 RE: United
Keeping alums connected
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Ask Dr. B
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The measure of our work is in the change we create through our graduates--through you. We welcome your involvement, input and questions. To that end, we are adding a new component to RE: United (this alum e-newsletter, which is sent six times per year), in which President Holmes (Dr. B) responds to your questions. Please send your questions to ktoddroska@unitedseminary.edu.
This month, Dr. B is answering a question she has fielded from many alums:
Is United becoming more conservative and losing its progressive heritage?
United has a rich history as a progressive, inclusive seminary. Our work at this time is to expand that inclusiveness and to live into it more fully. We welcomed a large incoming class this fall. The class is more diverse ethnically and makes up a broad array of denominations. As ever, our students have diverse life experiences, and we are confident the rich classroom conversations will deepen all students' understanding of ministry. This is especially important given today's pluralistic society. We believe a diverse student body will help better prepare all to engage with the many kinds of people they will encounter when they leave seminary.
We also have many new faculty members. Our faculty now includes three white men and three men of color, three white women and three women of color. We did not plan it that way, but that is how it worked out. Two professors who used to work for Bethel are now working for United. One of them left a tenured position in order to work at United, because he was excited about being part of the work going on here. Eight of the 50 students in the incoming class have taken classes at other Consortium schools. We welcome them with open arms, because their broad experience will make our community life richer. We continue to be an open and affirming seminary, and we take that commitment seriously. We have a large number of LGBTQ students, who add to the richness of our community life. This summer, we hosted a national gathering of Unitarian Universalist seminarians, and UU students continue to be a vital part of our community. In addition, we are enhancing our interfaith relationships and expanding our work with our neighbors from many faith traditions.
As we move into the future, we are leaning into our progressive heritage, seeking to broaden our inclusiveness. We are trying to move away from labels and theological litmus tests and trying to encounter each person as an essential part of building the beloved community.
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Karen Hering '08 Expresses Gratitude for United
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At the President's Dinner on October 20 in the Spencer Library, alum Karen Hering shared thoughts about how her time at United prepared her for her work as a literary minister. See part of her talk.
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United Discount for Black Nativity at Penumbra Theatre
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Enjoy an evening of your favorite holiday music as we revisit the nativity story in this concert staging, featuring narrator Lou Bellamy, soloists Yolande Bruce, Greta Oglesby and Dennis W. Spears, and the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church Choir, under the musical direction of Sanford Moore.
Special Offer for the United Community
Saturday, December 13, 2:00 PM OR Sunday, December 14, 7:30 PM
Enter code BNUnited14 for $5 off an adult ticket.
Adults $30. Seniors $25. Students $15.
Orders: 651.224.3180 or www.penumbratheatre.org
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MLK Day Breakfast at United |
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Monday, January 19, 7:00-9:30 AM
Context Caf�
United will serve as a community site for the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast, featuring a live stream broadcast of events happening at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Vernon Jordan, attorney, civil rights leader and business consultant, is this year's keynote speaker. Jordan has held many prominent official and advisory roles in the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), NAACP and politics. He will provide powerful messages on this year's theme: Infinite Hope, Meaningful Action.
General Mills and UNCF host this annual event. The St. Paul Area Council of Churches coordinates the host sites. More information
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United Days
"Faithful Leadership in a Multifaith World"
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 All-class Reunion & Educational WorkshopsThursday and Friday, May 14-15, 2015
Please save the date for United Days (formerly Spring Convocation), our annual all-class reunion and conference. This event will feature speakers and educational workshops exploring what it means to practice a faith tradition while forming respectful relationships with people of different traditions and beliefs. Plan to come back to campus to connect and reconnect with current and former faculty and alums.
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Recent Alum News
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Kenneth Daniel '81 is living in Ohio and working for United Church Homes.
