During the summer of 2018 (between my third and fourth years of seminary) The Presbyterian Outlook asked if I would write a feature story about my experience with theological education thus far. The feature article was published in the September issue, "Pastoral Leadership." You can read the article here.

On August 8, 2018, the Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon died unexpectedly from cancer. This week - on the first day of the fall semester - Union Presbyterian Seminary held a memorial service for her. The Presbyterian Outlook asked me to write a reflection following the service. You can read it here.

Upon our return home from the Middle East, several news outlets expressed interest in speaking with some students from the trip about our experience -- particularly in light of the US Embassy opening in Jerusalem just days after we left. A few days later, I had the privilege of speaking about our adventures and what … Continue reading News Roundup: Returning from the Middle East

A piece written for the Union Presbyterian Seminary blog. by Linda Kurtz We had an uneventful flight from Dulles to Vienna — much appreciated, I think, by our contingent who drove up from Richmond and were waylaid by a flat tire less than an hour in. Upon our arrival in Vienna, we wound our way … Continue reading Repost: Our Middle East Travel Seminar Has Landed!

Though I am typically behind the scenes at NEXT Church gatherings, I applied to give a short presentation at the 2018 National Gathering to share some of my experience from Clinical Pastoral Education last summer. And, turns out, I was selected! It was a gift and privilege to be able to share some of my … Continue reading Ignite Presentation: Ministry for Mental Illness

A piece I wrote for the NEXT Church blog. by Linda Kurtz Back in March 2017, NEXT Church released the Sarasota Statement, a new confessional statement in response to the current state of the church and world. At the time, this is what Sarasota Statement facilitator Glen Bell had to say about it: We believe in … Continue reading Repost: Engaging the Sarasota Statement

A blog originally posted on the Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond Student Government Assembly blog. What makes a Presbyterian a Presbyterian? Let me name (some of) the ways. One could argue that a love of (or at least an appreciation for) acronyms is a pretty good marker of Presbyterianism. We meet with CPMs, support service trips with … Continue reading Repost: This Big Tent

A post originally written for Union Presbyterian Seminary. M.A.C.E./M.Div. student Linda Kurtz shares her reflections on attending the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) 2017 Annual Event in Denver, Colorado. If nothing else, I am a practical person. I love practical resources. Don’t get me wrong – theory has its place. But one of the things … Continue reading Repost: 11 Practical Resource Books from APCE 2017

A blog post originally written for the Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond Student Government Assembly blog. Last night, I had a dream where I was running. I wasn’t running from anything; rather, I was running to something. I’m not sure what that something was (dreams can be so vague like that) but I was attempting to run … Continue reading Repost: Running the Race

A post originally written for the Union Presbyterian Seminary Richmond Student Government Assembly blog. Lamentations 3: 1-9, 19-24 I am one who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath; he has driven and brought me into darkness without any light; against me alone he turns his hand, again and again, all day long. He has … Continue reading Repost: Grief in the In-Between