6/11/2014 At Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, we have a particular call to live out our values in the world. In accordance with that call, our Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday, June 10, to begin divesting fossil fuels from the school’s entire $108.4 million endowment. We are the first seminary in the world to take this dramatic step in the fight against global climate change. News of Union's bold move has been featured in outlets like the New York Times and by 350.org. For more information about this important decision, please read our press release at: utsnyc.edu/divestment. This is an incredible moment in the history of our seminary, and we are overjoyed to share it with you!

NEW YORK — Newspapers across the country are reporting today that experts have confirmed the fragment of papyrus mentioning Jesus’ wife is more than likely an authentic ancient document and not a modern forgery. Union Theological Seminary New Testament professor Hal Taussig has worked closely with Harvard’s Karen King for the last 18 months on this fragment, known as “The Gospel of Jesus’ Wife.” Taussig is an expert on non-canonical ancient Christian documents and author of the recent A New New Testament, which contains ten ancient “lost scriptures” that helped shape early Christian communities. “The authentication of this fragment should help us get to the important questions of what it meant for the ancient world and what it means now,” said Taussig. “It is clear that Mary Magdalene was very important to early Christians, but Da Vinci Code fantasies of her being Jesus' wife tend to underplay her significance as a real leader in one of [...]

Statement from Serene Jones: "As the president of a seminary dedicated to social justice, I rejoice at today's announcement of the 'My Brother's Keeper' initiative by President Obama. At Union we recognize our responsibility to unlock the potential of all citizens, especially those, such as Black and Latino men and boys, who continue to struggle, for a variety of reasons, to achieve full participation in our society. The 'My Brother's Keeper' initiative embodies both this promise and this reality, and I am proud to support it." Learn More>>

Union Theological Seminary is pleased to announce that we have received a five-year $500,000 grant from the Lilly Endowment through their Early Career Pastoral Development Initiative 2013. Union’s program, Vision: Cultivating Prospective Pastoral Imagination, will invite two consecutive cohorts of 10-15 early, mid-career pastors to work with mentors at Union and beyond for a two-year curriculum. Utilizing the particular strengths of Union Seminary, participants will spend a semester each concentrating on new media, religious pluralism, and new economic models. The grant will enable an annual retreat, monthly meetings, and ongoing consultation with program mentors. Through Vision, pastors are able to develop projects that integrate the theological insights of the program in their congregations and local communities, as well as to Union students, the next generation of ecclesial prospectors. The Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President and Johnston Family Professor of Religion and Democracy, will direct Vision, and the Rev. Dr. Troy Messenger, Director and Visiting Assistant Professor [...]