Union Presbyterian Seminary facts for kids
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| Type | Private seminary |
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| Established | 1812 |
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Religious affiliation
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Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| President | Jacqueline Lapsley |
| Location |
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United States
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| Website | |
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Union Seminary
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| Location | 3401 Brook Rd., Richmond, Virginia, U.S. |
| Area | 12 acres (5 ha) |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003309 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1983 |
Union Presbyterian Seminary is a special school for people who want to become ministers or other leaders in the Presbyterian Church. It has campuses in Richmond, Virginia, and Charlotte, North Carolina. Students can take classes in person, online, or a mix of both.
Contents
History of Union Presbyterian Seminary
Union Theological Seminary started in 1812. It was first a part of Hampden–Sydney College near Farmville, Virginia. In 1895, a kind person named Lewis Ginter gave the school eleven acres of land in Richmond. The school then moved to its current Richmond campus in 1898.
In 1914, another school called the General Assembly's Training School (ATS) for Lay Workers began in Richmond. This school trained people for church jobs that were not about being an ordained minister. In 1959, ATS changed its name to the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (PSCE). PSCE offered a master's degree in Christian Education.
Union Seminary and PSCE joined together in 1997, becoming Union-PSCE. In 2002, a new campus opened in Charlotte, North Carolina. This campus allowed students to study part-time. The Charlotte campus moved to a new building in 2012.
In 2009, the school's leaders decided to change the name to Union Presbyterian Seminary. This new name helped people know it was connected to the Presbyterian Church. It also helped tell it apart from another school in New York. For many years, the seminary also had its own radio station, WRFK, but it was sold in 1988.
Teachers and Experts
The teachers at Union Presbyterian Seminary are called faculty. They are experts in many subjects. These include the Bible, Christian education, theology (the study of God), ethics (what is right and wrong), and church history. They also teach about preaching, worship, and how to be a good leader in the church. The teachers come from different Christian backgrounds, like Baptist, Lutheran, and Methodist.
Students at the Seminary
Union Presbyterian Seminary has about 180 students. Around 90 students are at the Richmond campus, and 84 are at the Charlotte campus. Most students are from the Presbyterian tradition. However, the seminary welcomes students from more than 20 other Christian groups. These include Baptist, Methodist, and Episcopalian students. There are also many students from other countries, such as Ghana, South Korea, and Switzerland. Students at Union take part in different activities. They also help with service projects, like those at Shalom Farms in Richmond.
Campuses and Buildings
The Richmond campus has two chapels. Watts Chapel is a historic building that is also used for classes and offices. Lake Chapel is a newer building located in the Early Center. The Richmond campus also has a student center, places for students to live, and sports fields. The William Smith Morton Library was finished in 1996. It has over 900,000 books and adds about 5,500 new books each year.
The Charlotte campus is located on Sharon Road. This building opened in 2012. It has a chapel, a library, classrooms, and offices. It also has a special center for Christian Education resources.
What Students Can Study
The seminary offers different types of graduate degrees:
- Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.A.C.E.)
- Master of Arts in Public Theology (M.A.P.T)
- Master of Divinity (M.Div.)
- Dual Degree Program—Master of Divinity / Master of Arts in Christian Education (M.Div./M.A.C.E.)
- Dual Degree Program—Master of Arts in Christian Education/Master of Arts in Public Theology (M.A.C.E./M.A.P.T.)
- Dual Degree Program—Master of Divinity / Master of Arts in Public Theology (M.Div/M.A.P.T)
- Master of Theology (Th.M.)
- Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.)
The seminary also offers shorter certificate programs:
- Certificate Program in Christian Education (C.C.E.)
- Certificate Program in Public Theology (C.P.T.)
Famous People Who Attended
Many notable people have studied at Union Presbyterian Seminary:
- John M. P. Atkinson: A minister and president of Hampden–Sydney College.
- John Bright: A well-known scholar of the Bible and author.
- Erskine Clarke: A historian and author who won a special award called the Bancroft Prize.
- Jill Y. Crainshaw: A professor of religion and a leader at Wake Forest University.
- Leontine Kelly: The first black woman to become a bishop in a major Christian church (Methodism).
- Katherine Paterson: A famous author who wrote Bridge to Terabithia. She won the Newbery Medal twice.
- Holmes Rolston III: A philosopher who won the Templeton Prize.
