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July 16, 2026
Leadership Center for Social Justice social transformation

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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January 5, 2024
Leadership Center for Social Justice social transformation

United to Host Livestream & Discussion of the Rainbow Push Coalition’s Emergency Summit for Gaza

President Molly T. Marshall, on behalf of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, joins fellow “faith leaders and civil and human rights advocates, all united in this moment of moral reckoning to affirm the sanctity of all human life. ​​We call on the Biden Administration and Congress to act for justice and the preservation of Palestinian and Israeli lives now.” “... We collectively urge the United States to leverage its power to end the atrocities underway now in Gaza, atrocities that meet the definition of genocide. A ceasefire is just the beginning.” The Leadership Center for Social Justice and Social Transformation Program also invites members of the United community to join us on campus for a livestream of the beginning of the Rainbow Push Coalition's Emergency Summit for Gaza taking place on January 12 at 11 AM CT.  You are encouraged to bring your own lunch. At 12:15 PM, Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis and Rev. Dr. Ry Siggelkow will facilitate a discussion for those gathered. Online attendees can register via Zoom. > To attend the full Chicago gathering and read the statement, click here. >

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December 8, 2023
Alums students

Rev. Riva Tabelisma (’20) Reflects on Returning to United

Rev. Riva Tabelisma (’20), an alum and current student, reflects in her own words on what it meant to come to the United States and enroll in seminary at United. Like most Filipinos, coming to the United States—to live in the land of “milk and honey,” the “greener pasture”—was my dream growing up there. My uncle, the first in our family to go to the United States, has told us many times that living in America should be a life goal. I’ve also always loved to study and learn, and was interested in attending seminary. In 2013, thanks to my uncle’s connection with Dr. Subree Subramanian at the University of Minnesota, I found out about United. In a nutshell, factors that led me to United were, first, the opportunity to go back to school, and second, the chance to fulfill my American dream. After graduating with an MDiv in 2020, I accepted appointments to three different churches through the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC). During that time, I also organized Bayanihan Fellowship, a community of Filipinos living in the Twin Cities, and created an adult curriculum (Living in the Kin-dom: Exploring the Lord’s Prayer as a Spiritual Practice for Social Transformation) for United Women in Faith. I am currently the pastor at Discovery UMC in Chanhassen. In addition, I just started working on my DMin through United. Why did I decide to return to United? I was at United when my theological self was formed. Going back to United for a DMin is like coming home. United provided the space for me to explore who I am as a Christian and a church leader. This gift included the space for me to embrace my authentic identity, which in turn allowed me to better integrate the pieces of myself into one whole entity. I am forever grateful.   

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December 5, 2023
Leadership Center for Social Justice

Rev. Clare Gromoll (’14) & Year One of the Leadership Center for Social Justice

In May 2023, 16 ministers—the inaugural cohort of the Leadership Center for Social Justice (LCSJ)—graduated from the nine-month program of education and formation. For their final project, each minister provided a showcase of their church’s social justice work. Some graduates have partnered with grassroots organizers to support migrant and housing justice. Others have implemented relational curricula for easing intergenerational conversations about race, gender, sexuality, and class. Rev. Clare Gromoll (’14, pictured at right) who participated in the inaugural LCSJ cohort, is the pastor of a church and congregation that was going through a transition. The congregation also had a passion for putting faith into action, but as the pandemic wore on, organizing grew harder. “My experience with LCSJ,” Clare asserts, “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.” Engagement was key since the congregation was experiencing “a significant time of multivalent discernment, change, and growth.” During its first year, LCSJ events have also attracted alums, United students, and others from local universities and faith-based organizations. The three-part Praxis series drew many participants. In December 2022, LCSJ presented “The Praxis of Love: A Community Conversation on All about Love by bell hooks.” In February this year, there was the “Praxis of Hope: An Evening with Ricardo Levins Morales,” and the series concluded in March with “The Praxis of Faith: A Panel on the Life and Faith of James Cone.” LCSJ even hosts its own podcast. Started in December 2022, podcasts have featured national and global social justice and theology experts including Beverly Mitchell, professor of systematic theology at Wesley Theological Seminary; Peter Linebaugh, historian and co-author of The Many-Headed Hydra: Sailors, Slaves, and the Hidden History of the Revolutionary Atlantic; Bridget Anderson, director of Migration Mobilities Bristol and professor of migration, mobilities, and citizenship at the University of Bristol; and Lewis Gordon, author of Fear of Black Consciousness and head of the Philosophy Department at the University of Connecticut, Storrs. Episodes have been downloaded by more than 1,500 listeners from across the globe. As we reflect on a very successful first year, we are inspired by all the possibilities the Center has brought to life. And, in the spirit of hope, faith, and love, we eagerly anticipate the transformational work that will continue to unfold for those affilitated with United’s Leadership Center for Social Justice.

