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2007 E-Newsletters 

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December 2007 E-Newsletter

  • December 12, 2007
    The Blaze
    New initiative for youth leaders set for Jan. 20-23
    Nearly 100 youth leaders will gather at Montreat January 20-23, 2008, to begin a new conversation about youth ministry. “The Blaze” is open to all who work with youth as mentors, church youth directors, and pastors for youth.
  • December 14, 2007
    Register online for San Diego event
    APCE Alumni/ae Luncheon Planned Feb. 15
    Those attending the annual conference of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators in February are encouraged to attend the annual alumni/ae luncheon sponsored by Union-PSCE.
  • December 10, 2007
    Grant Available for Small Church Pastors
    Christian Education in the Small Membership Church
    Thanks to a recent grant from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), ten $125 scholarships are available to pastors of small membership churches to defray the cost of this February event at Union-PSCE.
  • December 14, 2007
    Cornel West to speak at Union-PSCE April 23
    Cornel West, professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University, will give a public lecture at Union-PSCE on Wednesday, April 23, 2008. West has been called one of America’s most gifted, provocative, and important public intellectuals. Union-PSCE is co-sponsoring the event with partners at several other institutions in the Richmond area.
  • December 14, 2007
    Taste and See, inaugurations
    Lectures and Public Events On Tap for Spring 2008
    Taste and See, a series of informal lunch presentations will feature a professor and a recent graduate in Spring 2008. Numerous other public events are planned in Spring 2008 as well.
  • December 14, 2007
    Kindling Weekend Planned for Jan. 31 – Feb. 2
    A “Kindling Weekend” for alumni/ae of Project Burning Bush and college students who have been highly recommended for ministry by pastors or educators, is planned for January 31 – Feb. 2, 2008. The event is limited to up to 12 participants.
  • December 14, 2007
    50-year Anniversary
    WRFK Remembered in Library Celebration
    A reception and dedication celebrating the founding of public radio in Richmond was held Friday, Dec. 14 on the campus of Union-PSCE. Public radio in Richmond was established at Union Seminary in 1957.
  • December 13, 2007
    Schuele’s Inaugural Address Online
    Dr. Andreas Kurt Schuele was inaugurated as the Aubrey L. Brooks Professor of Biblical Theology on November 14. Dr. Schuele’s inaugural address "In the Vicinity of God: The Idea of Divine Nearness in the Hebrew Bible," is now available online.
    Please click here to read his lecture.

 November 2007 E-Newsletter 

  • November 19, 2007
    Grant Supports Youth Program at Union-PSCE 
    Project Burning Bush, the youth initiative of Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education, has received a grant of $100,000 from the Katherine and Thomas M. Belk Foundation.

  • November 19, 2007
    Mark Your Calendar:
    Presidential Inauguration and Sprunts Planned in May 2008
    Mark your calendar for the inauguration of Brian K. Blount as President of Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education. The inauguration will take place at 4 p.m. on May 7, 2008, in Richmond. The inauguration will come at the conclusion of the annual Sprunt Lectures, slated for May 5-7.

  • November 19, 2007
    New Union-PSCE President Plans Upcoming Visits
    Brian K. Blount has traveled from Virginia and North Carolina to California in his initial months as president of Union-PSCE. A full schedule of preaching and speaking engagements is planned for the coming months.

  • November 19, 2007
    Alumni/ae Asked for Opinion of ATLAS Serials Service
    The William Smith Morton Library of Union-PSCE offers all alumni/ae of Union-PSCE access to an electronic aid to their work in ministry. The service provides access to the full text of 100 major titles in theology, bible and/or religious studies.

  • November 19, 2007
    Mideast Travel Seminar Planned for May
    Union-PSCE professors will lead a travel seminar to Egypt, Jordan, and Israel/Palestine May 8 – 28. The professor-leaders are Samuel Balentine, Stanley Skreslet, and Rodney Sadler. The event is open to alumni/ae, church leaders, and other members of the Union-PSCE community.

