Tag: Progressive 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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September 1, 2026

Book Launch and Panel for “Howard Thurman: Reflections on a Luminous Life”

This event is a book launch and panel on Howard Thurman. Adjunct faculty member Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung has edited a new book titled Howard Thurman: Reflections on a Luminous Life, released on September 15, 2026, written by his protégé James Earl Massey. This biography and assessment of Thurman's thought was originally written in the 1970s. Howard Thurman was an active participant with author Massey in the content. The book was never published. Now, 50 years later, the book is available to the public with additional editorial commentary by Dr. DeYoung. This launch event for the book includes a panel discussion on the importance of Howard Thurman for today. Panelists are: United adjunct faculty member and DMin alum, Dr. Tamice Spencer-Helms (’26); Founding Pastor of New City Church, Rev. Tyler Ho-Yin Sit; and Associate Pastor for Justice and Mission at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Rev. Alanna Simone Tyler. Books will be available for sale at the event at a discounted price.

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July 29, 2026

2026 Fall Convocation: The Installation of Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis into the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts

Each fall, the United community welcomes the beginning of a new academic year and, with it, celebrates new faculty and institutional milestones. This year, we will gather to formally celebrate the installation of Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis as the first-ever occupant of the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts. Before joining United’s faculty, Dr. Sabia-Tanis served as congregational minister, community organizer, advocate, and teacher. He is exceedingly well educated and experienced in his field, having received his PhD from Graduate Theological Union, his DMin from San Francisco Theological Seminary, and his MDiv from Harvard Divinity School. As a theologian and scholar, he has focused much of his work on the intersection of art and LGBTQ+ religious identity and published notable books and articles. Until his appointment to this chair, he served faithfully as the McVay Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Social Transformation as well as Program Director for Social Transformation. The Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts was established by generous gifts from friends, alums, and former United faculty members. The endowed chair’s namesake, Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates, is United’s celebrated President Emeritus and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society, and the Arts. News of Dr. Sabia-Tanis’s appointment was announced this summer and widely celebrated by his colleagues as well as current and former students. This free event will take place on Thursday, September 24, at 12:15 PM CT. Happening onsite and online, Fall Convocation is always free and open to the public. Direct any questions to Jen Bingen Buck at jbuck@unitedseminary.edu or 651.255.6162. Please park on the south side of the CASE building (767 Eustis St., St. Paul, MN 55114). Need directions? Click here > Register Deadline: Please register by Tuesday, September 21, 2026.  

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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. 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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August 5, 2025

2025 Fall Convocation

United's 2025 Fall Convocation will include a formal celebration of United’s newly established Wilson Yates Chair of Theology and the Arts. Our speaker will be the chair’s namesake, Rev. Dr. Wilson Yates (President Emeritus & Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Religion, Society, and the Arts, 1967–2005). Wilson has made significant and lasting contributions to the life of United as well as the field of theology and the arts. He has expanded and deepened the connection between imagination, creativity, and theology as expressed through the arts, all of which have been at the core of United’s academic ethos for decades. The establishment of the Wilson Yates Chair of Theology and the Arts was made possible by a group of generous donors, including alums, current and former faculty, staff, and trustees, as well as those whose lives and vocations Wilson has impacted. Their gifts support, in perpetuity, the centrality of the arts at United as a core pillar of the seminary’s educational experience. This free event will take place on Thursday, September 25, at 12:15 PM CT. Happening onsite and online, Fall Convocation is always free and open to the public. Please park on the south side of the CASE building (767 Eustis St., St. Paul, MN 55114). Need directions? Click here > Direct any questions to Jen Bingen Buck at jbuck@unitedseminary.edu or 651-255-6162. Deadline: Please register by Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Note: We are aware of and working quickly to resolve an intermittent issue with our form vendor. If you experience any difficulties registering, please wait a couple of minutes and refresh the page. If you still encounter a problem, contact Andrew Fox at afox@unitedseminary.edu, and he will ensure you are registered. We regret any inconvenience. Photo by James Butler. Used with permission from Hennepin Avenue UMC.

