A visit to the old Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) campus in Barrytown

I graduated in 1979 with the third graduating class of Unification Theological Seminary (UTS), which doesn’t exist anymore. It is now called Hyo Jeong International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership. The official, public letter announcing the state-approved name change did not mention that HJ stands for Hyo Jeong, The letter said the new name is HJ International Graduate School for Peace and Public Leadership. Several people wrote to me asking, “what does HJ stand for?”

In addition to giving up its name, the community also gave up UTS’s original campus. This was quietly reported to “alumni and friends” by the school’s president

After serious vetting of the various offers and proposals, the UTS Board of Trustees resolved to accept what is believed to be the best option for UTS. Following the decision of the Board, a confidential contract for purchase and sale was signed. It is anticipated that a closing on the sale of the property will take place in late August.

and to Family Federation members by its North American regional director

It felt like this could be a condition of moving on from certain things in the past. But as I let go, I felt a bright and hopeful spirit of what lays ahead. I experienced Heavenly Parent telling me that

we don’t need to worry. True Mother is also very clear, and has comforted us by saying that as we grow our church and improve our financial situation, we will be able to invest in new properties that support our activities.

I attended UTS from 1977 to 1979, serving as class vice president and class president during my two years. I earned a Masters in Religious Education and went from there to earn a Ph.D. in The History of Christian Thought from Vanderbilt University.

Soon after graduating Vanderbilt, I spent two years at Barrytown as a newlywed. My office with the International Religious Foundation (IRF) was located on the UTS campus at the time.

With Hiroko’s wise urging, she and I went to Barrytown on August 3, 2023 to say goodbye.

I spent my short visit there 1. Pausing at places and things I loved, 2. Praying at each place True Father spoke to me. I took pictures with Hiroko at some of the spots. I have 1000s of significant stories from that place and time. I hope someday to tell them.

I think people know I don’t like being in or sending around pictures with me in them. I share these pictures in case they might spark thoughts of your own; perhaps about UTS, perhaps about Father.

Here are the pictures photos.app.goo,gl/g8kNmwUPErcLyBRr9 (I put captions and information for some of the pictures)

God bless you

Google Photos …

Visit to Barrytown Campus, 3 August 2023 Aug 3

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