Urbana Seminary

Ancient Israel in Chicago
2025-06-14 12:45 - 15:00 UTC | University of Chicago, 1155 E 58th Street, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Ancient Israel in Chicago at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum
Saturday, June 14th @ 12:45

REGISTER HERE!
Tickets $25

Join us on June 14th for an exciting trip to Ancient Israel without the long flight! We’ll dive into the world of the Old Testament at the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum, where artifacts from Ancient Israel, Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, and Canaan await our discovery.
Dr. Ken Cuffey, Professor of Biblical Studies, will lead us on a three-hour museum tour and explain the connections between the displayed items and the Old Testament.
We’ll meet at the museum’s front door at 12:45, ready to enjoy this insightful tour together.
Museum location
University of Chicago
1155 E 58th Street
Chicago, Illinois

Writing Retreat
2025-08-13 10:00 - 17:00 | IL
We are delighted to invite you to a free One-Day Writing Retreat hosted by Urbana Theological Seminary on August 13th from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. This retreat is designed to provide a nurturing environment for writers to focus on their personal projects, whether academic, creative, or professional.
Our day together will include:

Dedicated Space and Time: We’re providing a quiet, comfortable space free of charge, allowing you to immerse yourself in your writing without distractions.

Guidance and Support: An Experienced facilitator will offer optional guidance to help you set goals, overcome challenges, and stay motivated.

Breaks and Refreshments: Scheduled breaks with light refreshments will keep you energized and refreshed throughout the day.

Inspiration Through Community: Connect with fellow writers in a collaborative atmosphere where shared creativity sparks inspiration.

This retreat is free and open to all writers, regardless of experience or project type. Bring your ideas, manuscripts, or research, and join us for a day of focused productivity and encouragement!
To register: email pdurst@urbanatheologicalseminary.org

Welcome Back Picnic
2025-08-23 08:00 - 17:00 | burwash park savoy il, 350 Burwash Ave, Savoy, IL, 61874-9572, United States
We are excited to invite you to our Back-to-School Picnic, scheduled for Saturday, August 23rd. This event is an excellent opportunity for students, families, friends, and faculty to come together and celebrate the start of a new school year. Invite your friends and family, and feel free to bring a dish to share! If you can’t, no worries—just bring yourself. We’d love to see you!
Event Details:

Date: Saturday, August 23rd
Time: 5:00 pm
Location: Burwash Park in Savoy (350 Burwash Ave)

What to Expect:

Urbana Theological Seminary will provide meat, buns, and beverages
Opportunities to connect with fellow students, families, and staff
Playground for the little ones
A relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere

We look forward to seeing you there and kicking off the new school year together! If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us at mgreen@urbanatheologicalseminary.org.

Pompeii at the Saint Louis Science Center
2025-09-06 13:00 - 17:00 | Saint Louis Science Center
How did first-century Christians live? What was a typical day like for them? What were their homes like? How would they have heard the Gospel and have understood the letters from Paul, John, James, or Peter? How does understanding their way of life influence our reading of the New Testament?
Step back in time with Urbana Seminary as Dr. Ken Cuffey guides us through an immersive experience. Join us the Saint Louis Science Center’s temporary Pompeii exhibit next month for a captivating look at life in the first century AD.

Event Details:

Date: September 6th

Time: 1:00 PM

Location: Saint Louis Science Center

Cost: $25 per person

REGISTER NOW!

For those needing transportation: The registration form offers an option to request a ride. If you’d like to help by driving, please let us know when you sign up, and we’ll arrange the details.
Feel free to invite friends interested in learning more about ancient cultures! We look forward to seeing you there!

Inklings Tour
2025-09-16 - 2025-09-27 | IL
Join us as we visit the locations where C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and the other Inklings lived and worked. This will be an unforgettable tour through the heart of England! Dr. Melody Green, who teaches classes on Tolkien, Lewis, and the Inklings at Urbana Seminary and has extensive experience speaking and publishing on them, will be leading the tour.
APPLICATION FORM
Destinations:
Sept 16: departure from Chicago (at 4:55 pm), overnight flight
Sept 17: Birmingham

Discover the enchanting landscapes of Tolkien’s childhood, including Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog, where Tolkien and his brother roamed and played.

Sept 18, 19, 20, 21: Oxford.
Immerse yourself in the heart of literary history with visits to:

The Kilns, C.S. Lewis’s fully-restored home, and the C.S. Lewis Nature Center.
Addison’s Walk, where Tolkien and Lewis held the conversation that led to Lewis’s conversion.
Merton College, where Tolkien once taught and left his mark on generations of scholars.
The Oxford Botanical Garden, a carefully cultivated collection of trees beloved by Tolkien.
Attend a service at the church C.S. Lewis attended for 30 years, with the option of taking communion where he did after his adult conversion.
Visit the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, where C. S. Lewis preached ‘The Weight of Glory,’ and climb its tower for beautiful views of Oxford and more!