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December 4, 2023
Alums Chaplaincy

Alums Sue Allers Hatlie and Lynda Lee Promote Healing in Prisons

For years, Rev. Dr. Sue Allers Hatlie (’85, ’04) and Rev. Lynda Lee (’14) felt a strong call to work with individuals in prison. For Sue, who grew up as a Missouri Synod Lutheran, ordination in that faith was not possible for women. Lynda was working in tax compliance for a wealth management firm and “drooling” over ARTS: The Arts in Religion and Theological Studies journal founded by Wilson Yates, United’s Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society and the Arts. Fortunately, both ended up at United and found the support they needed to become extraordinary prison chaplains.  The Road to United Sue attended college at Concordia College-Moorhead, a Lutheran-founded liberal arts school in northwestern Minnesota. Her plan was to become a lawyer or probation officer, but she relates that upon graduation, college officials sent her directly to Luther Seminary instead. Sue expressed a desire to become a prison chaplain but was told that could only happen after serving as a congregational pastor. Frustrated, she stepped away from the seminary and took Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) classes at the University of Minnesota. While there, a Catholic woman asked Sue if she had ever considered the United Church of Christ or United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. Lynda, who graduated from college with a music degree in piano, was always drawn to creative pursuits. She found out about United through their joint project with Minneapolis Institute of Arts and through the ARTS journal, and immediately felt a kinship with the seminary. She had even started volunteering in prisons, playing music, because she felt compelled to be with the prisoners. When her friend Patsy Herbert,* another artist, said she was taking classes, Lynda was motivated to enroll. Suddenly it seemed that everything in her life was preparing her for this next challenge. Still, it wasn’t until another good friend—Rev. Dr. Verlyn Hemmen, then director of chaplaincy at Allina Hospital—told her to sit down and fill out the application, that she actually set the wheels in motion to attend United. Experiences at United For Sue, United and the UCC opened wide the doors of possibility. United created a formation process that would enable Sue to be ordained and work as a prison chaplain. To satisfy her preference for learning by doing, or contextual education, United approved a plan of independent study. Sue studied liberation theology with Robert Bryant, Professor Emeritus of Constructive Theology. Professor Bryant took his students on an eye-opening trip to Central and South America, including Mexico, Nicaragua, and El Salvador, where the poverty and oppression mirrors the US “school-to-prison pipeline” for people of color. Fittingly, Sue’s internship was at Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)–Shakopee, an all-women’s prison. Once there, she found a mentor: United alum Carrie Dorfman (’78).* Her next CPE took place at the Hennepin County Home School, a behavioral treatment center in Minnetonka for teens in the juvenile justice system. Since it took her six years to graduate while balancing full-time work and school, Lynda had a lot of time to explore her interest in art. “Cindi Beth Johnson and Jann Cather Weaver were so good!” Lynda remembers. Through their classes, she learned that art was less a product and more an expression and process. Failure wasn’t an option. During her last semester at United, Lynda attended The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Ministers Institute where the keynote speaker was Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock. Brock had just published a book with Gabriella Lettini titled Soul Repair: Recovering from Moral Injury after War. The book, in reviewing the care needed for soldiers who sustain moral injury—an overwhelming sense of shame, grief, and remorse for having violated one’s core beliefs—covers narrative therapy and using art as a piece of that. During Lynda’s CPE placement at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Shakopee, she connected with an alternative medicine practitioner who taught her to use aroma therapy and guided imagery for self-care. The premise, as Lynda explains, is that these techniques “release the deep care for another’s story that is not mine to hold.” She learned to hold space for a client’s story, without keeping its emotional weight. The Good Work While at the Hennepin County Home School, Sue worked to get a chaplain position funded at the Juvenile Detention Center in downtown Minneapolis. As it worked out, Sue was employed by the Greater Minneapolis Council Churches for more than 30 years serving as a chaplain for Hennepin County Adult and Juvenile Corrections. During that time, she decided to re-launch a CPE program that the county’s correctional system had ended decades earlier. To do that, Sue dual-tracked a DMin at United with the Certified Educator Training through the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). At United, she worked with Christie Cozad Neuger (’80), United’s Professor Emerita of Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Theology, to build her practice of using narrative therapy as a foundation for spiritual care and counseling with those who are marginalized. Once a year, from 1998–2010, Sue also studied in person with narrative therapy founders Michael White and David Epston through training offered by Minneapolis psychologist Dr. Walter Bera. In 1998, Sue began to offer CPE units in correctional settings. Many chaplains in the Minnesota Department of Corrections have completed CPE with her. In 2017, she started to take CPE students into the