The magazine of Union Theological Seminary Fall 2018 UNION COLLECTIVE Where Are the Children? Death of a Prophet Second Wind U.S. separation of children from their Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon ’83 Union’s Encore program helps retirees parents reopens old wounds p.14 leaves behind a towering legacy p.23 find new direction p.5 IN THIS ISSUE UNION COLLECTIVE Fall 2018 Published by Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York 3041 Broadway at 121st Street New York, NY 10027 TEL: 212-662-7100 WEB: utsnyc.edu Editor-in-Chief Emily Enders Odom ’90 COVER STORY Editorial Team 8 Martin Duus Benjamin Perry ’15 Igniting a Moral Revival Robin Reese The Poor People’s Campaign seeks to transform America Kate Sann Writers aRTiCles Emily Enders Odom ’90 Miguel Escobar ’07 Reimagining End-of-Life Care 4 Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons ’17 Shailly Gupta Barnes Encore Program Provides New Purpose 5 Serene Jones Where Are the Children? 6 Carol Kessler ’00 Kevin McGee A Strong Foundation (Literally) 14 Edward Moran 15 Benjamin Perry ’15 Kevin McGee Looks Back Robin Reese Honoring Lives of Service 16 Leah Robinson Rousmaniere Scott Sprunger ’19 In Memoriam: Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon 23 Danielle Williams ’20 DEPaRTMENTS Copy Editor Eva Stimson 1 Letter from the President 2 Union Making News Art Direction & Graphic Design 7 Episcopal Divinity School at Union Highlights Ron Hester 14 Did You Know? Laying the Cornerstone Principal Photographers 18 Faculty News Ron Hester Sharon Farmer 19 Class Notes 20 Alumni/ae Profile: Janet Okang Cover Photograph 22 In Memoriam Sharon Farmer 24 Giving Stay Connected: @unionseminary EdiTor’s Note: With the publication of this issue, we unveil a fresh, contemporary look and also a new, more inclusive name. Because our magazine serves and represents all of the diverse communities and constituents that are Union—not solely our alumni/ae network— we rejoice that we are now the Union Collective. Give to Union: utsnyc.edu/donate From the President a new aCademiC yeaR brings with it hopeful possibilities. At a time when our country is in deep spiritual crisis, Union wants to continue to be a light of hope, presenting a way forward. Our commitment has never been stronger, and I’m pleased to share that this year brings one of our largest incoming classes in decades. In August, we welcomed 110 new students from 11 countries and several states across the U.S. to our campus. Among our international contingent are In early spring 2019, we will begin to five students from China and India who are see preparations for construction of the part of the inaugural Trinity Union Fellows new multi-use building that will be built on program, a partnership with Trinity the northern end of campus. This building Church Wall Street. These students will will house dedicated EDS at Union space, receive academic training at Union and new classrooms and new faculty housing, faith formation as part of the Trinity com- along with private residences. Our new munity, as they pursue Master of Sacred facilities within the building are expected Theology degrees. to be completed in late 2022. “ At a time when This year also brings the beginning As the projects get underway over the of our campus renewal project. The first coming months, updates will be available our country is phase of the project will be the renovation on the Union website. I am excited about of Hastings Hall, which will begin in 2019 the positive changes that our campus will in deep spiritual after commencement. The residence hall see this year and beyond. And I’m equally was last renovated nearly 30 years ago, thrilled to bear witness to the journey our crisis, Union wants but the windows, plumbing and electrical new students will take. Now is the time to systems are original to the building, which remind ourselves how critical Union is to to continue to be was completed in 1910, more than 100 the world. Let us look ahead with hope- years ago. It’s well past time for our stu- fulness toward a more sustainable future a light of hope, dents to have modern and more accessible for Union that will allow us to continue residences. to provide rigorous theological education presenting a way Phase 2 of the project will include while addressing the pressing social justice making the rest of our campus more acces- issues of the day. forward. sible and providing additional dedicated ” student spaces, a new multifaith chapel Peace, — President Jones and meditation space and an updated café/lounge space that will replace the Pit. This phase will begin sometime after the Hastings renovation is completed. The Rev. Dr. Serene Jones President and Johnston Family Professor for Religion & Democracy fall 2018 uNioN collecTivE 1 NEWS BRIEFS New Leadership to Positively UNION MAKING NEWS Transform the World Global Connections Union Faculty Travel to Senegal to Explore Partnerships Over ThE Past fEw years, Union