Currently, Clare serves as the pastor at St. Croix United Church in Bayport, Minnesota—a congregation recently formed from the merger of two local churches. Several years ago, St. Peter’s UCC in Stillwater entered a phase of contemplating a possible closure. Church participation was declining, and an interim legacy pastor decided to reach out to local churches to discuss options. Clare, then pastor of People’s Congregational Church in Bayport, agreed to invite the people of People's to explore the possibility of a merger. During this difficult time of growth, grieving, and transition, Clare joined the first cohort for United’s Leadership Center for Social Justice continuing education program in 2022. Reflecting on that experience, Clare asserts, “My experience with LCSJ helped my roots sink into my way of leadership. I drew upon community organizing principles and strategies so I could equip our Pastoral Relations Committee to engage in one-on-one conversations with church members on the periphery.” Announced by the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ on November 1, 2023, the newly created St. Croix United Church is dually affiliated with the UCC and the NACCC (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches). In 2024, the new congregation is doing the creative work of strategic visioning. They are excited to discern who and how they want to be as a progressive Christian church in the St. Croix Valley. As members of the two predecessor churches became the 103 charter members of the new church, Clare encouraged them: “Let’s live into this reality together and trust that we will love again. When people feel commitment, they can be more brave and flexible than they imagined, building on the hopeful energy within their sense of commitment. I think that’s what is going to happen here.” This year, as in the past several, St. Croix United Church joined with other area congregations to worship together on Palm Sunday. “I give thanks,” Clare recently shared, “for how the deeply collegial energy of our St. Croix Valley Ministerial Association strengthens me for my work as pastor within St. Croix United Church.” Later this spring, Clare will conclude another professional training program, “Leadership in the Valley,” offered by the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. Alongside 27 other community leaders, she participated in monthly learning days about aspects of the local area—from environment and agriculture; to business and economic development; to diversity, equity, and inclusion; to community and the arts. On behalf of the church, Clare is also a member of the Stillwater Noon Rotary Club. It is a long-standing connection. “I am forever grateful,” she explains, “for my year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student in the Dominican Republic in 2000, where I became bilingual and bi-literate.” She adds, “I think deep mutual appreciation lies at the heart of my approach to ministry…United has played a significant role in nurturing my approach to ministry.” On a personal and professional level, another trait that sets Clare apart is her unfailing optimism and nurturing for others. As Kimi explains, “She has modeled how to live without fear for both of her sons, one with Lowe Syndrome and one without, and she continues to show how becoming a minister is not about a title, but about transformation.”

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April 8, 2024
Alums

Sue Swanson: United’s 2024 Distinguished Alum

Sue Swanson, who earned her MDiv in 2005, has been selected as United’s 2024 Distinguished Alum. A highly skilled artist, teacher, and retreat leader, Sue has been serving communities through her arts ministry, Purple Apple Arts, since 2000. Classes, workshops, and retreats offer gateways to healing, wholeness, and meditation through art—beadwork, collage, knitting, labyrinth, Zentangle-style meditative drawing, journal-making, clay work, painting, drawing, music, and ritual. She calls her integrative ministry work Prayercraft.   According to nominator Kathy Deacon-Weber (’97), “Sue lives with intention.” She grounds her ministry with daily journaling and art practice, takes one art class every month, and offers up to four classes each month in art centers, churches, stores, conferences, schools, and with private groups. Sue also maintains memberships and certifications to deepen her understanding of spirit and context. She belongs to the Labyrinth Society and Minnesota Labyrinth Network and is an Advanced Certified Veriditas Facilitator, trained by Lauren Artress at Grace Cathedral. To enhance her appreciation, Sue made a pilgrimage to the early thirteenth-century labyrinth in Chartres Cathedral (France). Using her expertise, Sue has created hand labyrinths, canvas labyrinths, and outdoor labyrinths at churches, art centers, and even her backyard. Sue’s award-winning beadwork has appeared in several publications, and she involves herself with many group beadwork projects. Her beading classes include a history of how beads have been used as a meditation tool as well as for art and adornment. During the classes, participants can make meditation bracelets, gratitude beads, peace beads, house blessing beads, and spiritual journey necklaces. “I believe the thing that stands out with Sue’s arts ministry,” Kathy asserts, “is that she is responsible for the groundwork that formed it. She has researched and developed her classes and retreats on her own. She teaches traditional practices and crafts in a way that appeals to modern audiences. Her ministry is not grounded in one place or community.” One might posit that Sue’s gift for spiritual leadership emerged at the 1993 Reimagining Conference. Held in Minneapolis November 4–7, the event drew more than 2,200 participants—many feminist theologians, and mostly women. The conference invited participants to re-imagine the traditional male-centered language of Christianity and to broaden their understanding of God and what that might mean for the church. Sue attended the conference, and in the ensuing backlash, helped establish the Re-Imagining Community. She was a member of the ritual committee for the 1994 conference and worked to organize Re-Imagining groups throughout the country in 1995. In addition to committee work, Sue gave several faith labs or classes in local churches. She contributed writing and musical composition skills; she wrote for a Re-Imaging Community quarterly report and composed music for the conferences. For the 1996 conference, Sue and Nancy Berneking co-wrote “You Call Us,” a song published in Bring the Feast, Songs from the Re-Imagining Community (1998). In 2003, Sue edited the Re-Imagining ritual book, Bless Sophia: Worship, Liturgy, and Ritual of the Re-Imagining Community. Dr. Sherry Jordon, St. Thomas University’s Emerita Professor of Theology, who has been a part of Sue Swanson’s Re-Imagining Community for more than 30 years, notes, “Through her service to the Re-Imagining Community, her teaching, and her art, Sue has made great contributions to a variety of communities, both religious and secular.” She adds, “In her life and work, Sue exemplifies United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities’ commitment to theological exploration and artistic expression.” Join us in celebrating and congratulating Sue Swanson as this year’s Distinguished Alum!  