MCF–Stillwater for a six-week course in Restorative Justice led by incarcerated men serving life sentences. Photo from the Spring 2023 CPE Graduation at MCF–Stillwater. Two years later, Sue sought funding to allow the incarcerated leaders of the Restorative Justice Council to become CPE students so they could earn master’s level theological education credits and develop their spiritual care skills. Sue’s nonprofit, Social Justice CPE, offers the only units inside prison with incarcerated students in the US. These same students found narrative therapy as a foundation for interfaith spiritual care so life-changing, that many have become adjunct faculty for the Social Justice CPE program. Lynda retired from her 25-year career in tax compliance in 2014 so she could begin a CPE residency at St. Cloud VA Medical Center the following January. It was there that she developed a specialization in trauma-informed care. Working with veterans in dual diagnosis and PTSD programs, Lynda wrote curricula, curated materials, and facilitated/co-facilitated groups to help individuals deal with inner conflict, self-acceptance, anger management, and image rehearsal therapy (nightmare management). After completing her clinical residency, job offers came in simultaneously from Allina Health Hospice and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. Once she remembered why she began her seminary journey, Lynda began chaplain work with the Department of Corrections in 2016. As she explains her choice, “I’m wired to see the underdog and advocate for the underdog, and I understand the oppressor and the oppressed.” She served at MCF-Oak Park Heights and MCF-Stillwater before being called to MCF-Lino Lakes. These days, in addition to providing spiritual care and all religious services, Lynda runs a quarterly grief and loss class for those incarcerated at MCF-Lino Lakes, a unique treatment facility with both medium- and minimum-security housing that also includes opportunities for secondary and higher education. In working with veterans and incarcerated individuals, Lynda encourages them to identify grief and loss in their life stories. Often trauma occurs in childhood, a time before one has the capacity to make sense of the events in their life. She uses the Internal Family Systems therapy model to identify individuals’ misbeliefs about themselves in a safe and nonjudgmental way so they can embrace those parts with compassion. “Part of the adult waking up,” Lynda explains, “is giving language to the deepest feelings/emotions we have absorbed as children in the midst of trauma.” She helps them to understand that the action that resulted in their incarceration was likely a desperate means of survival. At the same time, the action does not have to define them, and it doesn’t mean they are defective. By “peeling back layers” of protective veneer to expose foundational sources of grief and loss, Lynda can validate their pain, guide them to process past trauma, and teach them to feel compassion for their younger selves. She also offers spiritual direction in accord with their identified faith. Restorative Justice Both Sue and Lynda are committed to Restorative Justice and Liberation Theology. Their beliefs in and practices around trauma-informed care, narrative therapy, and relationship building are a far cry from the prototypically punitive “justice system.” It also offers prison leaders and those who leave prison greater self-awareness and renewed possibilities for hope and purpose. Wardens at MCF–Stillwater, Sue reports, have recognized that incarcerated individuals who went through the CPE training “make the prisons safer for incarcerated persons and staff.” The 20 trained “spiritual care mentors” (known by other incarcerated men as inmate chaplains) are on call 24–7 and use their well-developed spiritual care skills of de-escalation, conflict mediation, grief and loss processing, and trauma-informed and responsive care.   Damien, David, and John, three CPE alums, discuss the training and its ongoing impact. As Sue shared in a 2022 Social Justice CPE Newsletter, “As the CPE group forms and stories are told with such courage and accountability, there is a relational quality and sacred space that somehow happens. In the outpouring of stories—some horrendously tragic, some so pain-filled—there is yet the sparkle and shimmer of the spirit…the sacred…the light shining through the clouds.” As one of the incarcerated alums said at a Social Justice CPE graduation, “In this dark place, a little light goes a long way; sparking a hope is contagious.” Lynda also believes that the space she opens up with narrative therapy and internal family systems work can help each prisoner’s “soul spark” in recognition of their “divine self.” There’s a clear value to walking alongside each person, empowering them to be in charge of their own healing. When she helps prisoners prepare for parole hearings, Lynda explains, “we meet to process their life story, as the focus shifts from their crime and rehabilitation…to their inner story of change. My preferred metaphor is using ‘I am’ statements to ‘keep the boat out of the weeds.’ It is profound work to shift from ‘I'm not going to…and I'm no longer’ to ’I am.’” Gratitude To secure relevant spiritual resources for those with whom she works, Lynda says, “United continues to offer a deep bench of consults.” Sue asks, “What would I have done without United honoring my deep desire to do this work?” She has won national awards from ACPE for prophetic and innovative leadership. United is equally grateful for the spiritual dedication with which Sue and Lynda have ministered to those who have been exiled from society. We applaud their work to recognize that all people, regardless of who they are, what they have done, or what they believe, are beloved members of the community. * Deceased

