2010

174th Commencement

May 21: Union Theological Seminary celebrated its 174th graduating class. Learn more, view photostream, or watch the video!

2010 Annual Barry Ulanov Lecture

April 27: Speaker Phyllis Trible, "A Faith that Limps: Wrestling with the Bible." Learn more or watch the video.

The Vocation of Military Chaplaincy: Calling, Paradox, Or Misnomer?

April 21: Learning In Community hosts a discussion and reflection series for Union faculty, staff, students and friends. Learn More or watch the video.

Church and Society Lecture Series

People with a Mission, People with a Vision: Pentecostalism in the Borderlands

March 23: Presenters Dr. Raymond Rivera, and Union Professors Daisy Machado and Samuel Cruz. Learn more or watch a lecture.

Trailblazers 2010: Witnessing to the World

Feb 25, 2010: The sixth annual celebration honoring Union's black alumni/ae. Learn more or watch the video.

Honoring President Emeritus Donald Shriver

Feb. 15: Portrait unveiling and reception for Pres. Emeritus Donald Shriver Jr. Learn more, view the photostream, or watch the video.

Feb. 8, 2010: Book discussion and reception with contributing authors and leading feminist theologians. Read more or watch the video.

2009

Oct. 28, 2009: Inaugural address "Just Preaching: Embodied Word in a Virtual World." Learn more or watch the video.

Poverty Initiative Podcast: UN Housing Meeting

Oct 22, 2009: The Poverty Initiative hosted a town hall Meeting with the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing Raquel Rolnik. Learn more or watch the video.

Metropolitan Friends: The Religious Case Against Belief

Sept. 17, 2009: Drs. James Carse and Tom Driver to speak. Learn more or watch the video.

Sept. 10, 2009: Peter Singer on ethical engagement of poverty and justice issues. Learn More or watch the video.

Carr on Emergent Psalter Podcast  

Prof. Carr exegetes Psalm 51 with alumnus Isaac Everett '08. Listen.

Sept. 9, 2009: Fr. Roger Haight speaks on "The Theology We Need." Learn more or watch the video.

May 22, 2009: Union hosted its first Commencement celebration in the Quadrangle since 2004. Learn more about the ceremony or watch the video.

Going Beyond Hip-Hop

M.A. candidate Walter Hidalgo hosted a forum discussing the History, Politics and Spirituality of Hip-Hop. Learn more about the event or watch the video.

Dorrien on Economic Democracy

Calls for real alternatives to bailout. Watch the video!

Morse's Calvin Seminar on iTunes U

Celebrate Calvin's 500th with Prof. Morse. Learn more!

Christianity & the U.S. Crisis
Profs. Dorrien, Jones, & West's spring semester course on iTunes U. Learn more!

Trailblazers 2009

Press covers celebration of Union's Black Alumni/ae & Womanist theologians. Read it now!

2008

Inaugural Address of Pres. Serene Jones
Pres. Jones gave the following address at her inaugural celebration on November 17, 2008. Read more about the event. Listen to the podcast.

Convocation of the 173rd Academic Year
On September 3, 2008, Union convened its 2008-09 academic year. President Serene Jones addressed community. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Pres. Hough Honored

Remembering a remarkable presidency. View photos. Listen to tributes by Christopher Morse, Su Yon Pak, David Callard, and others.

Dean Cameron's Sermon Honoring Pres. Hough
Dean Cameron gave the following sermon on April 21, 2008, at a chapel service honoring retiring president Joseph C. Hough, looking back on the Hough years at Union, and forward to the work ahead. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Prof. Alan Cooper
Professor of Bible Alan Cooper's April 2, 2008 sermon: "Looking Up, Down, and Straight Ahead: Thoughts on the Season." Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Dr. Michael Kinnamon
Dr. Michael Kinnamon, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, delivers his March 31, 2008 sermon on interfaith dialogue: "Those Who Are Different, Those Who Are Evil, And How to Tell Them Apart." Listen to the podcast.

Prof. Knitter's Inaugural Address
Paul Knitter is inaugurated Paul Tillich Professor of Theology, World Religions and Culture. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

2007

Nielsen Chair Dedicated
Prof. McGuckin Installation
"Strange Case of Santa Claus," the installation address of Nielsen Prof. John McGuckin, was published in the Christmas issue of the New York Times. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Convocation 2007

Bishop Jefferts Schori Speaker

Union welcomed Presiding Bishop & Primate of the Episcopal Church, Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori as our distinguished speaker for Convocation 2007, which ushered in our 172nd academic year. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Book Talk with Chris Hedges
Author Chris Hedges reports on the radical Christian right Dominionists, in his new book American Fascists: the Christian Right and the War on America. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Rev. Alvan Johnson
Visiting professor of preaching Alvan Johnson gives a sermon in James Chapel on making the right decision. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Former President Joseph Hough, Jr.
A response to the Virginia Tech shooting tradgedy of April 17, 2007. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Justin Latterell '07
2006 Kneeland Preaching Prize winner Justin Latterell '07 delivers a sermon on the Parable of the Talents. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Prof. Lundblad on Easter
Prof. Lundblad delivers a sermon in James Chapel on the Resurrection and the bright, penetrating fire that is Jesus. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Stacy Smith '07
A sermon in James Chapel on Matthew 1:1-16, and the importance of genealogy and heritage. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Former Dean Jim Hayes
A reflection in James Chapel on his past 39 years working at Union as he prepares for retirement. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Kate Brooks '07
2006 Kneeland Preaching Prize winner Kate Brooks '07 delivers a sermon about climbing through difficult and trying times. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Hannah Brown '07
2006 Hudnut Preaching Prize winner Hannah Brown delivers a "Waiting for the Real Tomato," a sermon on authenticity, waiting, and hope. Listen to the podcast.