Sept 22, 23: Cambridge.
Explore the historic sites associated with C. S. Lewis, including:

Visit the historic Crusader Round Church to watch a documentary about C. S. Lewis in Cambridge
A tour of C. S. Lewis sites in Cambridge
Historic Punt rides and more!

Sept 24, 25, 26: London.
Dive into the literary legacy of the Inklings with visits to:

Westminster Abbey, where we will see more than 1000 years of English history, culminating on a visit to C. S. Lewis’s memorial stone in Poets’ Corner.
The iconic Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, immersing ourselves in the world of the Bard.
Visit the G.K. Chesterton papers where we will see early drafts of his writing as well as some things he owned.

Sept 27: return flight from London (arrival Chicago at 1:50 pm)
Cost for one in a double room: $4600Additional cost for single room: $950
Learn more: Email Dr. Melody Green at mgreen@urbanatheologicalseminary.org

Taste of Seminary (Wenneborg)
2025-10-28 19:00 - 20:30 | Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Dr. Emily G. Wenneborg
October 28, 7:00-8:30
Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion, Room C (200 W Green St, Champaign).
Nearly four centuries before the invention of the smartphone, French Catholic thinker Blaise Pascal identified our human tendency to seek distraction and fear boredom. Come learn Pascal’s diagnosis of the real reason for our boredom, and discover how his proposed remedy can help us live well today.

Taste of Seminary (Green)
2025-11-04 19:00 - 20:30 | Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Dr. Melody Green
C. S. Lewis’s That Hideous Strength at 80 Years Old
Champaign Public Library, Robeson Pavilion, Room A (200 W Green St, Champaign).
Even though it was written during WWII, C. S. Lewis’s dystopian/science fiction novel That Hideous Strength explores science, faith, myth, relationships, and community that are in some ways even more relevant now than when the book was first published.

Taste of Seminary (Durst)
2025-11-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Dr. Pearce Durst
AI, Writing, and Integrity
November 11, 2025
Friends Conference Room 215 (Champaign Public Library. 200 W Green St, Champaign)
The rise of AI presents both opportunities and challenges for Christian scholars, pastors, and leaders. Writing has always been a central practice in seminary education, but what happens when AI tools enter the writing process? This talk will explore the role of AI in academic and ministry contexts, with a particular focus on writing, communication, and Christian integrity.

Taste of Seminary (Daly)
2025-11-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Champaign Public Library, 200 W. Green St., Champaign, IL, 61820, United States
Dr. Todd Daly
Forget the AI Apocalypse: How AI Is Already Making Us Less Human, and What to Do about It
November 18, 2025, Busey Bank Conference Room 222 (Champaign Public Library, 200 W Green St, Champaign)
The specter of Artificial super Intelligence gaining consciousness and enslaving or destroying humans is a dominant feature of AI discourse, but AI is already threatening our humanity in the form of AI chatbots. How should Christians respond to the advent of AI companions?

Taco Bar Night!
2026-01-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Life Together House, 1502 South Lincoln Ave, Urbana, IL, 61802, United States
The spring semester is almost here, and we’re excited to celebrate! Everyone is invited to join the Urbana Seminary community for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship. Board games will be available throughout the evening, and you are welcome to bring your favorite ingredient to share at our taco bar. If you would like to bring a dessert, feel free to contribute a sweet treat instead. Even if you can’t bring a dish, we’d still love to see you there! The seminary will provide beverages and paper goods, along with a welcoming atmosphere and plenty of good company.
Jan 30, 6:00 pm @ Life Together House We’re excited to welcome everyone, whether you’re a familiar face or new to our community! Bring your family and friends to join the fun. Life Together House is located at 1502 South Lincoln Ave. Urbana, IL.
RSVP by emailing pdurst@urbanatheologicalseminary.org

Preaching Forum
2026-02-23 09:00 - 15:00 | Windsor Road Christian Church, 2501 W Windsor Rd, Champaign, IL, 61822, United States
“The Past, Present, and Future of American Christianity”
February 23, 2026.
Dr. Ryan Burge
SIGN UP HERE
“The Past, Present, and Future of American Christianity” offers a wide- angle look at how faith has shaped—and been reshaped by—the American experience. Across this day of lectures, Ryan Burge traces the long arc of Christian influence in the United States, examines the seismic cultural and demographic shifts transforming churches right now, and highlights the emerging trends that will define the next several decades. Blending historical context with fresh data and clear-eyed analysis, this series gives attendees a grounded, evidence-based understanding of where American Christianity has been—and where it’s headed. Session titles include: The American Religious Landscape over the Last Fifty Years, Your Church is Probably Not Growing – And That’s Okay and What We Can Learn from the Fastest Growing Churches in America.
Location: Windsor Road Christian Church
Time: 9:00 AM—3:00 PM
Cost: $40 per person lunch included
Dr. Ryan Burge is a Professor of Practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University in St. Louis and a leading voice on the intersection of faith and public life. A political scientist and renowned data analyst, his research provides critical insights into the impact of religion on American society, earning him features in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, POLITICO, and on 60 Minutes. He also authors the widely read “Graphs about Religion” newsletter, where he translates complex data for tens of thousands of subscribers, making him a distinguished guide through the country’s changing religious landscape.
Dr. Burge is the author of five significant books, including The Nones, The Great Dechurching, and The American Religious Landscape, which explore seismic shifts in church attendance and religious identity. Combining his academic expertise with over twenty years of experience as a pastor in the American Baptist Church, he brings a rare, dual perspective to the study of religious demography and polarization. His work, including his book The Vanishing Church (2026), offers essential analysis for understanding the challenges facing faith communities and democracy today.

