Written by: United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities September 14, 2023

What Is Seminary?

Seminary is a word that originally comes from the Latin seminarium, “plant nursery, seed plot.” Long since obsolete, that definition of seminary has been wholly replaced by the centuries-long practice of describing a seminary as a training school. A theological seminary represents a remarkable graduate school program rooted in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding through the interplay of faith and reason.

While initially established for the vocation of ordained church ministry (Catholic priesthood or Protestant pastorate), seminary is now for those who wish to gain theological knowledge and apply this knowledge toward any number of possible vocations. Today, seminaries equip students with a diverse skill set, enabling them to embrace their unique calling and fulfill their purpose within their chosen vocation of ministry or spiritual leadership.

What’s the Difference Between Bible College and Seminary?

Bible colleges and seminaries serve distinct purposes within the realm of theological education, though some institutions may use the terms interchangeably or combine aspects of both approaches in their programs. That’s why it’s important to research specific institutions and their offerings so you know exactly what kinds of educational opportunities are available to you.

Bible colleges and seminaries generally differ in four key ways:

Focus and Scope: Bible colleges typically emphasize undergraduate education with a strong focus on biblical studies, theology, and practical ministry training. They aim to provide a comprehensive foundation in Christian teachings, equipping students for various forms of ministry or leadership within churches or Christian organizations. Seminaries, on the other hand, are graduate schools that offer advanced theological education, focusing on preparing students for ministry or social justice leadership, pastoral roles, chaplaincy, academic pursuits, or specialized areas of study within the broader field of theology. United is unique in its focus on interreligious engagement and the eager exploration of beliefs beyond Christian traditions.
Degree Offerings: Bible colleges generally offer associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in disciplines such as biblical studies, theology, ministry, or Christian education. These degrees typically span a broader range of subjects and provide a well-rounded education. Seminaries offer advanced degrees, including master’s degrees (such as Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Leadership, and Master of Arts in Ministry) and doctoral degrees (such as Doctor of Ministry), allowing students to engage in more specialized, in-depth study and research within their chosen field of interest.
Academic Rigor: While both Bible colleges and seminaries offer rigorous academic programs, seminaries tend to provide a deeper level of intellectual and theological engagement. Seminary education often involves critical analysis, advanced biblical exegesis, theological reflection, interreligious engagement, and research, preparing students for leadership positions, scholarship, and nuanced engagement with contemporary issues.
Targeted Student Population: Bible colleges often attract recent high school graduates or individuals seeking a foundational education in theology and ministry. They may offer programs tailored to accommodate students with diverse backgrounds and interests. Seminaries, however, tend to draw students who already possess an undergraduate degree, as many of their programs require a bachelor’s degree as a prerequisite. Seminary students often bring prior ministry experience, academic backgrounds, or a strong commitment to pursuing vocational ministry or advanced theological study.

What is a Seminary Degree?

Just as each individual’s journey in answering their vocational call is unique, the path to a seminary degree is equally diverse. At United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, we recognize the importance of offering a range of programs to accommodate the diverse needs and aspirations of our students. Whether you prefer in-person or online learning, our seminary provides a variety of flexible options.

Master of Divinity

Prepare for the pulpit and beyond with this versatile ministry degree. Whether you’re called to ordained parish ministry or board-certified chaplaincy, your Master of Divinity degree at United will prepare you to be an effective and compassionate faith leader in an ever-changing world.

Master of Arts

Are you interested in religion and theology primarily from an academic perspective? Want to pursue a PhD and/or a teaching role in a religious or academic institution? If that sounds like you, it’s time to see what United’s Master of Arts degree has to offer.

Master of Arts in Leadership

Are you looking for the theological framework and practical skills you need to become an effective leader in a business, elected office, or nonprofit? Our Master of Arts in Leadership degree is ideal for those who wish to lead from a faith-based perspective but aren’t interested in pursuing traditional ordination.

Master of Arts in Ministry

Are you seeking an academic and practical ministry training program, designed for flexibility and efficiency? If you’re preparing for ministry but neither need nor desire an MDiv, the MAM will provide you with foundational ministry knowledge and skills at a fraction of the time and cost.

Doctor of Ministry

Increase your capacity to minister in our globalized and multifaith world. United’s Doctor of Ministry 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 our Degree Programs page.

What Can You Do With a Seminary Degree?