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|  Katherine Day '83 is celebrating 25 years of ordination in the Episcopal Church this year. Katherine completed her MARS program at United before discerning a call to ordination, then completed her M.Div. at General Seminary in NYC. She now works full time in hospital ministry, after 22 years of parish ministry. Katherine lives in Syracuse, N.Y., with her husband Bill (from Mendota Heights). Their kids are grown and living on their own. She continues to treasure her time at United as precious and formative.
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Jackie Falk '12 is serving as faith formation minister at Peace UCC in Duluth, Minn. Kathy Nelson '86 serves as pastor at Peace UCC. |
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|  Lyle Greiner '73 retired in January 2013 as director of pastoral care and CPE at Methodist, Lutheran and Blank Children's Hospitals (now Unity Point), Des Moines, Iowa. He has since taught a course at Wartburg Theological Seminary, a summer CPE unit at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, and is working part-time supervising two candidates for supervisor at Unity Point.
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Clare Gromoll '13 will be installed and ordained at St. Paul's UCC in St. Paul, Minn., (900 Summit Ave) on November 22 at 2:00 PM.
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Damen Heitmann '09 is serving as chaplain at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebr. His ministry is varied and creative, and was featured in an article in the Hastings Tribune. The article was picked up by several news outlets around the county. |
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Jayne Helgevold '14 will be ordained Sunday, November 16, at First Congregational United Church of Christ (420 Wilson Ave, Menomonie, Wis). A meal will be served afterward. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
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|  Martha Hendricks '86 came out of a second retirement in August 2013 to serve part-time as minister of visitation and spiritual growth at Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester, Minn. Her husband Dwight died December 3, 2013. They had served together at St. James United Methodist Church in St. James, Minn., before moving to Rochester in November 2012. Martha plans to stay in Rochester, where she has found a spiritual home as a now-single "older" woman who is blessed to share in the growth and renewal of Christ's people.
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Karl Jones '12 will be ordained Saturday, November 15, at 1:00 PM at Plymouth Congregational Church (1900 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, Minn.). A reception will follow. Clergy are invited to robe and wear red stoles.
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Lindsey Kluver '09 and husband Thomas welcomed daughter Beatrice Rose Kluver on
May 3, 2014. In May 2013, Lindsey completed a Master in Professional Accountancy and now works as an accountant in Grand Island, Nebr.
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Stuart Knappmiller '97 retired several years ago from St. Paul Public Schools after teaching junior high special education math, which grew out of serving as a youth minister. He currently volunteers with The Center for Victims of Torture and the Payne/Phalen Living at Home/Block Nurse Program, while providing occasional childcare for two granddaughters.
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|   Lanny Kuester '79 is recovering from heart surgery. He and his wife, Zoe Kuester '11, would appreciate prayers. Cards may be sent to Lanny c/o Boutwells Landing, 5600 Norwich Parkway, Oak Park Heights, MN 55082. Lanny serves as interim minister of People's Congregational Church in Bayport, Wis. |
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|   Heather Kurtz '01, pastor at Grace UCC in Northampton, Pa., welcomed Jameson Baxter, a current United student, as the intern at Grace UCC this year. Jameson and his wife, Cecilia Baxter '13, recently moved to Bethlehem, Pa., where Cecilia serves as faith formation leader at Christ UCC.
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 Dee Lundberg '99, serving at United Church of Christ in Casper, Wyo., was quoted in the Huffington Post about her work to support same-sex couples in the state. In addition, Dee's church was recognized for its efforts in promoting mental health services in Wyoming and received the Garth Shanklin Exemplary Practices Award.
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Erwin R. Miller '66 serves as chairperson of the Wolseley and District Care Home Project. He is responsible for the planning and overseeing of building a 24-unit care home in his hometown of Wolseley, Sask., Canada.