faculty have traveled to other Niang was joined on the trip by Rev. Dr. Troy Messenger, direc- countries as part of an International Connections Initiative designed tor and assistant professor of worship; Sensei Greg Snyder, senior to build or strengthen ties to theological schools and religious insti- director of Buddhist studies; Dr. Jeremy Hultin, visiting associate tutions around the world. This year, a delegation of Union faculty, professor of Biblical languages; Matthew Baker, head librarian of students and staff traveled to Senegal, visiting institutions in Dakar Burke Library; Rev. Fred Davie, executive vice president; Robin and Saint-Louis. Reese, vice president of communications and marketing; Bassirou A predominantly Muslim country with many ethnic groups, Diop, electronic media and IT support; Ph.D. student Stanley Talbert Senegal is home to a small number of Christians, mostly Roman and M.A. student Karmen Smith. Catholic, who make up about 4 percent of the population. The nation In addition to meeting with CRAC faculty and students is a harmonious society, and multireligious families and communi- (pictured), the Union delegation learned more about Senegalese ties are not uncommon. That is one of the reasons Dr. Aliou Niang, history and culture with visits to Gorée Island and the African associate professor of New Testament and a native Senegalese, was Renaissance Monument. U interested in exploring partnerships with the Civilizations, Religions, Arts and Communication (CRAC) center at Gaston Berger University aBovE: The Union delegation met with Gaston Berger University in Saint-Louis and the Saint Augustine Center of Philosophy and faculty and students to discuss a possible exchange program Theology in Dakar. between the two institutions. 2 uNioN collecTivE fall 2018 NEWS BRIEFS “ …70 farmworkers started marching from Delano to Sacramento, but when they got there they were 10,000 farmworkers—because they organized all along the way.” — Dolores Huerta In April, iconic labor organizer Dolores Huerta delivered the eighth annual Judith Davidson Moyers Women of Spirit lecture and received the Union Medal. Sacred Waters Union’s Annual Climate Change Ministers’ Training Focused on Water and Faith In June, Union’s Center for Earth Ethics again partnered with the Climate Reality Project to host the annual ministers’ con- ference, equipping faith leaders for ministry in the time of climate change. This year, the training focused on the faith leaders’ role and responsibility in protecting access to water, the science undergirding global water systems, and how we can create commu- nities that are more resilient to extreme weather. In particular, the conference sought to focus on climate change as a hu- man rights crisis—not just a meteorological one—and to emphasize the disproportion- ate impact of climate change on frontline communities. The conference featured a wide range of programming—from an indigenous water blessing (pictured right) to a public dialogue with former Vice President Al Gore and Catherine Coleman Flowers, founder The 50-plus faith leaders who attended represented a wide variety of faith traditions and of the Alabama Center for Rural Enterprise geographic locations. They drew on each other’s varied contexts and experiences to learn Community Development Corporation— best practices to take home and fight for climate justice in their home communities. U designed to deepen leaders’ understanding of climate issues and their passion for To get information about next summer’s ministers’ training or to learn more about the Center answering the call to care for God’s creation. for Earth Ethics, contact Genie Cooper-Newton at [email protected]. fall 2018 uNioN collecTivE 3 When the Personal Becomes Pedagogical Presbyterian Educator Integrates End-of-Life Issues into Seminary Curriculum By Emily EndErs OdOm ’90 For DR. Su Yon Pak, the “personal” is not and dying—into Union’s field education Wish I Had,” a national touring initiative only political but also profoundly pastoral, curriculum as well as its academic, reli- hosted by Morgan Brown, in which people prophetic, and pedagogical. gious and student life. At the same time, are invited to have conversations with “My personal always informs my she is actively pursuing the next phase— deceased loved ones. professional; and vice versa,” says Pak, creating a model that can be shared with In light of Union’s historic commitment Union’s senior director and associate and adopted by other seminaries. to social justice, Pak has also identified a professor for Integrative and Field-Based The now comprehensive program— need to engage not only that people die but Education. “The way I do my teaching and which has included everything from how they die. “Although death is an equal- research is to start by saying, ‘If I’m asking informal talks to traditional, continuing izing force, there is an inequality to how myself certain questions in response to a we die,” she says.