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March 21, 2024
Religion and Theology Theology VOICES

Keith and Mary Farrell Bednarowski Establish the Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies

In February 2024, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities was thrilled to announce the establishment of the Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies. Realized through a generous donation by Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies (1976–2004), and her husband, Keith Bednarowski (pictured at right), the Sophia Chair makes possible a tenure-track, endowed faculty position. An endowed chair is often named by the donor(s) whose gift establishes it. When considering this responsibility, Mary believed it “appropriate and appealing to name the chair after an ‘idea’ with sufficient depth of meaning, complexity, and connection to United. The name needed to inspire creative and dynamic explorations of religion, theology, and culture, an emphasis deeply embedded in all versions of the curriculum since United opened in 1962.” For Mary, the concept of “Wisdom” came to her immediately. “Within seconds of thinking ‘Wisdom!,’ there was ‘Sophia’ with its call to the feminine spirit of the Divine, and its connections to the Re-Imagining Community celebrating women’s theological creativity, which has been so much a part of United’s history.” “It suggests,” Mary asserts, “not only ‘knowledge,’ but the desire and capacity to put that knowledge to good use, to discern how to proceed based on what we have learned, to explore what to do with the knowledge we have acquired.”  Sophia raises questions that, for Mary, evoke “the more.” “I like to think of Sophia as the patron spirit of asking both new and old, profound, life-giving questions.” She continues, “I like to think of her as the inspiring spirit of the theological and religious imagination.” As a member of the United community for nearly 50 years, Mary observes that United has had distinct impacts on theological and religious education, both in the Twin Cities and beyond. She affirms that United has fostered an educational environment where “theological studies and religious studies dance happily together.” The religious studies aspect of the chair reinforces United’s long time insistence on the dynamic and creative relationship between theology and culture. For President Molly T. Marshall, this is an auspicious occasion in the life of United. “We revel in charting new pathways of wisdom even as we explore the faith traditions we have inherited. We anticipate that this faculty chair will extend the legacy of Mary’s scholarship and honor her capacity to encourage students to find critical distance from their traditions for the sake of clarification and commitment. Her search for wisdom will continue at United.” Mary insists that United must impact the social landscape as much as we possibly can for the sake of the common good. She continues, “I deeply believe we have to bring as much depth of response as possible to the profoundly evocative and complicated question, ‘What is going on here?’ Then comes the next question, ‘What are the most just and loving ways to respond?’” There is no doubt in Mary’s mind that United will continue to have a part in this essential work. Looking ahead, she says, “I have a very deep faith that this full-of-life seminary will persist and flourish for many, many years. Keith and I want to be part of that flourishing.” United excitedly anticipates the installation of Dr. Demian Wheeler, associate professor of philosophical theology and religious studies, into the newly established Sophia Chair during Fall Convocation on September 26, 2024.