  • November 19, 2007
    Successful One in Mission Campaign Celebrated
    President Blount Preaches at Service of Thanksgiving
    Union-PSCE marked the successful conclusion of its One in Mission comprehensive campaign on Nov. 1, 2007. The events included a service of thanksgiving and an international reception. Brian Blount, president of Union-PSCE, preached at the campaign celebration. The text and an audio file of his meditation are available online.

  • November 19, 2007
    David Huffine To Join St. Joseph’s Villa
    Union-PSCE’s director of development, David Huffine, is leaving Union-PSCE to join St. Joseph’s Villa as vice president of financial development. "I have loved my work and being part of the Union-PSCE community," said Huffine. "My 11 years here have been a time of great professional growth and spiritual formation. My belief in the mission of this place remains steadfast, but I feel that God has now called me to this new opportunity."

  • November 19, 2007
    Practicing Our Faith: New DVD Coming Your Way
    "Practicing Our Faith," a DVD program featuring Union-PSCE faculty members Pamela Mitchell-Legg, Karen-Marie Yust, and Paul Galbreath, will be distributed along with the fall issue of Focus, mailing this month. The program offers practical suggestions on ways congregations might deepen their life together in the church.

October 2007 E-Newsletter

  • October 19,  2007
    Campaign Celebration Planned for Nov. 1
    The successful conclusion of the One in Mission campaign will be marked with a service of thanksgiving and an internationally-themed celebration on November 1.

  • October 15,  2007
    Where Art and Theology Meet
    The author of three books on Vincent Van Gogh will speak at Union-PSCE on Friday, Nov. 9 at 7:15 p.m. Dr. Cliff Edwards, professor of religion and arts at Virginia Commonwealth University will discuss "The Mystery of Van Gogh’s Night Café."

  • October 9,  2007
    Taste and See Series Planned for Fall
    Union-PSCE has announced a fall series of presentations and conversations over lunch in Lingle Hall on the Richmond campus.

  • October 9,  2007
    President Blount to Preach for Anniversary in Newport News
    President Brian K. Blount will preach at Carver Memorial Presbyterian Church on Sunday, Oct. 21 as part of the celebration of the 115th anniversary of the Newport News church he served as pastor from 1982-1988.

  • October 19,  2007
    Prospective Students Encouraged to Visit
    Do you know someone God may be calling to ministry? Upcoming Weekends to Inquire for prospective students are scheduled for the Richmond and Charlotte campuses.

  • Wink Crafton, coordinator of campus security, dies
    Wilfred “Wink” Crafton, a Richmond police officer and for many years the coordinator of the Union-PSCE campus security force, died October 14. He was 57.