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March 10, 2025

2025 Cohort Graduation and Showcase | Leadership Center for Social Justice

The Leadership Center for Social Justice at United invites you to join us onsite or online from 6:00 to 8:00 PM CT on Thursday, May 22, to celebrate the graduation of the Center’s 2024–2025 Cohort and experience a showcase of members’ transformational projects. Throughout this nine-month program, each student has committed time to sensing and discerning what is happening in their community and congregation. From that perspective, they worked to build a social justice ministry project that is concrete and contextual to their community and its needs. This graduation and showcase is an opportunity to learn more about projects the students have worked on and to celebrate them for their intentional and important work. Registration is free! Direct any questions to Stella Pearce: spearce@unitedseminary.edu Register

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December 10, 2024

Susan Draper White Lecture: “Battle for the Minds, Revisited” with Rev. Molly T. Marshall, PhD

United is very pleased to announce that our 34th annual Susan Draper White Lecture will take place on February 24, 2025, and feature Rev. Molly T. Marshall, PhD, United’s esteemed and beloved president. President Marshall’s lecture is titled “Battle for the Minds, Revisited.” Thirty years ago, writer and producer Steve Lipscomb created his first documentary, Battle for the Minds, about the Southern Baptist Convention’s conservative shift and how that was affecting women pastors. Prominently featured in the film was a progressive, feminist professor of Christian theology, and experienced pastor, at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky: Dr. Molly T. Marshall.  This year's lecture will feature Rev. Dr. Marshall's reflections on that pivotal episode in her professional and theological life and how the experience shaped the theologian and leader she has become, as United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities’ president. The evening will include a screening of the documentary along with Rev. Dr. Marshall’s remarks and reflections. Dr. Marshall writes: If you attend the Susan Draper White Lecture, you will witness a story of resilience. The documentary chronicles what happens to a woman who challenges the power structures that deem women unfit to exercise spiritual leadership. Although filmed nearly 30 years ago, it remains a cautionary tale about the crushing power of patriarchy—all too resilient itself as recent days attest. Indeed, misogyny is hurtling forward. It is not just my story, but the story of countless women whom the Church has silenced, marginalized, and castigated. While there have been many breakthroughs for women in ecclesiastical circles, contempt and abuse stalk their presence, claiming their leadership to be invalid and contrary to theological tradition. On the larger social landscape of politics, law, commerce, and education, the pernicious oppression of women—especially women of color—continues. Naming this reality and concrete resistance remains urgent. It will be an evening of reflection and thoughtful conversation about what is at stake when patriarchy prevails. This special event will begin at 7:00 PM and conclude by 9:15 PM. It will take place on United’s campus and will be available via live streaming. To learn more, please contact Jen Buck (jbuck@unitedseminary.edu). REGISTRATION

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November 27, 2024

Social Transformation Lunch: “Post-Inauguration Conversation”

Are you feeling anxious, fearful, and hopeless since the election? Oppressive power seeks to render us powerless by creating confusion and isolating us from one another. Join us for a theological conversation about our current conjuncture and what might be on the horizon nationally and globally. How are you “discerning the spirits” and what does it look like for you to act faithfully with others today? Gather onsite and online with Rev. Dr. Ry Siggelkow, director of United’s Leadership Center for Social Justice, and Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, director of our Social Transformation program, for a conversation about this fraught moment in US history and how we can move through grief and anger to affirm the exigency of justice. Join Us Via Zoom >

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November 22, 2024

Social Transformation Lunch: “Pre-Inauguration Conversation”

Feeling anxious, fearful, and hopeless since the election? Oppressive power seeks to render us powerless by creating confusion and isolating us from one another. Join us for a theological conversation about our current conjuncture and what might be on the horizon nationally and globally. How are you “discerning the spirits” and what does it look like for you to act faithfully with others today? Gather onsite and online with Rev. Dr. Ry Siggelkow, director of United’s Leadership Center for Social Justice, and Rev. Dr. Justin Sabia-Tanis, director of our Social Transformation program, for a conversation about this fraught moment in US history and how we can move through grief and anger to affirm the exigency of justice. Join Us Via Zoom >

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