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March 20, 2024
Alums VOICES

Bishop Lorna Halaas (’08) Imagines the Future of Seminary and the Church

Born on the prairie of western North Dakota, Bishop Lorna Halaas (’08) grew up in a family of storytellers. She was raised in Lutheran churches and recounts that her faith community was central to her life. One special lay leader—Mrs. Kurth—inspired her to consider ministry as a possibility, even before women could be ordained in her denomination. She recalls, “We had women who served on church staff who did faith formation, who did youth ministry, but I particularly remember a woman who served almost as a pastor. She taught Sunday school, confirmation, and oversaw the Christmas program.” As a young woman, Lorna said to herself, “I want to be Mrs. Kurth when I grow up." Like many women called to ministry, Lorna’s vocational path was not without obstacles. “When I was a kid,” she shares, “women in the Lutheran tradition were not ordained and could not serve as pastors. That was a little over 50 years ago.” Lorna graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, in 1979, just nine years after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) began ordaining women. For many years, she served as a director of Christian education in large congregations in Minot, North Dakota, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and also for the ELCA’s publishing ministry, Augsburg Fortress. So how did a Lutheran end up at United? She surprised herself: “I didn’t know much about United—I knew they had a good Women’s Studies program, and I knew they were very ecumenical and diverse.” While still considering her options, Lorna attended an event at United. The experience was transformative. “I felt like a kid,” proclaiming, “I have found my spot!” Lorna benefited tremendously from the instruction she received from United’s faculty, particularly Professor Emeritus Dr. Eleazar Fernandez and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates. She also prized the diversity of students. Citing interreligious and ecumenical partnerships she found at United, Lorna valued the ability to relate across differences through the power of stories. “I was the Lutheran; other students were Southern Baptist, Presbyterian, United Methodist, Muslim, Jewish, along with those from other Christian denominations. We had the most wonderful conversations.” For her, United’s interreligious and ecumenical learning environment felt right. “This is what the world was like... ‘This is my story, now tell me your story, and we will find common ground here in one another’s story.’” Lorna graduated from United in 2008 with an MDiv. In the years following graduation, Lorna served as a pastor in congregations in North Dakota and Iowa. In 2019, she was elected to serve a six-year term as Bishop of the Western Iowa Synod ELCA, overseeing 116 congregations. In keeping with her imaginative family—and, no doubt, the creativity intrinsic to United’s ethos—Lorna centers divine imagination in her view of the world. “If you ask the synod staff who work with me, they will say, ‘She is always asking us about our passion, what we’re curious about, and what might God be imagining for the church today.’” In 2025, Lorna will be up for reelection as Bishop. She believes, however, “it’s time for younger leaders... There are new voices, new ideas.” While many may view the future of congregational ministry warily, Lorna is looking with courage to what lies ahead. Present-day seminarians are preparing to serve a world with unique challenges not often faced by the generations of ministers who came before them. “I see pastors being equipped differently; I see people going to seminary not to do it all, but to preach, teach, and to equip lay people to go beyond the doors of the church and to be the church on the streets, in the shelters; wherever they may go, there God is.” We give thanks for Lorna’s humble, imaginative witness as a friend and alum of United.

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March 19, 2024
Public Theology students VOICES