Biblical Turkey
2026-03-08 08:00 - 2026-03-20 17:00 | turkey, Turkey
March 8-20, 2026Tour Host: Dr. Kenneth Cuffey
Download the brochure here.
Application Form
Urbana Seminary’s Training through Travel is delighted to announce a new trip to the lands of the Bible. This March 8-20, 2026, you can join us for a trip through Turkey to see Biblical sites.
Did you know that there are so many Bible-related sites in Turkey that the country is often referred to as the “second Holy Land”? This Bible Lands trip is designed to deepen your ability to read the Bible better to hear from God—in reality, it’s a discipleship trip, giving you tools for envisioning the world of the Bible and understanding what God was doing.
What We’ll See
Biblical Turkey 2026 will give you a panoramic view of the growth of the early church in the period of AD 50-100! We will travel to Antioch to see the city and its harbor—the site where the Gentiles were first part of the intentional ministry of the early preachers and evangelists, where Peter came and preached, where Barnabas and Paul were commissioned for their first Missionary Journey. We’ll visit Tarsus to ponder Paul’s origins. As we travel West, we will follow in the footsteps of Paul’s first, second, and third Missionary Journeys.
In Ephesus, we will consider the amazingly preserved remains of the city where both Paul and John had extended ministry. Imagine sitting in the huge theater of Ephesus to consider all that God did there through his apostles, as well as reconstruct in our minds the raucous riot that took place right where we will be sitting! Did you know that early church tradition says that John brought Jesus’ mother, Mary, here after Jerusalem was destroyed in AD 70?
Then we turn North and visit the seven Churches of Revelation. This lets us go deeper into what these sites and their history can teach us about what the Book of Revelation is all about. Why did John write a book like this? You’ll also get the chance to enjoy Istanbul and the history of the early church, as well as some unexpected Old Testament connections! So much to see and so much for each of us as we grow in Christ!
—
The trip Includes – Roundtrip international air from Chicago– Istanbul – Adana domestic flight– 1 Night at Grand Halic Hotel in Istanbul or similar– 2 Nights at The Museum Hotel in Antioch or similar– 1 Night at Anemon Hotel in Konya or similar– 2 Nights at Best Western Khan Hotel in Antalya or similar– 1 Night at Doga Thermal Hotel in Pamukkale or similar– 1 Night at Korumar Hotel in Kusadasi or similar– 3 Nights at Kordon Cankaya Hotel in Izmir or similar– Daily open buffet breakfasts– 11 dinners– Licensed English Speaking Biblical oriented Guide throughout the itinerary– Private Bus with driver throughout the itinerary– One group transfer on arrival and departure– Entrance fees to all sites– Headsets– Tolls & parking fees– Service charges and local taxes
Contact: Dee Hoiem, dietlind.hoiem7@gmail.com

Ministry Forum
2026-04-27 09:00 - 16:00 | IL
Connected by Story: Building your Community through Media
April 27, 2026
Dr. Matt Green and Monty Klecker
SIGN UP HERE
The heart of ministry is relationship — and the heart of relationship is story. In Scripture, God uses story to reveal His nature, transform lives, and unite His people. Today’s digital world gives ministries more opportunities than ever to share their story with purpose, creativity, and impact. Urbana Seminary’s inaugural Ministry Forum will provide you with more than theory — you’ll leave with tools, strategies, and inspiration to share through story in ways that engage hearts, grow trust, and invite people deeper into community.
Dr. Matt Green is a seasoned Web & Software Development instructor and program lead at Waukesha County Technical College. He holds a Doctorate in Contextualized Ministry from Northwind Theological Seminary, where his studies focused on education, global digital ministry and the intersection of AI and faith.
Montie Klecker is the Director of Student Ministries at Meadowbrook Church in Wauwatosa, WI, and a Master of Divinity graduate from Duke Divinity School with a focus on Theology and the Arts. He previously worked as a creative director specializing in church videography, designing their online presence and crafting videos to point people back toward the Gospel messages from the Church’s sermons.
Location TBA
9:00 AM—4:00 PM
Cost $40 per person lunch included
