WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary will joyfully celebrate in 2012 its 200th anniversary of providing leaders in Christian ministry an outstanding scholarly education that prepares them for pastoral care in contemporary life; and

WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary began as Union Theological Seminary at Hampden-Sydney College when local Presbyterians saw the need for a strong theological education program to train its ministers in biblical exegesis, theology, church history, and pastoral studies; and

WHEREAS, in 1898, Union Theological Seminary relocated to Richmond; in 1914, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church founded the Assembly's Training School for Lay Workers, renamed the Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 1959, to serve as its school for those who served outside of the ordained ministry; and

WHEREAS, the two institutions worked alongside one another to prepare individuals to intelligently and faithfully serve in the Presbyterian Church, becoming federated in 1997, establishing a seminary extension at Queens University of Charlotte, and uniting in 2010 as Union Presbyterian Seminary; and

WHEREAS, today, students on the beautiful 56-acre campus in the historic Ginter Park area of Richmond pursue master of divinity, master of arts in Christian education, dual master of divinity and master of arts in Christian education, master of theology, and doctor of philosophy degrees; and

WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary, accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada, attracts outstanding students from across the United States and around the world who desire to prepare themselves for service in the ministry; and

WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary provides students access to the latest biblical and theological studies from around the world through its William Smith Morton Library, which has more than 360,000 books and media resources, over 700 current journals in religion, and over 20 research databases; and

WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary equips its students for real-life ministry with an internship component that requires students in the basic degree programs to complete internships in churches or alternative locations, such as hospitals, retirement communities, and correctional facilities; and

WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary constantly strives to prepare its students to provide effective ministry in a modern world, incorporating technology and different forms of media in its educational offerings; and

WHEREAS, Union Presbyterian Seminary reaches out to those already in the ministry through its Center for Ministry and Leadership Development, which provides ongoing theological education for current church leaders in the form of on-campus events, conferences, and online education and resources; and

WHEREAS, driven by the Spirit to effectively train ministers to spread the gospel news, Union Presbyterian Seminary celebrates 200 years of service and looks forward to continuing its mission in the future; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly commend Union Presbyterian Seminary on the occasion of its 200th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Union Presbyterian Seminary as an expression of the General Assembly's congratulations and best wishes in its future endeavors.