Rev. Shannon Dycus Illuminates the Sacred in Education and Ministry

For DMin student Rev. Shannon Dycus, faith and education have been foundational influences and pursuits. “My story,” Shannon shares, “includes the nurture of wonderful Black women in my life and lineage. My grandmothers and mother modeled faithful and bold ways of living out their calls with ministries that were not allowed to flourish in their contexts.” In high school, a counselor saw her creative and leadership potential for guiding others. At Butler University, she earned a degree in secondary education. While she enjoyed working with young people in the classroom and after-school programs, Shannon felt something was missing. “I felt the gap,” she recalls, “of how to care for their spirits and lead holistically.” When she started at Christian Theological Seminary, Shannon intended to train as a therapist, but, as she recounts, “loving a congregation drew me in the path of an MDiv.” In 2019, she assumed the role of dean of students at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU), a private university in Harrisburg, Virginia, that “integrates Christian faith, academic rigor, artistic creation, and reflective practice.” “It all lives in my heart and body as ministry and education,” Shannon explains. “Since graduating from college, I have alternated between leading in ministry settings and learning communities, holding these two parts of myself as overlapping but not fully embraced in any specific space.” Pursuing a Doctoral Degree In early 2023, EMU promoted Shannon to vice president of student affairs and dean of students. Her priorities in this role involve strategically visioning co-curricular learning communities that promote social responsibility, holistic well-being, and academic success for EMU students. She also teaches several undergraduate courses, including a spiritual formation course. She earned a certificate in Spiritual Direction and Formation from San Francisco Theological Seminary. In her current role, Shannon asserts that she is responsible for “nurturing both spiritual and educational formation.” She felt compelled to enter a doctoral program to “do more development to integrate the two as grounding and strength.” While a PhD or EdD would have made sense in her academic context, she needed ample space for ministry too. “I believe the practices of education and ministry are sacred,” Shannon posits, “serving people and communities as they intersect with the hope of God around us. Seeking this degree is rooted in my hope to ground the rest of my career in practical perspectives that allow this belief to flourish.” Choosing United Shannon has been long drawn to those who “do their faith.” These public theologians operate with an awareness of their social context and with a determination to serve and support the common good. “In my search for public theology programs,“ Shannon observes, “United emerged quickly. Mason [Mennenga (’22), Admissions Counselor] was a prophetic voice in my discerning, and Dr. [Demian] Wheeler was the kind of thinker and leader I wanted to learn from.” For her dissertation, Shannon is researching and developing a tool to help faith-based higher education systemically engage practices of liberation. “That,” she explains, “is helping me advance the question of how structures teach power.” She continues: “My doctoral work and my vocation are in rich conversation with each other, like they are sitting on a warm porch drinking sweet tea while listening to each other and the wind hitting the trees. Not only has my role given me the chance to integrate my gifts, this program and my work at United is helping me give voice to the integration growing within me.”

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February 22, 2024
Announcements Religion and Theology

Donors Make Possible United’s New Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, February 22, 2024. Funded by a generous donation from Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski, Professor Emerita of Religious Studies (1976–2004), and her husband, Keith Bednarowski, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is thrilled to announce the creation of a new tenure-track, endowed faculty position. The position will be known as the Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies. Dr. Bednarowski chose the name Sophia for its obvious tie to wisdom as well as “its call to the feminine spirit of the divine; its connections to the Re-Imagining Community celebrating women’s theological creativity which has been so much a part of the history of United; its re-emergence in theological and biblical studies to animate creation spiritualities.” Asked what inspired their gift, Dr. Bednarowski reflected on nearly 50 years of connection with United—as a faculty member, board member, and now “a devoted and intensely interested onlooker who recognizes the wonderfully distinctive contributions United makes to theological education, to religious communities, to academia, and to our society.” In addition, she shares, “I have a very deep faith that this full-of-life seminary will persist and flourish for many, many years. Keith and I want to be a part of that flourishing.” The focus on Religious and Theological Studies is also linked to Dr. Bednarowski’s connection with United. She asserts that religious and theological studies “enliven, interrogate, and deepen each other,” and United has always managed to “sustain both the integration and the distinctiveness of different emphases and perspectives…exceptionally well.” For President Molly T. Marshall, the Sophia Chair marks an auspicious occasion in the life of United. “We revel in charting new pathways of wisdom even as we explore the faith traditions we have inherited. We anticipate that this faculty chair will extend the legacy of Dr. Bednarowski’s scholarship and honor her capacity to encourage students to find critical distance from their traditions for the sake of clarification and commitment. Her search for wisdom will continue at United.” Dr. Bednarowski’s hope for United is that the seminary continues to work “for the sake of the common good.” She adds, “Wherever we find ourselves, I deeply believe we have to bring as much depth of response as possible to the profoundly evocative and complicated question: ‘What is going on here?’ And then comes the next question: ‘What are the most just and loving ways to respond?’” During Fall Convocation on September 26, 2024, United will formally install Dr. Demian Wheeler, associate professor of philosophical theology and religious studies, into the newly created Sophia Chair. For his part, Dr. Wheeler shares, “I am profoundly honored to be the first occupant of the new Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies. It is very uncommon for theological seminaries to include courses and positions in religious studies. However, at United, we believe that religious studies is an essential part of theological education, enabling us to study religion and theology as aspects of human culture, to view religious traditions from a critical distance and through a multidisciplinary lens, and to uncover the theological meanings and assumptions of every cultural production, from economic policies to works of art, from political movements to scientific discoveries.” Details for that celebration will be made available in the coming months. 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 cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to train leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge. 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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February 15, 2024