A seminary degree opens up a multitude of meaningful and impactful opportunities for individuals seeking to make a difference in the world. With a seminary degree, you can pursue various 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 seminary 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.
Chaplaincy: Seminary graduates can work as chaplains in various settings such as hospitals, military organizations, correctional facilities, universities, and hospices. They offer spiritual and emotional support to individuals during challenging times, provide counsel, and facilitate religious services and rituals.
Counseling and Therapy: With additional training, seminary graduates can become counselors or therapists, specializing in pastoral counseling, marriage and family therapy, or mental health counseling. They integrate their theological background with therapeutic techniques to support individuals, couples, and families in their emotional and spiritual well-being.
Spiritual Directors: Seminary graduates who take coursework in spiritual direction can effectively support others in their personal spiritual development in both one-on-one and group settings.
Nonprofit and Community Leadership: Seminary graduates can contribute to the nonprofit sector, taking up roles in organizations focused on social justice, community development, advocacy, or humanitarian work. They can lead religious or faith-based organizations, guiding their vision, mission, and community outreach efforts.
Teaching and Education: Some seminary graduates pursue careers in teaching theology, religious studies, or ethics at educational institutions, including seminaries, colleges, universities, and schools. They inspire and educate students, fostering understanding and dialogue about faith, spirituality, and religious traditions.
Writing and Publishing: With a seminary degree, you can explore opportunities in writing and publishing, such as becoming an author, editor, or contributing to theological journals and publications. This avenue allows you to share insights, research, and perspectives on matters of faith and spirituality.
Arts Activism: With a seminary 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: Seminary graduates can contribute to shaping public policy by working in advocacy organizations, think tanks, or government agencies. Drawing on their theological perspectives and ethical frameworks, they can engage in research, analysis, and advocacy to influence policies that address poverty, human rights, environmental justice, and other social concerns.
Social Services and Community Development: With a seminary 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. Seminary graduates can contribute their spiritual insights and compassionate approach to help uplift individuals and communities facing social challenges.

These are just some examples, as the true possibilities are vast! A seminary 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.

What Are the Requirements to Get Into Seminary?

It’s important to recognize that each seminary and seminary degree program may have its own set of requirements. That said, there are overarching factors that commonly influence the graduate admissions process, fostering inclusivity and opportunity for aspiring scholars and ministers alike.

At United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, for example, there are NO LIMITS to admission based on religious affiliation, age, race, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression, or physical abilities and conditions. There are, however, academic, personal, and completion requirements for each of our four degree programs that prospective students need to meet. You can view them on our Admissions page.

Perceptions of Seminaries

Because seminaries have a long but not well-known history, outsiders may not know how to react when someone they know goes to a seminary. Rev. Phil Romine, a 2016 and 2021 alum, notes that when he told others he was attending seminary, he got a mix of reactions.

“Oftentimes,” he reports, ”people either changed the subject abruptly or took the liberty to share their experiences with faith/faith communities—either supremely bad experiences or ‘how they found Jesus.’ Most people I’ve interacted with think seminary is about indoctrination, so you can indoctrinate others.”

As Romine discovered, however, United was founded as an ecumenical seminary—a seminary that does not champion one branch of Christianity over another. In fact, the seminary’s students and faculty come from more than two dozen different faith communities, among them Muslim, Jewish, Pagan, and Humanist.

With a healthy, diverse student body, United’s scholarly, student-invested faculty can illuminate the origins of many faith traditions. Far from prescriptive, United is a seminary that invites critical thought and deep questions.

The Reality of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities

Though our seminary’s deep foundational roots were forged in the seminaries of Mission House Theological Seminary (founded 1859 in Wisconsin) and the School of Theology at Yankton College (established 1932 in South Dakota)—precursors to the United Church of Christ (UCC)—United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities emerged into the vibrant and rapidly changing world of the 1960s.

In 1962, when United came boldly into being, it became the first seminary formed under the auspices of the nascent UCC. Today, we continue to honor our UCC heritage and our original commitment to multi-denominational relationships as a foundation for genuine dialogue and a profound spiritual experience.

Because United is a Theological Seminary and not a School of Divinity, Rev. Romine suggests our focus is primarily pragmatic. Our seminary’s work, in other words, is grounded in the realities of the world in which we live. Or as Dr. Demian Wheeler has asserted, “United is a progressive seminary committed to the hard work of social justice.”

This personal and grounded approach to theological education at United has other benefits too. Rev. Romine sees seminary degree work as “a way to become a better human.” He continues, “The ability to practice and prioritize self-reflection, humility, and chart a course for personal and collective liberation are only a few of the very tangible benefits of attending seminary.”

Are You Being Called to Seminary?

