Tag: Liberation Theology

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September 18, 2026

United Launches National Search for Its Next President

The Position Profile and Application Are Now Available Today, the Presidential Search Committee, on behalf of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, is opening the national search for the seminary’s next leader. This comes after the July announcement of Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall’s 2027 retirement following six transformative years of institutional growth and expansion. United’s next president will helm a dynamic school with a student body that has more than doubled in size in just ten years; a world-class faculty of artists, scholars, and theologians; and a diverse and interreligious student body preaching in pulpits, ministering in ICUs, leading nonprofits, and organizing for the common good. In a message shared with the United community, trustee and committee chair Rev. Dr. Kenneth V. Daniel (’81) describes the committee’s work in concert with executive search firm Isaacson, Miller (IM) to help “the seminary step into the next chapter of United’s mission and ministry.” Describing the ideal candidate, Dr. Daniel writes, “We are seeking an engaged leader who will join our mission to inspire creative scholarship, advance innovative pedagogy, develop leaders of distinction, and move the school forward to increased sustainability and global impact.” As of today, the public profile of the President’s role, as well as the application, is available to prospective applicants. Additionally, the public is invited to nominate individuals for consideration by the Committee. The application is linked on an official landing page that features Dr. Daniel’s note and a list of the committee members and their affiliations. The committee includes trustees as well as current and former faculty, student, staff, and alum representatives. Each faithfully brings their experiences to bear on their assignment. Dr. Daniel urges qualified leaders from myriad backgrounds to consider applying, writing, “Leaders from interfaith and ecumenical traditions, academic disciplines, relevant professional and denominational roles, and innovators in educational practices are invited to consider this unique opportunity.” Visit the link below to learn more, nominate a candidate, or submit your application. Apply or Nominate a Candidate 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. Search Committee Contact Grace Pennings Guenthner (’26) Administrative Assistant, Presidential Search Committee pssearch@unitedseminary.edu

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March 19, 2026

Social Transformation Lunch—Easter as Uprising

"There has been a tendency to spiritualize resurrection, softening how radical and disruptive an act of resistance and justice it is. Some of our ancient spiritual forebears bore witness to the empty tomb as an uprising, an ongoing, embodied witness of getting up again and again in resistance to all that opposes abundant life." Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis. Join us after Chapel on Thursday, April 9, for a lunchtime conversation with Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis between 12:45 and 1:30 PM. Rev. Dr. Davis will lead a conversation reflecting on “Easter as Uprising.” Bring your own lunch and join the discussion in the Intersection on campus or on Zoom. This event is hosted by United’s Social Transformation Program and its Leadership Center for Social Justice. Rev. Dr. DeWayne Davis is ordained by the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches and has served as the lead minister at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis, with expertise in social justice analysis, advocacy, and organizing. As an adjunct professor at United, he teaches “Preaching and Your Public Voice” and “The Formed and Transformed Leader.” Rev. Dr. Davis is also a member of United’s Board of Trustees. Join us online at 12:45 PM CDT on April 9 at this Zoom link. >

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February 10, 2026

Rev. T. Michael Rock Preaching at Lyndale UCC

Rev. T. Michael Rock, United’s director of Contextual Education and Spiritual Direction, as well as an adjunct professor for Spiritual Formation and Contextual Education and shepherd of the chapel, will be preaching at Lyndale UCC (610 W 28th St,  Minneapolis, MN) starting at 10:30 AM CT on Sunday, February 22, 2026. He is also Lyndale UCC’s pastor for Congregational Life, and would love to see you at the service. Visit the church website to learn more.  

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February 10, 2026

Rev. Dr. Andrew Packman Preaching at St. Paul’s UCC in Delano

Rev. Dr. Andrew Packman, United’s assistant professor of Theological Ethics and Formation, as well as our program director for Formation, will be preaching at St. Paul’s UCC in Delano (201 Buffalo Street, Delano, MN) on Sunday, February 22, during the 9:15 AM CT service. He would love to see you there! Visit the church’s website for details. 

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February 10, 2026

Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis Preaching at St. Anthony Park UCC

Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, United’s McVay Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Social Transformation, as well as program director for Social Transformation, will preach at St. Anthony Park UCC in St. Paul —led by pastor Rev. Victoria Wilgocki (’06)—(2129 Commonwealth Avenue, St. Paul) on Sunday, March 22, during the 10:30 AM CT service. He would love to see you there! Visit the church’s website for details. 

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February 5, 2025

Book Launch—Trans Biblical: New Approaches to Interpretation and Embodiment in Scripture

Join us for the launch of Trans Biblical: New Approaches to Interpretation and Embodiment in Scripture, a new collection of wide-ranging essays published by Westminster John Knox. The book explores key issues animating trans-biblical interpretation from a variety of angles and emphases. Contributors, who represent a range of gender identities, answer the question—“What makes a biblical reading trans, or a trans reading biblical?”—in diverse and exciting ways. They also promote new ways of thinking about gender variation in the ancient world while more sensitively and critically addressing ongoing debates about gender and embodiment.  Several editors (including United’s adjunct faculty, Melissa Harl Sellew, ThD, along with Dr. Joseph A. Marchal and Dr. Katy Valentine) and contributors (including United’s core faculty, Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia Tanis) will offer brief remarks about the book, with a response by MA student Elliott Barnhill. Those who attend in person can enjoy light refreshments. Register below to join us onsite or online.

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September 5, 2024

President Molly T. Marshall to Preach at St. John’s

In anticipation of welcoming Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien to the Twin Cities on Wednesday, September 25, President Molly T. Marshall will be preaching at St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church twice on the Sunday before (during the 8:00 and 10:00 AM services) during St. John’s Racial Healing Holy Eucharist. St. John’s livestreams its 10:00 AM services, so if you cannot join us in person, you can access the service on their YouTube Channel. To attend in person, the church is located at 60 N. Kent St. in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit St. John's online to learn more and find directions.

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August 5, 2024

Guest Lecture with Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in St. Paul are jointly sponsoring a lecture by the highly esteemed American theologian and ethicist Rev. Dr. Gary Dorrien. The free event will take place at 6:30 PM on September 25, in the main church at St. John’s and be live-streamed on St. John’s YouTube channel. Dorrien, the Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary and Professor of Religion at Columbia University, will base his lecture around two of his recent publications: Anglican Identities: Logos Idealism, Imperial Whiteness, Commonweal Ecumenism and the autobiographical Over from Union Road: My Christian-Left-Intellectual Life. Both books have a 2024 publication date. In Anglican Identities, Dorrien offers a comprehensive historical examination of Anglicanism, encompassing the faith’s longstanding proclivity toward ecumenicalism and idealist approaches. He also argues that the religion’s aspirational ecumenical vision is directly antithetical to English Anglican’s entanglement with colonialism and white supremacy.  Over from Union Road, on sale September 30, is a rich memoir that describes Dorrien’s unlikely journey from being an academically inattentive high school athlete to becoming a renowned social ethicist, theologian, and intellectual historian. The book also covers Dorrien’s participation in the civil rights movement and other social and cultural upheavals during his lengthy career.  Dorrien will also participate in United’s Fall Convocation on September 26 as he joins us to celebrate the installation of his former student, Dr. Demian Wheeler, into the new Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies. The Lecture at St. John’s and United’s Fall Convocation are completely free to attend! View the venue address and information below.

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