Complete your application by 11/30 and your fee will be waived!
Popular Searches
November 2024
This fall, the campus has been abuzz with activity! It has been a season filled with enriching conversations, transformative lectures, and meaningful gatherings that reflect Princeton Seminary’s mission to inspire and cultivate faith-filled leadership. The vibrancy of our learning community is evident in the wide array of events that have brought us together, engaged new audiences, and deepened our theological reflection.
One of the highlights this semester was the hybrid conference held in collaboration between the Center for Barth Studies and Luther Seminary: ”The Church, The Pastor, and Resonance in an Accelerated Age: Theological Conversations with Hartmut Rosa.” Scholars, pastors, and students engaged in a stimulating dialogue with internationally renowned sociologist Hartmut Rosa. Rosa’s work, which explores how the rapid acceleration of life has eroded our sense of connection and community, offered profound implications for the future of congregational life and pastoral identity. Theological responses over the two days provided fresh perspectives on how we might find resonance amidst the fast pace of modern life.
In October, Princeton Seminary’s Latine Collegium hosted the Herencia Lectures on “Christian Nationalism: A Dangerous Threat to Democracy.” With speakers like Edwin David Aponte, Dean of Drew Theological School, and our very own Professor Raimundo C. Barreto, Jr., the lectures addressed critical ethical questions, challenging us to reflect on the intersection of faith, politics, and the persistence of neofascist theologies.
The Seminary also hosted the biennial Geddes W. Hanson Lecture. Professor Claudrena Harold of the University of Virginia delivered a powerful lecture entitled “Go Tell Somebody! Gospel Music, Black Liberation, and the Politics of Freedom.” There was a capacity crowd in the Theron Room at the Wright Library, and an additional 300 participants tuned in via livestream. If you missed it, I encourage you to watch the lecture, which is a testament to how we create opportunities for engagement and learning that transcend the boundaries of our physical campus.
These events, and others like them, reflect the heart of our strategic initiatives: curating high-impact, intimate experiences that introduce a broad audience to Princeton Seminary’s mission in meaningful and memorable ways. They are more than just academic lectures—they are moments of community building, forging lasting relationships, and demonstrating that we are indeed a learning community for life.
In line with our commitment to expanding access to theological education, I am pleased to highlight the launch of the Princeton Seminar Series. This online, discussion-based initiative connects participants with theological texts, concepts, and thinkers across various topics, from theology and Biblical studies to ethics and faith and health. Each session fosters conversation and builds a sense of community, even in virtual spaces.
Here are a few recent seminars:
To learn more or to register for upcoming sessions, please visit our online registration page.
In keeping with our aim of curating high-impact, intimate experiences, the Iron Sharpening Iron Executive Leadership Program for Women celebrated its five-year anniversary with a special event featuring Priya Parker, the author of The Art of Gathering. Parker’s insights on the dynamics of gathering provided an invaluable perspective for participants, who came together to celebrate this milestone and reconnect as Iron Sharpening Iron alums. You may view the video recording of Parker’s presentation online.
This event further illustrates our dedication to hosting experiences that are both intimate and impactful, strengthening our ties with those who have been part of our community while opening new paths to connection and engagement.
As President, it is not lost on me that our nation can feel very divided as the election season enters its final days. Many are suggesting that the fate of democracy hangs in the balance. Perhaps the political climate has you feeling uneasy. This feeling often overtakes me. Yet I remind myself that our mission at Princeton Seminary remains unchanged regardless of the election’s outcome.
In September, the PhD Studies program hosted a faculty panel entitled, “Can We Hold Together in a World Coming Apart?”, funded by a one-year grant from the Wabash Foundation.
Our first annual Golf Challenge supported the inaugural cohort of the President’s Fellows program.
The Herencia Lectures included a worship service.
Princeton Theological Seminary hosted “The Many Lives of Biblical Poems: A Scholar’s Roundtable” in partnership with the Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies from the University of Pennsylvania.
At the October First Thursdays at the Farm event, Dr. Aminah Al-Attas Bradford presented “Good Trouble: The intersections of religion, microbiology, ecology and race,” while guests enjoyed a meal prepared by Chef Gabby Aron.
The Hanson Lecture also featured a Q&A with Dr. Harold moderated by Dr. Wallace Best, Professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University
We are dedicated to forming leaders whose ministries reflect faith, integrity, competence, compassion, and joy. This dedication is a source of pride and reassurance, knowing that Princeton Seminary is shaping the future with leadership in our classrooms, congregations, and communities throughout the globe.
In his classic 1944 text Children of Light/Children of Darkness, Reinhold Niebuhr wisely reminds us that no political system is “great enough or good enough to make itself the final end of human existence.” When we elevate politics, ideology, or even theology to the level of ultimate truth, we displace God as the source of hope and redemption. Instead, our calling is to be people of faith, hope, and love—even in (particularly in) times of heightened stress and strife.
At Princeton Seminary, this calling is lived out through our steadfast commitment to expanding the table. Rooted in the Reformed tradition, we constantly reimagine whom God calls and for what purposes. Our doors are open to all whom God leads here, reflecting our belief that the breadth of God’s call to serve Christ’s church and the world transcends any particular human identity.
So, as we await election results, let us hold fast to our mission and our faith. Elections come and go, but since 1812, the work of Princeton Seminary has endured. Our commitment to our mission remains unwavering, providing a sense of continuity and stability in these otherwise uncertain times.
One Luv,
Jonathan Lee Walton, President
“The love of God and the love of humanity are one love”—Benjamin Elijah Mays
I am delighted to share a few books and articles I’ve recently read and found thought-provoking.
