In early October 2017, Dr. Christine Hempowicz (UTS’86) was elected as the first woman to hold the position of Vice-Chair on the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) Board of Trustees. Her appointment took place on the same day Canadian-born Rev. Franco Famularo (UTS’94) was elected as Chairman of the Board, filling the position previously held by Dr. Michael Balcomb, now Continental Chairman of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification/Europe (FFWPU/Europe). Dr. Hempowicz and her husband, Rev. Krystof “Chris” Hempowicz (UTS’84),- both...

UTS administrators often attend Association of Theological Schools (ATS) events. Experience shows that it is important for UTS to stay current with the conversations which are part of the theological landscape in North America. UTS has affiliate status with ATS. UTS introduced distance education in the late 1990s. Since 2011, UTS has offered a large number of online courses, both for graduate credits and continuing education units. UTS launched UTS-Online using the Popular CANVAS LMS plattform in the Fall 2017 and is gearing up for two more Online courses, currently open for...

On a chilly midweek evening, photographer and social justice advocate Munira Ahmed was asked if the White House rhetoric against Muslims has had a negative impact on her and other Muslim women. The ‘We the People’ poster model readily said no, the rhetoric won’t destroy them that easily she said. “Muslim women have gone through so much. Rhetoric won’t really destroy them. There is a lot of educating and reaching out to do,” she said during the last of the Speaker Series sponsored by UTS on November 29, 2017. Ridwan Adhami’s “I Am America” photo next to Shepard Fairey’s “We The...

As 2017 draws to a close, I hope you will consider giving an end-of-the-year charitable donation to UTS. Though there is always need, the news from UTS is inspirational.  Founded in 1975, UTS has seen both good and challenging days. Yet UTS continues to weather the ups and downs that are affecting the entire industry of theological education. Recently, I attended a conference for presidents of seminaries, which was held by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS). Listening to the experiences and the difficulties faced by many seminaries, I am happy to report to that UTS is...

For 15 years, from 1997-2011, Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) graduate, Ginger Nicholls (UTS’86), served as a missionary to the country of Nepal along with her husband, John, and then their daughter, Sophia. She has described their journey in her book, The Kalki Avatar: Tears for Nepal, a 267-page account of the hardships, tragedies and triumphs of life in a country with centuries of history and traditions based almost entirely on the Hindu and Buddhist religions. The three of them now reside in England, John’s homeland. Working with other missionaries and members of the Family...

As the first semester (8 weeks) of the newly implemented online courses at the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) reaches its end, the continuation and expansion of UTS-Online future looks truly bright. With only a few short months to plan and put the courses into place, over 40 students from Albania, Austria, Kosovo, Canada, and the United States signed up for one or both of the courses. Dr. Tyler Hendricks taught Unification Apologetics in Practical Contexts and Dr. Andrew Wilson taught Divine Principle in Depth. Despite the relatively short lead-in time before the launch,...

On October 9, 2017, the UTS Board of Trustees took a bold step forward by electing Rev. Franco Famularo as the first Chairman of the Board of Trustees not to live in the United States. Franco and his wife, Chizuru, reside in Montreal, Canada. (Photo) Rev. Franco Famularo (UTS’94) with his wife, Chizuru Famularo. Rev. Famularo, a 1994 graduate of UTS and the current National Leader for the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU) in Canada, joined the UTS board in the spring of 2014 along with Dan Fefferman, Crescentia DeGoede and Ernest Patton, before Dr. Hugh...

Going Beyond the Golden Rule Staffan Berg grew up in Gothenburg, a seaport in Sweden. He was working on his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering, when he was required to leave his studies to fulfill Sweden’s compulsory military service. “A year in the barracks may have set me on the path of a truth seeker. I was raised in the Lutheran faith tradition and was always taught that killing was wrong. In the army I was being trained to kill. I felt trapped; what moral paradigm was I going to follow?” This dilemma led Berg to study different religions and when his military...

Just looking at Inez Nocho, a second year student at Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) in the Doctor of Ministry program, wouldn’t give anyone the impression they were face-to-face with a revolutionary looking to make waves or challenge the status quo. Looks, however, can be deceiving. Nocho’s easy smile and warm demeanor belie the strength she exhibits as she struggles to bridge the gap between the church and some members who are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-gender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) community. While it may appear an obviously difficult position for a...