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December 4, 2023

Exploring the Relationship Between Religion and the Arts

There are innumerable works of classic, modern, and Christian art that reveal the complex history of the arts in the human experience as well as religious traditions and worldviews. A few illustrations include: Contemporary Torah scrolls and their encasements Byzantine icons displayed in modern museums The ancient structure of the Kaaba draped in new silk White-washed walls of Reformation-era churches The monumental Bamiyan Buddha sculptures Andy Warhol’s pop art reproductions of Da Vinci’s Last Supper The dance of the Whirling Dervishes Navajo sand paintings Even this handful of examples points to the diverse ways that fine art forms like music, dance, and visual art have served to facilitate religious and spiritual experiences, support rites of passage, articulate theological meaning, and—in many cases—contest receptions, resulting in acts of iconoclasm or reform. Art or Religion: Which Came First? The arts have been vital in religious experience and expression across continents and cultures for millennia. It could even be argued that one would not exist without the other. Given that, for most of human history, the majority of the population has been illiterate, the arts have offered an important avenue for access to the holy. Thus, the arts must be interwoven within any academic study of religion and theology. Why Is Religion Such a Universal Muse? Because religion consists of human engagement with life experience and transitions, “big ideas,” and ultimate reality, it’s no surprise that religion has historically been—and continues to be—a major inspiration and influence in the arts. Before the early modern and modern art transition to “art for art’s sake,” most artwork was made to be used in some way—be it handled, kissed, manipulated, or experienced in other embodied ways. Visual art was often combined with architecture to create meaningful ritual environments. Music and spoken word could teach spiritual principles and guide participants in their liturgical actions. In short, the arts enrich and create religious meaning in a multitude of ways such as by instruction, embodiment, and process. Contrary to popular belief, artistic response and engagement with religion did not end with the so-called “secularization” of the early modern period. In fact, many modern artists of the 20th century, such as Jacob Epstein and Käthe Kollwitz, relied on religious iconography and concepts to respond to major events such as the atrocities of the World Wars. Contemporary artists of the late 20th and early 21st century continue to engage myth, spirituality, ritual, and iconography in their works to express deep human truths and concerns—from Kiki Smith to Mark Doox. What is a Theology and the Arts Degree? Theology and the Arts degree programs at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities—offered at the master’s and doctoral levels—prepare students to engage theological questions through a lens of the arts. Master of Divinity Drawing on both theology and the imagination, the MDiv in Theology and the Arts program prepares students for the classic functions of ministerial leadership, such as leading worship, preaching, understanding church history, providing pastoral care, forming people of faith, and leading a congregation. Using the arts as the primary lens, the program will enable graduates to lead a congregation or religious organization with practical skills that draw upon creativity and innovation. Master of Arts The MA in Theology and the Arts degree program prepares students to approach their theological study by engaging theological questions in a broad and systematic way, drawing on art history, aesthetics, practical arts, creativity, and imagination. The program has an academic focus on exploring justice, spirituality, and the human condition through the lens of art and theology. Doctor of Ministry The Doctor of Ministry degree allows students to increase their capacity to minister in our globalized and multifaith world. United's DMin degree offers specialized, focused training designed to further enhance the ministry of those with substantial experience in a ministerial leadership role. For more information, visit United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities’ Degree Programs page. How Does a Theology and the Arts Degree Differ from a More “Traditional” Theology Degree? A Theology and the Arts degree is inherently interdisciplinary and multi-modal. It connects scholarship and praxis/practice, which not only enhances student understanding of theological and religious concepts in the classroom but also invites innovative engagement in their vocations. Here are four ways in which Theology and the Arts and Theology degrees differ: Theological Discussions: Both degrees—theology and theology and the arts—explore religion and religious thought, but integrating theology with art offers a multi-faceted approach and thus greatly enriches theological discussions through the examination of aspects such as embodiment, process, and multimedia (as, for example, in the interaction between architecture, visual art, music, and speech in a liturgy). Learning Modalities: Seminaries typically educate students through extensive reading and training for preaching. At United, we also encourage creativity and learning by doing and drawing upon the arts in the classroom as a source of learning and critical thinking. All art forms are key, but modality studies indicate that many people learn and remember primarily through visual modes. For that reason, we emphasize visual arts in our theology and the arts courses. Forms of Expression: Unlike theology degrees at most seminaries that focus solely on ministry and preaching, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities accepts and affirms many forms of creative expression. Poetry, theater, visual arts, fabric arts, music, dance, photography, film, and more are conduits for the holy and invite theological reflection. Everyone has the capacity to draw upon the creative power of the arts for personal expression, spiritual reflection, and as a way of understanding the holy. We are all created in the image of a creating God.  