Gary Dorrien: Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics
On January 31, 2007, Union Theological Seminary inaugurated Gary Dorrien as Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics. The ceremony was preceded by a public symposium. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

2006

Union Medal 2006: Ophelia Dahl
Acceptance speech by Ophelia Dahl an advocate for the health and rights of the poor, co-founder of Partners in Health (PIH), based in Boston, Mass., and dedicated to addressing health inequities and social injustice. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Union Medal 2006: Paul Farmer
Acceptance speech by Medical anthropologist and physician Paul Farmer, founding director of Partners In Health, an international organization that provides direct health care services and undertakes research and advocacy activities on behalf of those who are sick and living in poverty. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Union Days 2006: Marcus Borg
Marcus Borg, the Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon State University, delivers two lectures at Union Days 2006. Read more. Listen to the podcast: Part 1 | Part 2

Convocation 2006: Dr. Larry Rasmussen
Larry Rasmussen, Reinhold Niebuhr Professor Emeritus of Social Ethics, delivers a lecture on Dietrich Bonhoeffer concluding Union's centennial commemoration of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's birth. Listen to the podcast: Part 1 | Part 2

Union Medal 2006: Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Acceptance Address by Archbishop Desmond Tutu recognized with the award for his spiritual leadership during the dismantling of South Africa's apartheid system; his pure stance of non-violence; his relentless quest to eradicate poverty, ignorance, and disease; and his visionary efforts to foster societal healng and democratic ideals. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Barry Ulanov Memorial Lecture: Dr. Cornel West
"The Socratic, the Prophetic, and the Democratic." Listen to the podcast: Part 1 | Part 2

Poverty Initiative: Amy Gopp '05 and William Burnett
Amy Gopp '05, Associate Director of Week of Compassion Ministries, delivers a sermon entitled "Where is the Victory," on Feb. 27, 2006. William Burnett, faith community organizer of Picture the Homeless delivers a sermon entitled "Palms and Ashes" on Mar. 1, 2006. Listen to the podcast.

2005

Reinhold Niebuhr Seminar
Prof. Gary Dorrien and Prof. James Cone speak on Reinhold Niebuhr. The primary text for this discussion is Dr. Neibuhr's book, The Irony of American History. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Rev. Alvan Johnson
Rev. Dr. Alvan N. Johnson, Jr. from the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bloomfield, Conn., delivers a sermon based on a scriptual passage read by Union student Jennifer Leath. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Prof. Carr
Professor of Old Testament David Carr preaching, while Union's Director of Worship, Troy Messenger, leading the service. And a reading of Exodus 17:1-7 by Alain Silverio, James Singletary, Susan Ketchin and Kim McNair. Listen to the podcast.

Union Days 2005: Elaine Pagels and Prof. Taussig
Prof. Hal Tausig will present an overview of the ways in which non-canonical early Christian text continues to captivate popular imagination. Dr. Elaine Pagels, best-selling author and religion scholar, will reflect on the question "What is the significance of these lost texts to you, your work, your world?" Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Rev. George Williamson
George Williamson, former director of the Baptist Peace Fellowship, is in James Chapel this afternoon as part of Union's Monday preaching series. Listen to the podcast.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Speaking at "Peace is Possible," an interfaith public service on September 26, 2005. Sponsered by The Peace Council, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding, the service took place at The Riverside Church in the City of New York. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Prof. Lundblad
A sermon entitled "Longing for a Midrash." Professor of Old Testament, Wyn Wright will read the scripture. Listen to the podcast.

Union Medal 2005: Judith Davidson Moyers
Convocation 2005 on September 7 ushered in Union's 170th academic year with two vibrant speakers, Judith Davidson Moyers and Bill Moyers, both of whom were awarded the Union Medal during the ceremony. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Union Medal 2005: Bill Moyers
Convocation 2005 on September 7 ushered in Union's 170th academic year with two vibrant speakers, Judith Davidson Moyers and Bill Moyers, both of whom were awarded the Union Medal during the ceremony. Read more. Listen to the podcast.

Chapel Sermon: Prof. Taussig
Visiting Professor of New Testament Hal Taussig delivers an afternoon sermon at Union.  Listen to the podcast.

2004

Convocation 2004: Bishop Gene Robinson
Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson addresses the incoming class of 2004. Listen to the podcast.