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities can answer that call. With a progressive ethos, a creative culture, and an activist spirit, our seminary will challenge, nurture, and prepare you to be the innovative and compassionate leader the world needs you to be.

Click here to start a conversation with a member of our admissions team and learn more about our 30+ seminary degree programs.

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October 9, 2026

Alums Homecoming News Releases

Rev. Dr. A. Leon (Lee) Tredwell (’06) Honored As a 2026 Distinguished Alum

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is excited to announce that Rev. A. Leon (Lee) Tredwell, PhD—who earned his MA in Theology and Biblical Interpretation from United in 2006—has been selected as a 2026 Distinguished Alum. An accomplished preacher, teacher, and published author, Dr. Tredwell has championed biblical narratives that affirm the divinity of all people, regardless of their race, creed, color, class, gender, or sexuality. Adopted at age four, Lee was raised in the Baptist faith and felt called to ministry as a child. Even so, after earning a degree in Political Science and Sociology at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, he spent the first ten years of his professional life as a grain trader for Cargill. After connecting with Drs. Ralph and Alika Galloway, Lee found United, and his call was reignited. He remembers Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler (Professor Emerita of Biblical Interpretation, 1990–2020) and Dean Richard Weis* with great affection. Both teachers, he observes, “taught us to wrestle with the biblical text until it opened up and spoke.” They also introduced Lee to Black and post-colonial hermeneutics, and Rev. Dr. Weis led him to passages in Jeremiah 38 (Hebrew Bible) that sparked his interest in learning more about a Black character named Ebed-Melech. Lee also cites the influence of Rev. Dr. Christine Smith’s (Professor Emerita of Preaching 1992–2013) preaching courses on his life. In Colorado, at the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology, Lee completed a joint PhD program with a concentration in Religion and Social Change in 2017. Ronald Smith, a former United student who nominated Lee for this award, notes, “Dr. Tredwell has demonstrated that he is an innovator and compassionate leader who has served both inside the academy as a professor of African American Preaching at Iliff School of Theology, University of Colorado, Boulder, and in the larger community; he has served as [a] pastor, civil rights and human rights activist, and [a] chief executive officer in Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, and Texas.” Lee’s new book—Black, Queer and Blessed: My Story and the Biblical Story Churches Don’t Teach—was published in June 2025. As the description reads, “For all who believe God-Yahweh is angry, mad, disgusted, and against LGBTQIA+ folx, regrettably, you been had, misled, took, hood-winked and bamboozled! Black, Queer and Blessed, through lived experience and the excavation of the subjugated biblical narrative of Ebed-Melech, demolishes society’s antiquated mores.” The book is part memoir and part theological reflection on the Ebed-Melech revelation. In addition to his roles as teacher, preacher, and author, Lee has specifically worked to promote adoption of Black children from foster care and create affordable housing. These days, he serves as the pastor of Theology and Community Engagement at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida. As Ronald Smith asserts, “Dr. Tredwell is the embodiment and an exemplar of United Theological Seminary’s mission, vision, and values.” * of blessed memory 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, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge.

