United is pleased to announce the winners of its first song and hymn-writing competition, "New Songs and Hymns for Renewal."

Category 1 (New Text and Tune)
"O God Renew Your Church, We Pray!" by Dorothy Frisch, Woodstock, CT

Category 2 (New Music for Traditional Hymn/Song Text)
"Behold the Savior of Mankind" by Sarah Howell, Durham, NC

Category 3 (New Hymn Text for Traditional Hymn Tune)
"Renewing, Reforming the Church in Our Day" by Jann Aldredge-Clanton, Dallas, TX

To celebrate the winners, United is hosting a Hymn Celebration Concert at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 27, at Precious Blood Catholic Church 4961 Salem Ave., Dayton, OH. All are invited to attend this concert, which will include choirs from Omega Baptist Church, Ethan Temple Seventh-day Adventist Church, Phillips Temple CME Church, First Baptist Church, and others. 

If you would like to participate as a singer in the group, please contact Jeremy Winston at jwinston@united.edu. A recording of the concert will be available for viewing on United's LiveStream Channel by Wednesday, Aug. 1.

United's 10^th Annual Preaching Retreat is scheduled for August 14-16 at the seminary's campus at 4501 Denlinger Road, Dayton, OH, with Dr. Joy J. Moore as guest lecturer. The theme is "Preaching the Gospel of Luke Today," and will juxtapose Luke with the controversial book and film The Hunger Games. This popular story will be employed both as lens for the homiletical reading of Luke and as a cultural counterpoint.

For more information or to register, please CLICK HERE or contact Glenna Holdeman at institute@united.edu or 937.529.2282. United students who wish to register for credit should contact Martha Anderson at manderson@united.edu or 937.529.2201.

Dr. Cynthia Hale, Dr. William Curtis, Dr. Bill Lyle, and Dr. Joel Gregory are featured speakers at United Theological Seminary's Doctor of Ministry Intensive, held at the Dayton Marriott, 1414 S. Patterson Blvd., from August 20 – 24. Presenters for worship and plenaries will focus on the theme "Preaching for Growth and Renewal." 

For a complete schedule of events that are open to the public, please CLICK HERE or contact Janice Kronour at 937.529.2201 or jkronour@united.edu.

United announces a partnership with Aldersgate Renewal Ministries (ARM) to offer a series of non-degree courses that will train clergy and lay people to minister to others in the gifts of the Spirit.

ARM's Methodist School for Supernatural Ministry will be offered at United in an online format, with courses offered each spring and fall. The first course, "Foundations for Methodist Supernatural Ministry," will begin this fall and run from September 3 through December 14. A practicum event, Foundations for Methodist Supernatural Ministry: Practicum with Terry Teykl, will offer a day of worship, teaching, anointing, prayer, impartation and ministering of the gifts of the Spirit.

The course and the one-day-only face-to-face practicum are open to all. For more information and registration, please CLICK HERE.

Dr. Vivian Johnson is the featured speaker at United's Opening Convocation, to be held on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. at Concord United Methodist Church, 1123 S. Main St., Englewood, OH. 

Dr. Johnson's teaching and research interests include Biblical Hebrew, literary interpretations of biblical stories, especially those pertaining to women, ancient Near Eastern cultures, and the history of interpretation of David. She earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University, and M.T.S. from Harvard Divinity School, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Her publications include David in Distress: His Portrait through the Historical Psalms (London: T & T Clark International), 2009, and "The Letter of Jeremiah," in Biblia Africana (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 2009.

This Opening Convocation marks the beginning of United's 142^nd year.

Bringing together world-class authors and speakers, this conference will discuss "authenticity" and "criteria" as these concepts have been traditionally understood and employed in New Testament studies.

For more information or to register, please CLICK HERE or contact Robbie Collins at 937.529.201 or rcollins@united.edu.

Registration is now open for the 2012 J. Arthur Heck Lectures and Alumni/ae Reunions. Join your classmates for several exciting reunion events on October 16-17, 2012.

Tuesday, Oct. 16
Noon – 4 p.m.
Decades Reunion Luncheons for classes of '42, '52, '62, '72, '82, '92, and '02 for a time of sharing and remembrance, featuring a presentation by Dr. Tom Dozeman on "Holiness and Ordination: The Tension between Prophet and Priest."

6 – 9 p.m.
Annual Alumni/ae Banquet for all classes featuring the Class of '72 induction into the Eckels Society and presentation of alumni/ae awards. There is still time to nominate your colleagues for the Effective Ministry, Outstanding D.Min. Alumnus/a, and Distinguished Alumnus/a Awards.

NOMINATE SOMEONE

Wednesday, Oct. 17
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Heck Lectures: "Christians and Disability: Renewing the Church and Healing the World" featuring Dr. Amos Yong.

Registration, costs and details are available by CLICKING HERE.

Enrollment for the 2012 Fall Semester has surpassed 100 new Masters and D.Min. students! While we celebrate the explosion of new student enrollment, the Alumni/ae Association is committed to deepening relationships with our current and future alumni/ae. You can assist through service as an alumni/ae ambassador to first-year students.

Responsibilities of an Alumni/ae Ambassador include:

• Commitment to a student during their entire seminary education

• Monthly contact with student via email, phone, social media or face to face. (to be negotiated between ambassador and student)

• Prayer and spiritual care support 

• Celebration of student's achievements

30 alumni/ae are already serving new students with great success. Will you participate in this important program? Please contact Rev. Brice Thomas, Director of Alumni/ae Relations at bthomas@united.edu or 937.529.2256 and let us know if you have any preferences (denomination, degree program, gender, orientation, location, etc.) Your student match will be made known to you after introducing the program at our next Gathering Week in August.

United's Institute for Applied Theology (IAT) announces a new UMC Certification: Ministry with People with Disabilities. Empower yourself and your church to create a culture where people with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of worship, leadership and ministry. Register now for Disability, the Bible, and the Church, course MC590-DA-h-D (2). This hybrid-format class begins online September 4, 2012.  CLICK HERE.

Upcoming IAT events include: 

August 6 – 24, 2012
UMC Certification Program courses open for registration.
CLICK HERE

September 3 – December 14, 2012
Methodist School for Supernatural Ministry Series. Course #1: Foundations for Methodist Supernatural Ministry. The ten-week online course includes a one day face-to-face Practicum with featured speaker Terry Teykl on December 1 at United's Dayton campus. Presented by United and Aldersgate Renewal Ministries.
CLICK HERE 

Please update your contact information by CLICKING HERE.