Union Presbyterian Seminary

‘You go to church to be fed to do the work you’re called to do’

“The language of feasting is often the language of the church,” the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney said to open her third and final Sprunt Lecture Tuesday in Watts Chapel at Union Presbyterian Seminary. “The expectation in Black church culture is you go to church to be fed to do the work you’re called to do.”

An old story told with fresh insight

The Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney will soon be publishing the second volume of her landmark book “Womanist Midrash.” On Tuesday as part of the 111th Sprunt Lecture at Union Presbyterian Seminary, Gafney gave a crowd gathered at Watts Chapel a taste of what she has to say about 1 Samuel 1 and 2, the stories of Hannah and Peninnah, their children and their husband, Elkanah.

Firing up our sanctified imagination

Who translates God words and how? That’s the question the Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney seeks to answer this week during three lectures she’s delivering this week at Union Presbyterian Seminary, the heart of the 111th Sprunt Lecture series. Watch the first lecture here.

Union Presbyterian Seminary President announces he will retire in June 2023

President Brian K. Blount announced to the board of trustees of Union Presbyterian Seminary at the board’s meeting Wednesday that he will retire as president of the seminary effective June 30, 2023. The board accepted his decision with deep appreciation for his 15 years of service and acknowledged his extraordinary leadership throughout his tenure.

‘Participatory democracy can be fun’

Panelists convened Tuesday to discuss protecting voting rights that in many states are increasingly imperiled decided by the end of the hour-long webinar that churches do indeed have an important role to play.

A ‘bridge builder’ at the Board of Pensions

The Rev. Dr. John G. McFayden, whose first employment in the Church was at age 13 as an employee of a Presbyterian camp on the North Carolina-Virginia line, has retired as Executive Vice President and Chief of Church Engagement for The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). His service spanned more than 40 years, 12 of them at the Board.