Innovation is a logical response to pressure. It is not surprising, then, that theological educators at ATS member schools have become innovative generators of new ideas. Many of those good ideas have found their way into some of the more than 60 petitions for new degree programs, experiments, and exceptions in the past year alone. But a good idea does not guarantee a sustainable business model. Before committing to a new venture, due diligence calls for a systematic process of planning and analysis. These steps do not have to be taken in sequence, but each one is critical. ...

First published in the Huffington Post  February 12, 2016 Theological education is in crisis. By itself, that’s not new news. What’s newsworthy is exciting new progress on the problems that’s now coming up with solutions — real, viable solutions. Tinkering with the old structures isn’t enough anymore. Admittedly, such analyses are few and far between. Actually, that’s not surprising: the people who have been proposing solutions up until now have usually been working within the very system that’s broken. Yet the problems are serious...

Several UTS alumni have become chaplains: Marilyn Morris (UTS'83) was the first UTS graduate to successfully become a Professional Hospital Chaplain, others are: William Selig (UTS'81,'12 D.Min.), Donna Ferrantello Ph.D.(UTS'82), Gillian Corcoran (UTS'86), Larry Haft (UTS'92), Chris Antal (UTS'04), Kate Korda (UTS'10), Michael Amalfitano (UTS'12). First published in Common Weal Magazine, November 23, 2015 The Daytona 500 may not usually spark road-to-Damascus moments. But it did so for Nick Terry, who spent over a decade as a member of a NASCAR pit crew. The Monday after his team won...

Donors make bequests to make a difference after they are gone. Mary Goodman, a New Haven laundress who bequeathed her life savings (nearly $5,000) to Yale Divinity School to provide scholarships for African Americans, was especially successful in this regard: her bequest supported the school’s first black students, and continues to support students today, nearly 144 years later. Goodman saw the critical need for education among African Americans following the Civil War, and her vision led her to become the first person of color to make a gift to Yale University. The Divinity School...

We are in the middle of a very significant year: September 20, 2015 was the beginning of the 40th year of theological education at UTS. I hope that you will join with me this anniversary year by contributing to the Annual Fund and the 40/40 Campaign. The annual fund is “the cornerstone” of fundraising. Support for the annual fund is the first and best gift that you can give to the Seminary. It keeps you, our loyal donors, front and center in the ongoing work of UTS. We want you to be involved, informed, and bonded to our Seminary. The annual fund supports the budgeted expenses of the...

I was born in the Netherlands, stereotypically known as the land of windmills, tulips, bicycles and cheese. Among intellectual types, the Netherlands is also known as the land of Rembrandt and Van Gogh, of Erasmus and Spinoza. In modern popular culture, people are mostly familiar with Dutch corporate giants Phillips and ING, and football prodigies Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten. In my youth, I was not interested in the economy and ignorant about football, and I would not have believed it if a fortuneteller had told me that I eventually would become the author of sports biographies that...

In an age of division and strife among various mainstream religions, it would be easy to dismiss the study of religion as somewhat quaint and out-of-touch with the daily barrage of death and destruction filling our airwaves. In reality, however, it would be wiser to assume that religious studies are precisely the antidote for today’s misdirected attempts at promoting one’s religion at the expense of God’s good name and reputation. While it may appear insignificant in comparison to current events, the Master of Religious Education (MRE) program at the Unification Theological Seminary...

Pastor Mike Yakawich (UTS '87) is among the many active alumni of UTS. He is married to Yukiko and they have five children. Besides guiding his own congregation in Billings, MT, Pastor Yakawich is actively engaged in multiple community organizations in Montana. He has also taught an Intensive course on "The Dynamics of Church Leadership" here at UTS. Today (January 31, 2016), I will attend a Sunday ecumenical service. The theme is “Loving Your Enemy”. This sparked me to write this reflection. Matthew 5:44  “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good...

Photo: (from left) UTS Co-founder, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, with Dr. David S.C. Kim, first president of UTS. January 17, 1990 | UTS Obtains Absolute Charter Unification Theological Seminary was granted its absolute charter by the New York State Board of Regents on January 17, 1990. This was the culmination of a fifteen-year struggle with the State of New York since the seminary’s first application. Because of the controversy surrounding the church, the application process was prolonged and UTS was denied in 1978. UTS took the matter to court, claiming discrimination and unfair...