Skill Development: When students take theology and the arts classes, it helps them to find ways to think “outside of the box” by engaging various art forms to think through theological ideas and questions—like writing a poetic reflection on the problem of evil or creating a sculpture from found objects that express hope. Understanding art as theology helps students open their imaginations and become better leaders. What Can You Do with a Theology and the Arts Degree? A Theology and Arts degree will equip you to bring an arts lens to a variety of ministry roles and contexts, from parish ministry to chaplaincy. It also supports work with arts organizations, other nonprofits, and educational communities. A Theology and the Arts degree opens up a multitude of meaningful and impactful opportunities for individuals seeking to make a difference in the world. With a Theology and the Arts degree, you can pursue paths aligned with your unique interests, skills, and calling. A degree from United will set you up for success in the following vocational paths and meaningful pursuits: Congregational Ministry: Many theology and the arts MDiv graduates become ordained or licensed ministers and serve as pastors, providing spiritual leadership, guidance, and support to congregations. They have the privilege of leading worship, delivering sermons, conducting sacraments, and offering pastoral care to individuals and communities. Arts Activism: With a theology and the arts background, you can blend your passion for the arts with social activism. Whether through visual arts, music, theater, or film, you can use creative expressions to address social issues, advocate for justice, and inspire positive change within communities. This may involve organizing art exhibitions, performances, or cultural events that promote dialogue and raise awareness about important causes. Public Policy and Advocacy: As a theology and the arts graduate, you can contribute to shaping public policy by working in advocacy organizations, think tanks, or government agencies. Drawing on your theological perspectives, artistic talents, and ethical frameworks, you can research, analyze, and advocate to influence policies addressing poverty, human rights, environmental justice, and other social concerns. Social Services and Community Development: With a theology and the arts degree, you can work in various social service organizations, nonprofits, or community development agencies. This may involve coordinating programs that provide food, shelter, healthcare, and counseling services to vulnerable populations. As a seminary graduate, you can contribute your spiritual and artistic insights and compassionate approach to help uplift individuals and communities facing social challenges. Artistic Professional:  If you bring a strong arts background to your theology and the arts degree program, you may return to your profession with a new appreciation for all that art and theology encompass as well as the ways in which theology and art are inextricably intertwined. Nonprofit and Community Leadership: As a theology and the arts graduate, you can contribute to the nonprofit sector, taking up roles in organizations focused on creative pursuits (including museums and galleries), social justice, community development, advocacy, or humanitarian work. You can lead arts-related, religious, or faith-based organizations, guiding their vision, mission, and community outreach efforts. Writing and Publishing: With a theology and the arts degree, you can explore opportunities in writing and publishing, such as becoming an author or editor, or contributing to theological journals and publications. This avenue allows you to share insights, research, and perspectives on matters of faith, art, and spirituality. Chaplaincy: With a chaplaincy certificate, you can use your theology and the arts degree to work as a chaplain in various settings such as hospitals, military organizations, correctional facilities, universities, and hospices. You can offer spiritual and emotional support to individuals during challenging times—often through creative means—and provide counsel and facilitate religious services and rituals. Counseling and Therapy: With additional training and your theology and the arts degree, you can become a counselor or therapist, specializing in pastoral counseling, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling. You can integrate your theological and arts backgrounds with therapeutic techniques to support individuals, couples, and families in their emotional and spiritual well-being. You can also become a spiritual director, developing practices offering spiritual companionship. Teaching and Education: If you are a theology and the arts graduate who obtained a doctoral degree, you can pursue careers in teaching theology and the arts, religious studies, or ethics at educational institutions, including seminaries, colleges, universities, and other schools. You can then inspire and educate students, fostering understanding and dialogue about faith, art, spirituality, and religious traditions. These are just some of the many examples, as the true possibilities are vast! A theology and the arts degree equips you with a strong foundation in theology, ethics, pastoral care, and spiritual leadership, enabling you to make a positive impact in the lives of individuals, communities, and society as a whole—in your own unique way. How United Approaches Theology and the Arts The Theology and Arts program embraces the arts (broadly understood to include all art forms) to be an essential medium of theological and religious meaning. As we often say at United, “Art IS theology.” That is, art is not merely illustrative of text-based theological ideas, but rather the arts—dance, comedy, cooking, craft, sculpture, poetry, and more—are themselves uniquely capable of creating and communicating theological meaning. Because United values the arts in theological education, all students—regardless of degree program and concentration—are required to take at least one arts course. Moreover, the arts are infused into the life of United outside of the classroom in opportunities such as the regular “arts lunches,” gallery exhibits, guest artist talks, and community arts projects during Symposium week. Is a Theology and the Arts Degree Right for You?  Whether you identify as a practicing artist or an arts-appreciator, there is a place for you in United’s Theology and the Arts program. Whether you are looking to inspire and ground your arts practice with theology, philosophy, and/or spiritual practice, or you are a minister, chaplain, or religious or community leader who wants to infuse your work with the arts, United’s program will equip you with the academic knowledge, creativity, and spirit of curiosity and play that will enhance your vocation. We invite you to sit in on a class, attend an arts event, view our recorded past events and lunches, or set up a meeting with a faculty member or student to learn more! Interested in learning more about or pursuing a theology of the arts degree at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in Minnesota? Contact our admissions team to explore our 30+ seminary degree programs today!