Lena K. Gardner (’15) Honored As a 2026 Distinguished Alum

[caption id="attachment_11955" align="alignnone" width="1920"] photo by Bethany Birnie[/caption] United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is thrilled to announce that Lena K. Gardner—who graduated with an MA in Justice and Peace Studies in 2015—has been selected as one of our three 2026 Distinguished Alums. A highly respected social justice activist and community leader, Lena is the co-founder and executive director of Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism (BLUU), a nonprofit founded in 2015 that creates life-giving and life-saving opportunities for spiritual community and Black-centered organizing. According to Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel (’13), Lena has “been a force in the Twin Cities’ religiously rooted justice ecosystem for the last 15 years.” Dr. Voelkel, Lena’s nominator, traces Lena’s justice-organizing acumen back to 2011, when she served on the Faith Organizing Roundtable—a body that coordinated religious communities’ opposition to the anti-marriage amendment. Lena went on to champion marriage equality in the 2012–2013 legislative session. After a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, shot and killed Michael Brown, Jr., an unarmed 18-year-old Black teen, in 2014, Lena played a key role in transforming the Faith Organizing Roundtable into the Multifaith Anti-Racism, Change & Healing or MARCH. “In that same period,” Voelkel notes, “Lena was a core team organizer of Black Lives Matter Minneapolis and served on its steering committee.” Lena was deeply involved, quoted in many national and local articles, and interviewed on Minnesota Public Radio after former police officer Derek Chauvin killed George Floyd in 2020. In April 2021, after a Brooklyn Center police officer killed Daunte Wright during a traffic stop, Lena co-wrote an article in the Sahan Journal demanding that Attorney General Keith Ellison prosecute the case, and that the Hennepin County attorney be removed. More recently, Lena embarked on another ambitious project. In May 2024, through the BLUU Cooperative Housing Initiative, she co-hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for an affordable housing complex for single parents in North Minneapolis. In a MinnPost article about the groundbreaking, Lena explained, “It’s really about trying to give back to one of the communities that made me…. We really see providing stable housing in a cooperative framework as one of the many paths to collective liberation and Black liberation. Ultimately, it’s about self-determination.” When Operation Metro Surge arrived in the Twin Cities in late 2025, Lena took action again. As Voelkel observes, she “returned to the MARCH steering committee…. When MARCH organized a clergy call (in five days) to which 700 clergy came, the ability to create and host such an amazing event owes part of its success to Lena’s relationships with communications specialists, graphic designers, and organizers.” Lena was also a driving force behind Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN), a mutual aid group she and Anna Stamborski founded in late 2025 to connect vulnerable ICE-targeted families with congregational networks whose members could provide shopping and transportation services. Through all of Lena’s indefatigable contributions to working for justice, Voelkel asserts, she “has focused on Black excellence, Black power, Black spiritual wholeness, Black beauty, and how non-Black folks can act in solidarity and followership of Black folks, particularly Black queer women. She has done so skillfully through building relationships across differences in ways that facilitate and deepen genuine relationships.”

Cori Berg (’98) Honored As a 2026 Distinguished Alum

United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities is elated to announce that Cori Berg (’98)—advocate, artist, and educator—is a 2026 Distinguished Alum. Cori earned her Master of Arts (MA) in Theology and the Arts in 1998, and for more than 27 years, she has integrated creativity, art, and spirituality into her field. Cori arrived at United in the 1990s, having majored in theater and minored in studio art during her undergraduate studies. “I knew I had an artistic voice,” she recalls, “but it didn’t make sense in any of the traditional contexts.” After seeing an advertisement for United’s Theology and the Arts program, Cori drove from Dallas to the Twin Cities to visit as a prospective student. A campus art exhibit by Merle Janis was all she needed to see—“this school had something I needed: strength, boldness, vulnerability.” For Cori, “life is liturgy.” She credits United with introducing her to “the freedom in a progressive faith.” At United, Cori learned to expand her creativity, which became a launching pad for a vibrant career. “United gave me a safe, nurturing space to explore, dream, and execute big things,” she writes. “I’ve continued that through the rest of my career as an artist, an educator, an administrator, and a speaker.” Art is central to Cori’s work and features prominently in her curriculum development for children. Her art was featured in the 2012 opening parade for the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge in Dallas, TX, a project that involved “seniors, children, and adults in all aspects” from a local Methodist community program. Ministry with Children and Spirituality, courses taught by Rev. Dr. Barbara Anne Keely (Professor Emerita, 1991–2015), were particularly formative for Cori’s future in education. “I remember she taught us to get on the floor and view the church nursery from a baby’s point of view,” Cori reflects. “I use this today over and over as I teach early childhood educators…. She introduced the idea of seeing oneself not as a separate body, mind, or spirit, but when one part of my being is suffering, to use the other parts to help lift that part.” More recently, Cori has been an active community member at Dallas Meditation Center, where she is known for her moving dharma talks that weave Buddhist themes into contemporary storytelling. In public schools and congregational settings, Cori has applied what she learned as a United student to the field of early childhood education, for which—nominator Rev. Jim Peck (’99) points out—she has become “one of the nation’s leading advocates.” When facing challenges in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cori leveraged her ingenuity and creative vision to support educators with online training resources. As a teacher and an administrator in spaces where lack of institutional funding and support are commonplace, Jim observes, “she uses her [United] education to work for justice and equity,” to “nurture relationships in the early childhood settings where she has served, with an expertise in working in settings in crisis to encourage recovery, healing, and new paths for serving the future.” In May 2026, Cori completed her MEd in Curriculum and Instruction at American College of Education, where she immediately enrolled to begin her EdD in Early Childhood Education. She serves as an executive director at the University of Kansas (KU) and anticipates returning to Dallas to live near her family at the end of the year while awaiting her next opportunity. We are delighted to celebrate Cori and her decades of faithful, innovative leadership in the field of early childhood education and art. 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, explore multi-faith spirituality, and push the boundaries of knowledge.