United Launches Scholarship Initiative for Local Theology Students

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, February 15, 2024. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (United) is deeply grateful to be able to launch a new initiative designed to help address racial disparities in higher education. The initiative makes possible a tuition-free seminary education for up to eight students based in the Twin Cities. It also aims to create an intentional cohort of students for mutual support, special studies, and mentorship. Theological education, as it has been practiced for hundreds of years, has had a bias toward white supremacy. In the words of scholar Willie James Jennings, its desired outcome has been to form “the self-sufficient white man.” Consequently, Black people have not been accorded the same opportunities for theological education as their white counterparts.  Through the new initiative, United aims to provide leadership development for students who are interested in nonprofit leadership, congregational ministry, public service, education, and related pursuits. Cohort members can already be practicing in such a profession, so long as they desire theological training to learn more about the richness of Black spirituality as realized in contemporary forms, with attention to womanist scholarship, constructive theology, biblical hermeneutics, and church history. Beyond the core curriculum, there will also be special learning opportunities that speak to Black experiences in church and society. United is committed to systemic anti-racist work. The piloting of this program falls under that larger initiative. Transforming culture to become a racially just learning space will be enhanced by launching this selective program. President Molly T. Marshall regards this initiative as an expression of United's emphasis on justice. “Erasing educational disparities through this program begins to redress the lack of supportive space [for the study of Black spirituality and womanist theology] in historically white institutions.” Rev. Dr. Gary F. Green II, assistant professor of pastoral theology and social transformation and director of anti-racist initiatives, shares, “Providing more equitable access to the richness of Black spirituality not only places society in more diverse hands but will also transform classroom dynamics in service to building racial intelligence among the student body and community here at United.” This initiative is made possible largely through a generous donation from Frank and Robyn Sims. Those admitted to the 48-credit program will be known, therefore, as “Sims Scholars.” Criteria for Selection Individuals who are interested in this new opportunity must meet United’s standard admissions requirements. They must also: be exceptional in aptitude, vocational promise, and commitment to the mission of theological education; hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited undergraduate institution; have earned an undergraduate grade point average of B or better; reside in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, or close enough to commute for onsite mentoring and special events;  commit to being an active participant in the cohort; and be available for a personal interview. Because of the cohort’s selectivity, applicants must make time for a personal interview. The program is seeking applicants with strong leadership promise, so they must also submit an artifact that provides evidence of their vocational pursuit of prior leadership experience.  The Master of Arts in Leadership (MAL) can be an entry degree for those who ultimately desire the Master of Divinity (MDiv). While not a dual-degree program, the curriculum of the MAL is foundational and transferrable to the MDiv. To get started, visit our Sims Scholars web page. ______________ About United Founded as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to train leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge. Media Contact: Nathanial Green Director of Marketing & Communications ngreen@unitedseminary.edu

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February 7, 2024

United Creates Two New Theological Certificate Programs

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, February 8, 2024. United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (United) is pleased to announce the creation of two new theological certificate programs. The Certificate in Theological Studies and the Certificate in Applied Ethics and Justice will be available this fall. These 15-credit, five-course certificates offer yet another option for students who wish to gain graduate-level expertise without committing to a multi-year degree program. Ideal for individuals who do not want or need a degree, but would like advanced training in theological studies or social change agency, leadership, and social justice organizing, potential candidates include church-based lay leaders, bi-vocational pastors, and leaders within nonprofits with religious or spiritual concerns. Others may do so for personal or professional enrichment. Those who earn certificates can also decide to apply them to a future degree. Credits from both programs can be transferred into United’s MA, MDiv, or MAL degree programs. "The two new certificates arose,“ Dean Kyle Roberts observes, “from the recognition that a number of people are interested in taking seminary courses to enhance their careers or to explore their faith and spirituality, but a full degree may not be possible or necessary at this stage in their lives." He adds, "These certificates provide building blocks for connecting theology, ethics, and life, with the option to continue with a degree when they finish." Click here to learn more about our Certificate in Applied Ethics and Justice. Click here to learn more about our Certificate in Theological Studies. About United Founded as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to train leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge. Contact Nathanial Green (he/him), Director of Marketing and Communications United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities press@unitedseminary.edu • (651) 255-6138 About United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities Founded as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the cutting edge of progressive theological thought leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to train leaders who dismantle systems of oppression, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge.

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