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November 15, 2023
Faith Progressive Christianity Public Theology

What Is Progressive Theology? United’s President, a Faculty Member, and an Alum Explore Answers

On November 4, 2023, President Molly T. Marshall, a Christian theologian, and Dr. Demian Wheeler, United’s associate professor of philosophical theology and religious studies, traveled to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. At Spirit of Peace UCC in Sioux Falls, they joined Rev. Charles Owens, a 2013 alum and the church’s senior pastor, to unpack the question: What Is Progressive Theology? The panel was moderated by District 10 Representative Kameron Nelson, South Dakota's only openly gay state representative.  (more…)

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November 13, 2023
Alums Chaplaincy VOICES

Alums Rev. Dr. Sue Allers-Hatlie and Rev. Lynda Lee Promote Healing in Prisons

Rev. Dr. Susan Allers-Hatlie (’85, ’04) and Rev. Lynda Lee (’14) are prison chaplains. Sue, an Association of Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) Certified Educator, teaches CPE to prisoners and seminarians inside Minnesota Correctional Facility (MCF)-Stillwater. Lynda, a trauma-informed care specialist, runs a grief and loss class at MCF-Lino Lakes. In their work, both have created uniquely effective means of ministering within prisons. Answering a Call Sue was raised in the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and considered being a lawyer or probation officer. Directed by her Lutheran college to a seminary, her burgeoning interest in prison chaplaincy was deemed an unacceptable path. Stepping away, she found a CPE course at the University of Minnesota and a mentor who pointed her to United and the UCC. United offered a contextual formation process to meet Sue’s goals. She studied liberation theology with Rev. Dr. Robert Bryant, Professor Emeritus of Constructive Theology, who took students on an eye-opening trip to Central and South America where poverty and oppression mirrors the US “pipeline to prison.” She completed an internship at MCF-Shakopee, a women’s prison, with alum Carrie Dorfman* (’78). Lynda, a music major in college, has always been creative. She discovered United through a United/Minneapolis Institute of Arts joint project and ARTS: The Arts in Religion and Theological Studies. Gradually, Lynda realized she wanted to work with people in prison and began volunteering. When her friend, Patsy Herbert* (’15), said she was taking classes at United, Lynda decided to apply. Working full time, Lynda earned her MDiv in six years. A CPE unit taught her to recoup energy expended in ministering. United’s arts emphasis helped her value the process of creation as storytelling and subvert the idea of failure. In her final semester, Lynda met Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, whose book, Soul Repair, reinforced the practice of using art in narrative healing. Making a Difference In 1998, Sue started a DMin at United and Certified Educator Training through ACPE. Rev. Dr. Christie Cozad Neuger (’80), Professor Emerita of Pastoral Counseling and Pastoral Theology, guided Sue’s work in narrative therapy. Sue then offered CPE units in correctional settings. In 2019, she sought funding to expand CPE training to imprisoned leaders so they could gain credits and learn spiritual care skills. It was the first such program in the US. Since finishing CPE units with seminarians and incarcerated leaders, Sue asserts that “doing CPE inside prisons is a way to practice anti-racist commitments, integrate restorative justice, and live out liberation theology.” It is also systems change. Prison chaplaincy is vital to restorative justice. As Lynda explains, when she can help people to deconstruct sources of their pain/grief, become aware of somatic responses to feelings, and accept that past events and actions do not have to define them or their future, a new life story becomes possible. “Real healing,” she adds, comes from “addressing losses that have been unarticulated and offering compassion to those parts of yourself.” Lynda also seeks out relevant spiritual resources for the diversity of faith communities at the prison. For this work, she says, “United continues to offer a deep bench of consults.” “What would I have done without United honoring my deep desire to do this work?” Sue asks. She has won national awards for being prophetic and innovative. “United seminarians,” she adds, “have been amazing, and transformations are literally contagious as the learning unfolds between all of the students!” * Deceased