September 2007 E-Newsletter

August 2007 E-Newsletter

July 2007 E-Newsletter

  • July 16, 2007
    Brian Blount Will Preach and Speak in Fall 2007
    The new president of Union-PSCE, Brian K. Blount, has a full schedule of preaching and speaking engagements in Fall 2007. Blount, named the president of Union-PSCE in March, assumed his new position on July 1. He and his family are relocating to Richmond this summer.
  • One In Mission Campaign Raises $56 Million for  Union-PSCE
    The One in Mission campaign, a $50 million effort for Union-PSCE begun in 2001, concluded June 30 with more than $56 million in commitments to the seminary. The largest campaign in the seminary’s history, it drew support from nearly 6,200 individuals, alumni/ae, churches and foundations. "Words simply cannot express the deep gratitude we feel toward those who so generously supported the seminary,” said Syngman Rhee, honorary chair of the One in Mission campaign.
  • July 16, 2007
    Teens Taste Seminary Life
    Project Burning Bush is in its 7th year
    On a recent July day eight teenagers stood on ladders scrapping wallpaper from the walls of an old house in downtown Richmond to the beat of Christian Rap music. Not many teens would choose to spend their summer this way, but this group did. They were part of the Project Burning Bush Institute. From July 1-14, fourteen high school students lived on the Union-PSCE campus and explored their gifts for ministry. 
  • July 16, 2007
    Summer Language School Intense
    Forty students on the Richmond campus are learning new alphabets, vocabulary, and grammar this summer as they take intensive classes in biblical Greek or Hebrew. The learning is part of the annual Summer Language School at Union-PSCE.
  • July 16, 2007
    Faith Seeking Understanding
    Charlotte Series to Focus on Mission
    The Rev. Dr. Marian McClure is the featured speaker for the Faith Seeking Understanding series, October 14 & 15 at Union-PSCE at Charlotte. She will share stories and perspectives from her work at two events in the community.
  • July 16, 2007
    Union-PSCE at Charlotte Reaches Out to Hispanic Church Leaders
    On Saturday, July 7, Union-PSCE at Charlotte sponsored a daylong seminar for Hispanic church leaders in the central Carolinas. Fifteen pastors and teachers participated in the “Programa De La Academia Latina de Liderazgo,” led by Dr. Cesar Carhuachin, Coordinator of Latino Ministries for the Presbytery of Charlotte. 

June 2007 E-Newsletter

  • Commencements Held in Richmond, Charlotte
    Caps and gowns, tearful hugs, inspiring words, and lots of photographs marked the commencement ceremonies held by Union-PSCE in Charlotte and Richmond this spring. The events marked the close of a chapter for retiring President Louis B. Weeks, who delivered the commencement address at both services. There were 64 degrees conferred in Richmond on May 26 and 11 in Charlotte on April 21.
    List of 2007 Graduates

May 2007 E-Newsletter

  • May 18, 2007
    Union-PSCE Student Jessica Tate Wins National Preaching Award
    Jessica Tate, a master of divinity student from Union-PSCE, has been selected to receive the 2007 David H.C. Read Preacher/Scholar Award given by Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York City.
  • May 18, 2007
    Sprunt Lectures Draw Record Crowd
    The enthusiasm of alumni/ae and friends who attended the Sprunt Lectures was palpable. Held for the first time this year in May, the annual lecture series drew a record crowd of more than 450 alumni/ae and friends of the seminary.
  • May 18, 2007
    Trustees, President-Elect Visit Union-PSCE at Charlotte
    The Board of Trustees of Union-PSCE held its May meeting at Queens University of Charlotte, which hosts the seminary extension on its campus. It was the last board meeting for outgoing President Louis B. Weeks. Brian Blount, president-elect of Union-PSCE, also attended.
  • May 18, 2007
    One In Mission Campaign Surpasses Goal, Annual Giving Remains a Priority
    Union-PSCE has successfully surpassed the $50 million goal for the One in Mission comprehensive campaign. “The campaign has been a great success, and its results will be visible for years to come,” said Gayle Hunter Haglund, vice president for institutional advancement at Union-PSCE. While the successes have been many and remarkable, financial challenges remain.
  • May 18, 2007
    Douglas Ottati’s Service Recognized
    Douglas F. Ottati, professor of theology at Union-PSCE for 30 years, was recognized with a community lunch and symposium on “The Future of Ministry in the Liberal Church.”
  • May 18, 2007
    Howie Conference Draws Scientists, Artists, Theologians
    The Carl Howie Center for Science, Art, and Theology held a stimulating and informative event, fostering dialogue between artists, scientists, and theologians. 

