University of Dubuque Theological Seminary

University of Dubuque Theological Seminary For Christ's Church and God's beloved world,
we are a seminary community
that joins you where you are.

UDTS is committed to preparing church leaders for the needs of the church today."We have students who have been pastors ...
06/06/2026

UDTS is committed to preparing church leaders for the needs of the church today.
"We have students who have been pastors for many years, students who have served the larger church at denominational and international levels, and students who bring gifts from their rich life experience in corporate and non-profit worlds. We are excited to walk with them as they say 'yes' to God in this season of their lives." - Rev. Krista Denne, MDiv, director of seminary admission.
https://www.dbq.edu/UDTS/Admission/Apply/

Blessings from Dubuque! At UDTS, our church-facing mission is driven by a simple, profound focus: to shape individuals f...
06/06/2026

Blessings from Dubuque! At UDTS, our church-facing mission is driven by a simple, profound focus: to shape individuals for servant leadership in ministry and mission.
No matter what your local context looks like, our community is built on five distinct pillars that center everything we do:
1️⃣ Gathering in gratitude and faithfulness to be reformed according to the Word of God.
2️⃣ Growing in the Church’s biblical faith in the Triune God.
3️⃣ Excelling in theological education and scholarship.
4️⃣ Living as faithful stewards of God’s gifts.
5️⃣ Engaging the changing needs of the Church and World.
We are dedicated to preparing leaders to respond to a changing world with grace, wisdom, and a steadfast commitment to God's mission.
https://www.dbq.edu/UDTS/AboutUDTS/MissionandTradition/
Which of these five pillars resonates most with you and your current ministry context? Tell us in the comments! 👇

"The online classes have been organized, interactive and informative and have helped me feel more confident in my abilit...
06/05/2026

"The online classes have been organized, interactive and informative and have helped me feel more confident in my abilities as a pastor" - Miranda Dolive. The first student to complete our Certificate in Presbyterian Studies course launched last fall! 🎓✨
Now, it's your turn... This brief course of study, including graduate-level classes, is designed to prepare students for leadership in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The course provides core competencies in Reformed theology, polity, history, and biblical exegesis.
https://www.dbq.edu/UDTS/ConnectwithUDTS/SpecialPrograms/Non-DegreeOptions/CertificateinPresbyterianStudies/
Ready to build more confidence in your pastoral abilities? Contact us at [email protected]

"Our church is exploring how to reinvent our ministry in the community, but we have no idea where to start. Do you have ...
05/31/2026

"Our church is exploring how to reinvent our ministry in the community, but we have no idea where to start. Do you have something?"
"There is a need for our church to develop a community service like childcare, but none of us know how to develop and manage projects. How can we learn?"
"We are realizing we need to join with agencies and other churches to serve our neighborhood - is there a blueprint for figuring out what to do, and how to work together?"
D MN 567: Initiative Design, Leadership and God's People is an elective course that equips Christian leaders to design and lead new initiatives in local churches and communities. Grounded in the conviction that the Spirit of God is active, students engage practices of contextual listening alongside practical approaches to project design and leadership. Through a semester-long project, beginning in the fall, students develop and test a pilot initiative in their context .
For more information and for registration, contact: [email protected]

Ministry is full of beautiful moments, but it also brings tough decisions and complex situations. At UDTS, our church-fa...
05/30/2026

Ministry is full of beautiful moments, but it also brings tough decisions and complex situations. At UDTS, our church-facing mission means we want to equip you with the deep, practical wisdom needed to navigate ministry leadership with integrity in your unique context.
FE 603 Leadership Ethics begins this fall and focuses on developing a theological understanding of ethical Christian leadership which can guide decision-making and the setting of priorities in the parish. Students engage in practical reflection on the shape of the good pastorate. During the course students will complete a mandatory Boundary Training.
For more information and for registration, contact: [email protected]

Congregational Equipping courses nurture lay leaders and church teachers, as well as provide theological insight for int...
05/29/2026

Congregational Equipping courses nurture lay leaders and church teachers, as well as provide theological insight for interested laity. This summer, these courses will offer the expertise of UDTS faculty, and the flexibility of hybrid learning to join you . They also feature an in-person, on-campus component.
We invite you to join us for:
Foundations of Christian Education.
This course explores the role and practice of the teaching and discipling ministries of the church. Taught by Rev. Dr. Susan Forshey.
Reformed Worship and Sacraments.
This course introduces basic scriptural, historical, and theological principles of Christian worship as viewed from a Reformed perspective, with special focus on liturgical practice in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Taught by Rev. Dr. Richard Shaffer.
For more information and registration, contact: [email protected]
Preload: July 13-24; On Campus/In Person: July 27-31; Postload: Aug. 1-21

05/22/2026

At UDTS, our mission is "church-facing," which means our hearts are with the local church—especially the small, faithful congregations doing the quiet work of ministry.
Our Dean, Rev. Dr. Beth McCaw, recently shared on the Theological Education Fund podcast "Leading Theologically" how inspiring it is to watch small churches discover that they are beautiful, vital, and cutting-edge right now, exactly as they are!
You can watch the entire episode here: https://youtu.be/tURqa6g68lg.

Once a Spartan, Always a Spartan: Krista Denne (MDiv’17)The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary’s (UDTS) flexible...
05/22/2026

Once a Spartan, Always a Spartan: Krista Denne (MDiv’17)

The University of Dubuque Theological Seminary’s (UDTS) flexible program gave Krista Denne the opportunity to complete her master of divinity (MDiv) degree while being able to relocate with her husband, a move that would not have been available at her prior institution. Even though she completed most of her studies online, UDTS provided a strong and supportive community of faculty, staff, and peers.

During her studies, Krista was able to serve on two mission trips to the Dominican Republic. It was there that she was able to work alongside alumna Kristin Hamner (MDiv’14), who serves as the director of missions for Foundation of Peace. She recalls many memories during residency weekends, building connections with her classmates and the community.

After graduating in 2017 with her master of divinity, she took a call as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clarksville, Arkansas. There she was bi-vocational, holding many positions at the University of the Ozarks, including Instruction and Outreach Librarian, but UDTS still held a special place in her life as she was able to continue the relationships she built during her studies. In 2025, she received the opportunity to return to UDTS, which felt like coming home. “UD has always been a place where I have experienced a deep sense of community and witnessed God at work. From my first residency course through graduation and beyond, it has remained a place that feels both familiar and formative,” she states.

Now, serving as the director of seminary admissions, Krista is able to create the same feeling as she had when she was a student. She cherishes walking besides them as they embark on their journey to serve the church and the world. Krista continues to feel God at work through the entire community and looks forward to continuing to serve the Mission.

05/21/2026

Starting in January 2027 join our Doctoral Cohort: Grassroots Witness.
Study and explore the Spirit at work in small grassroots congregations and their communities. Research and create resources for these communities in their critical kingdom witness.
Applications are now open.
For more information contact: [email protected]
Priority deadline: July 1, 2026
udts.dbq.edu

Rev. Dr. Susan Forshey and Rev. Dr. Kevin Goodrich OP finished an 8-day May Residential today with UDTS Doctor of Minist...
05/19/2026

Rev. Dr. Susan Forshey and Rev. Dr. Kevin Goodrich OP finished an 8-day May Residential today with UDTS Doctor of Ministry students, held at New Melleray Monastery. The cohort topic is "Renewal for Pastors & Congregations: Prayer, Liturgy, and Discipleship."

Address

2000 University Avenue
Dubuque, IA
52001

Telephone

+15635893115

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when University of Dubuque Theological Seminary posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category