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November 10, 2023
Academics interfaith Interreligious

“Celebrating a Nearly Six-Decade Connection: United and Collegeville Institute”

SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA, UNITED STATES, November 10, 2023 — Founded in the 1960s, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research have been knitted together throughout their histories. At a meeting in November, the two ecumenical faith organizations will celebrate their close and enduring connection. When United President Molly T. Marshall joined the Collegeville Institute board in 2023, she joined the august company of many United administrators, faculty, and alums who have also served on the board and in other capacities over the years. These connections, spanning decades of cumulative involvement, illustrate values rooted in accordant religious objectives. President Marshall, who has more than one touchpoint with Collegeville, first became aware of the Institute in the late 1990s. In the fall of 2000, she was selected as a resident scholar, and planned to consult with the eminent pneumatology scholar, Father Kilian McDonnell, OSB, about her book—Joining the Dance: A Theology of the Spirit (2003)—and “enjoy the liturgical rhythms of the Benedictine community there.” The History This intertwining of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (founded in 1962) and Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research (chartered in 1967 as the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research) has understandably deep roots. Both organizations were founded with ecumenical intent, and both prize research and scholarship. Collegeville Institute, however, originated from the tranquil, bucolic settings of the community in which it was first imagined by a Benedictine monk from Saint John’s Abbey, Father Kilian McDonnell. Father McDonnell, now 102, was the Institute’s first president, a title he holds to this day. Collegeville Institute is irrevocably tied to its location. It anchors its ecumenical core in a setting that cannot help but evoke visceral rapture at the soothing call of nature. It was constructed with walls of windows on the shores of Stumpf Lake by the Hungarian modernist architect Marcel Breuer, who had designed Saint John’s Abbey a few years before. As the Institute’s written history attests, “The cry of loons was considered a fitting, even necessary, backdrop to the work to be done.” United, born out of the United Church of Christ (UCC) and grounded in the urgent needs of an ever-changing world, continues to confront forces that would reject Christ’s call for justice, peace, and belonging for all of creation. Our setting, inside an old industrial building at the heart of the urban Twin Cities, and scattered world wide through distance learning, relies on relationships, scholarship, art, expression, and hope. The Crossover In a eulogy penned November 2, 1989, by H.C. Piper, Jr.—chair of Collegeville Institute’s board of directors and a United alum (’74) and supporter—the Institute mourned “the death on the Eve of All Saints of Louis Gunnemann, a charter member of the Institute’s Board of Directors.” Dr. Gunnemann, who served as dean at Mission House and at United, also supported the founding of Collegeville Institute. “Louis understood from the beginning,” Piper wrote, “how the Institute’s special genius depends on its being independent while at the same time drawing sustenance from the work and worship of the Benedictine community.” Rev. Dr. Clyde Steckel, who joined United’s faculty in 1970, knew about Collegeville Institute while in ministry at the University of Minnesota. In 1983, he became a resident scholar at the Institute while on sabbatical from United. In 1993, he joined the Institute’s board. Steckel suggests that it was easy to serve United and the Institute because there was no conflict of interest. “Both organizations,” Steckel explains, “had a similar mission and purpose: nontraditional, theological education.” Besides, he adds, “We all like to get out in the woods and by the lakes.” Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski, who covered Steckel’s sabbatical at United, was enticed to attend a luncheon for the Institute by acting United president Rev. Dr. Molly McMillan, one of the Institute’s founding board members. She’s been a supporter ever since. In 1990, Bednarowski was invited to be part of a three-year summer consultation. In 1996, when McMillan asked if she would join the board, Bednarowski remembers, “It took me about 30 seconds to say yes.” She adds, “I think of the Institute itself as a magical place, and that is also how I feel about United. The ‘magic,’ as I have experienced it in both places, is a gift freely offered to all who enter.” McMillan also invited Rev. Dr. Gary Reierson (a 1978 and 1986 United alum and current United trustee), to join the Institute’s board in 2000, when he was president and CEO of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. He says he was inspired to join because the Institute “has an international reputation as a leading ecumenical think tank.” Reierson also notes that there is a similarity of mission between United and the Collegeville Institute, where he now serves—as do Steckel and Bednarowski—as an honorary life member of the board.  Rev. Kathi Austin Mahle (also a 1978 alum) has served on United’s board and on the Collegeville Institute board. “United,” she explains, “has this focus on ecumenical education, which then also reflects the ecumenical nature of Collegeville Institute. We’re all working toward a changed world and greater understanding that comes through education and providing scholars with the opportunity to explore their work in an ecumenical environment.” Looking to the Future As President Marshall reflects, “I chose to join the board of Collegeville Institute because of my appreciation for the time I spent there researching and writing. At the midpoint of my academic career, the time as a resident scholar opened new vistas of learning, especially in a community of scholars where we assessed one another's work. It was a transformative sabbatical for me.” While neither United nor Collegeville Institute could have foreseen the seismic changes in the world over the past six decades, both have nonetheless weathered the storms of change. Both have evolved and adapted, and remain true to their founding ideals.  Media Contact Nathanial Green, Director of Marketing & Communications ngreen@unitedseminary.edu 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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November 7, 2023
students VOICES