April 2007 E-Newsletter 

  • April 23, 2007
    Spring Commencements Send Graduates Forth
    Louis Weeks is the speaker for a commencement service this weekend in Charlotte, and on May 26 in Richmond. The sermons will be among his last public remarks before retiring as president June 30.
  • Seminaries: Catalysts for Revitalization of the Church, President-Elect Says
    Brian Blount, president-elect of Union-PSCE, offers his perspective on the role of seminaries in an interview excerpt.
  • Prayers Offered for Virginia Tech
    Chaplain and Dean of Students Edna Banes offers comfort at a difficult time. Alex Evans, pastor of Blacksburg Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Union-PSCE, is profiled in the New York Times as he comforts the grieving.
  • April 10, 2007
    Doug Ottati Heading to Davidson
    Doug Ottati, a member of the faculty for nearly 30 years, will leave Union-PSCE to become the first Craig Family Distinguished Professor in Reformed Theology and Justice Ministry at Davidson College. A public celebration of Ottati’s service is planned for Friday, May 18.
  • April 19, 2007
    Frisbee Tournament Brings Guests to Union-PSCE
    Wet weather, cold temperatures, and even several unfortunate injuries could not dampen the enthusiasm of the 2007 Union-PSCE Ultimate Frisbee tournament, which attracted teams from seminaries the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
  • Ministry Fund Reaches Out
    Student Elizabeth Lovell shares thoughts on her call and education, part of a new effort to attract a new generation of supporters to Union-PSCE.
  • April 19, 2007
    Sprunts Schedule Updated
    The schedule for the Sprunt Lectures includes a memorial service for Isabel Rogers and Ben Lacy Rose; a chance to meet President-Elect Brian Blount; a reception for retiring president Louis B. Weeks; and the unveiling of a portrait of Professor Emeritus James Smylie.
  • April 19, 2007
    Howie Speaker Wonders About Our Place in the Universe
    One of the speakers at the Carl Howie Conference for Science, Art, and Theology on April 27-28 asks, “Are We Alone?”

March 2007 E-Newsletter

  February 2007 E-Newsletter

  • Taste and See Series
    Community Invited to Lunch With Union-PSCE Professors
    A series of lunchtime presentations March 6 – May 15 will feature seminary faculty Beverly Zink-Sawyer, S. Dean McBride, Jane Rogers Vann, Louis B. Weeks, and Samuel E. Balentine.
  • April 21
    Charlotte Commencement Planned
    Union-PSCE at Charlotte will host its second commencement exercises on Saturday, April 21, 2007 at Selwyn Avenue Presbyterian Church. President Louis B. Weeks will be the commencement speaker; 11 students will receive degrees. 
  • April 27 – 28
    Howie Conference will explore the world from three perspectives
    The 2007 conference of the Carl Howie Center for Science, Art, and Theology will feature a biblical scholar, planetary geologist, and an award-winning photojournalist.
  • Register online
    Sprunt Lectures set for May 2-4
    Alumni/ae and friends of Union-PSCE are encouraged to register for the Sprunt Lectures online. “The Bible in Christian Worship” is the theme for the event, held May 2-4. 
  • Bridge to Terabithia
    Film version of alumna Katherine Paterson’s novel opens nationwide
    A film version of Bridge to Terabithia, based on the Katherine Paterson novel and produced by the Walt Disney Company, opened nationwide February 16. Paterson is a 1957 graduate of Assembly’s Training School.

January 2007 E-Newsletter 

  • January 15, 2007
    Congregations Honored for Effective Ministries 
    Union-PSCE has announced the winners of the 2007 Congregation Awards recognizing innovative ministry in Christian education, outreach and social concern, and ministry with young children, youth, and special populations.
  • January 15, 2007
    Union-PSCE Plans Restructuring for Newbury Center
    Plans aims to restore original vision of Center for children’s faith formation
    Union-PSCE has announced plans to make changes aimed at reclaiming the original vision of the Josephine Newbury Center for Early Childhood Education.
  • January 15, 2007
    Strong response to ATLAS program; Participants asked to complete survey
    There has been strong response to the offer by The William Smith Morton Library to make available electronic versions of more than 70 theological journals.
  • January 15,2007
    Charlotte Graduates Making an Impact
    After just two years, graduates from the Charlotte campus -- like their counterparts from Richmond -- are making a difference in the church.

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