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|  Sara Morse '03 and her husband, Timothy Winn, welcomed Michael Gregory Winn into their family on November 7. Sara serves at Hazel Park UCC in St. Paul, Minn. |
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 Cynthia Prosek '04 is serving as executive director for Restorative Justice Community Action (RJCA), which she has been doing since 2012. She started volunteering for the organization while attending United. Through restorative justice, offenders have the opportunity to acknowledge their wrongdoing, redeem their actions through amends, and do this in a supportive environment of community.
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Elizabeth (Betty) Sauter '97 and husband Jerry retired. They are enjoying caring for their grandchildren, as well as participating in a number of volunteer activities.
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 Stephen Scott '10 was elected chair of the Order of Elders in the Wisconsin Conference of the United Methodist Church, as the conference discerns reinvigorating clergy orders for the benefit of collegiality and mutual accountability. In that role, he also serves on the board of ordained ministry. He is in his third year as convener of the Wisconsin Clergy Covenant Team, working to help clergy serve together in supportive, mutual relationship and commitment to ministry. His wife, Ann Scott, is pastor of Midland United Methodist Church in Mazomanie, Wis. |
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|  Dean Seal '04 '05, current D.Min. student, is serving as pastor of Shepherd of the Hill Presbyterian Church in Chaska, Minn. He also continues his ministry as executive director of Spirit in the House and continues to teach religion courses at Augsburg College as an adjunct professor. Dean newly wrote and performed a performance art piece inspired by his recent experience in a coma: "The Induced Coma Diet." |
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| Lyta Seddig '82 is in the process of retiring; she serves as spiritual director, spirituality group and retreat leader, and board member for the Northeast Guild for Spiritual Formation. She is also an Oblate of Mt. St. Benedict Monastery in Erie, Pa. In 1982, Lyta was the first woman ordained in the UCC Lake Erie Association to a pastoral counseling position. She now is a Presbyterian, and often served as the first woman interim pastor in congregations. She is grateful to United and "its outstanding, dedicated, progressive faculty for the solid foundation" she received for her varied ministries.
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Mary Shaffer '13 was ordained Sunday, November 9, at Mayflower UCC in Minneapolis, Minn.
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Pamela S. Wynn '06 has taught the core required writing course at United as an adjunct professor since 2006. She is now serving as director of The Writing Center. The Center opened at United in August 2014.
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|  Rick Yramategui '87 was selected to participate in the Oregon Bach Festival Composers Symposium at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Ore., last summer. The symposium involved 12 days of workshops, rehearsals, performances, master classes and community in a supportive, creative, artistic environment. Each composer had a semi-private lesson with composer-in-residence Chen Yi of the Peabody Conservatory. Rick was able to complete his latest composition, which was then premiered at home in Carmel Valley at the Monterey County Composers Forum summer concert.
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In Memory and with Gratitude
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 Robert N. Alpers (Mission House '58, United '71) died May 31, 2014. Bob was ordained in 1958 by the Evangelical and Reformed Church and was a pastor in the United Church of Christ for 55 years. He served churches in the Midwest and Hawaii, and was a manager of the first McDonald's in Garden City, Kans. Bob was the founding pastor of Brookings UCC (S.D.). His last pastorate was in Lanai City, Hawaii, 2000-2012. He and his wife Dorothy retired to Carolina Village, Hendersonville, N.C., in 2013. Bob, a gentle and kind but highly principled person, was known for his smile and sense of humor, his commitment to justice and progressive theological ideas, singing, and his love of Kansas Jayhawk basketball. Bob is survived by his wife, Dorothy Lester, Hendersonville; sisters Florene Kallaus, Fallbrook, Calif., and Phyllis (George) Miller, Ellinwood, Kans.; brother Wayne Alpers, Hutchinson, Kans.; children Debra (Belen) Puga, Wichita, Kans., Steven Alpers, Miami, Fla., Larry Alpers, Euless, Tex., and Rebecca (David) Shehadi, Dorset, Vt.; their mother, Patricia Garrett Conner, Lawrence, Kans.; stepson Joe Bolin, Garden City, Kans.; and seven grandchildren.
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