Rev. Canon Tyrone Fowlkes Melds Art and Justice into His Ministry

Born into a religious family, DMin student Rev. Canon Tyrone Fowlkes grew up in what he describes as, for years, “the only Black Wesleyan Church in Indiana—what I affectionately call the ‘old church.’” He credits his upbringing in the church for giving him “the faith for which I will always be grateful.” These days, however, Tyrone has moved past his conservative upbringing and embraced a vision of ministering through faith, justice, and art. “Growing up,” Tyrone remembers, “I had an acute awareness of mistreatment and injustice…and was particularly attuned…when it occurred in the church.” He guesses that a desire to call out unjust treatment of women and those in the LGBTQ+ community perhaps fueled his sense of call to ordination. “I had a burgeoning career as an art director,” Tyrone shares, “when I noticed what felt like a tug at my spirit.” In 1995, he enrolled in an MDiv program at Christian Theological Seminary (CTS)—affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)—in Indianapolis. Choosing United for the Next Step The pandemic caused Tyrone to re-examine his life and future. He already had several years of practical ministry experience, but no clear direction. “Suddenly,” he recounts, “I could sense an urgency to start weaving together my life as an artist, my history in social services, and my passion for justice.” It was time to move on to a doctorate degree. Why United? “I’ve known about United for a long time,” Tyrone  explains. He remembers reading United’s journal, ARTS: The Arts in Religion and Theological Studies, at CTS and says it was one of the few resources that allowed him to “envision being an artist and a leader in the church.” In the end, “the decision to enroll at United was the obvious choice.” Preparing for the Future As he pursues his DMin, Tyrone says he’s been gleaning lessons both from faculty and fellow students. “I’m learning,” he says, “that effective religious leadership right now is dependent on openness, understanding, and flexibility. I see great examples of this in my peers who are engaged in some rather challenging ministry contexts.” To make an impact, he asserts, “We now have to minister…in contexts that are increasingly multi-faith, spirituality-fluid, and secular.” Faculty, Tyrone suggests, encourage students to develop the capacity to hold in balance ambiguity and uncertainty while embracing spontaneity and creativity. He credits his Public Theology, Engaging in a Multi-Faith World, and Arts for Leadership classes for “tapping into some of the problem-solving skills which I intuitively practice as an artist in ways that also apply to the various arenas in which I travel as a priest.” At present, Tyrone is serving as the Canon for Congregational Life at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, a position he accepted last year. He notes that while the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) helped him recognize his ministerial gifts, the Episcopal Church inspired in him the desire to become ordained and step into the priesthood. Tyrone is currently in his 14th year of the priesthood. Equipped with his DMin in Theology and the Arts, Tyrone hopes to “start integrating everything that I have pondered, learned, and experimented with in the arts, in social justice, and in ministry.” He can envision a new model of ministry at the “intersection of faith, justice, and art” that will help faith communities “deepen their connections to the neighborhoods they occupy” and gain the skills they need “to affect social change.”

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