A dinner honoring a legacy of leadership, faith, and democratic imagination

Join us on May 19, 2026
at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine

Please join Union Theological Seminary for a landmark evening honoring the extraordinary 18-year presidency of Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, Union’s first female President and one of the most influential public theologians of our time.

This tribute dinner celebrates Dr. Jones’s enduring legacy at Union and marks the launch of the Serene Jones Center for Religion and Democracy, opening in 2026.

The Center will be the first space at Union named in honor of a woman and will advance rigorous scholarship, public engagement, and moral leadership at the intersection of religion, democracy, and public life.

Proceeds from the evening will support the work of the Serene Jones Center and help ensure attendance from Union’s community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners.

6:00 pm Cocktails, 7:30 pm Dinner & Program

Learn more

Sponsorship opportunities

    • 16 tickets with premier seating

    • Recognition from the podium

    • Prominent on-screen acknowledgment at event

    • Recognition in event materials

    • 8 tickets with priority seating

    • On-screen acknowledgment at event

    • Recognition in event materials

    • 4 tickets with priority seating

    • On-screen acknowledgment at event

    • 2 tickets

    • On-screen acknowledgment at event

Individual tickets

    • 1 ticket

  • Union Strong reflects our commitment to community, access, and shared leadership.

    This ticket level is reserved to help ensure all of Union’s community can participate in the evening.

    For more information, email development@uts.columbia.edu.

Sponsorships help underwrite the cost of the event and ensure participation by members of the Union community.

Register

About the Center

History shows us that democracy is not sustained by laws alone — it is sustained by the moral imagination of its people. Today, authoritarian movements are investing heavily in religious formation because they understand something many democratic institutions have ignored: whoever shapes moral meaning shapes the future.

The Serene Jones Center for Religion and Democracy exists to ensure religion remains a force for pluralism, dignity, and democratic life — not its erosion. At Union Theological Seminary, we are equipping faith leaders, scholars, organizers, and public thinkers to reclaim religion as a moral force for the common good. This is formation for a fragile democratic moment — and an invitation to help shape what comes next.

Join us.

Tax deductible contribution

Unable to attend, but would like to make a fully tax-deductible contribution to the Serene Jones Center for Religion and Democracy?

Give here

Methods of giving

  • If you would prefer to make a gift over the phone or to mail a check to Union, we are happy to receive your gift in that way. Please contact Luke Henderson at 212-280-1453 to make your gift today, or write to us at Union Theological Seminary, Development Office, 3041 Broadway, New York, NY 10027.

  • Here is the information you will need in order to make a donation to Union by bank wire:

    ACH transfers should be sent as follows:
    JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    383 Madison Avenue
    New York, NY 10017
    ABA # – 021000021
    Account Number – 000000055012922
    For Account of – UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

    US Dollar wires should be sent to:JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    383 Madison Avenue
    New York, NY 10017
    ABA # – 021000021
    SWIFT # – CHASUS33 (optional for Domestic wire transfers) Account Number – 000000055012922
    For Account of – UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

    Please send notification to Luke Henderson in Development at lhenderson@uts.columbia.edu when sending a wire transfer so that we may ensure timely processing.

  • GIFTS OF SECURITIES

    Making a gift of securities is simple. Our bank is: JP Morgan Chase Bank, 270 Park Avenue, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017, att: Stephanie Lyons (Phone: 212-464-1467; stephanie.lyons@jpmorgan.com). Account Name: Union Theological Seminary, Tax ID#: 13-1624238. For securities transfers (stock and mutual fund gifts):The brokerage account number for Union Theological Seminary is: B16280004. The credit account number is P72500. The Chase Investment Services Corp. clearing number (DTC) is: 0902.

    Please send notification to Luke Henderson in Development at lhenderson@uts.columbia.edu when making a gift of securities so that we may ensure timely processing.

    OTHER GIFTS

    Real estate, art, or other collectibles make wonderful gifts to Union. If you are considering a gift of this sort, please contact Luke Henderson at 212.280.1453 for more information. Your gift may be an opportunity to support named scholarships and fellowships or other named endowments.ription

Dean Su Yon Pak ‘99
The Very Rev. Winnie Varghese '99
Mim Warden ’98, ‘04
Ruth Wooden ’16

Host Committee

The Rev. Frederick A. Davie
Millicent Fortunoff
Clifford Hudson
Charis Jones ‘25
Calvin Mew ‘73

James Blue
The Rev. Dr. Chloe Breyer '15
The Honorable Bill Bradley and Betty Sue Flowers
Geoffrey and Suzanne Brown
The Rev. Frederick A. Davie and Michael Adams
Wolcott B. Dunham, Jr. and Joan Dunham
Arnold Eisen
Cindy Fields
Millicent and David Fortunoff
Catherine George
The Honorable Vice President Al Gore
Karenna Gore ‘13
William Havemeyer
Dr. Harville Hendrix '71 and Helen LaKelly Hunt
The Rev. Dr. Mark Hostetter

Honorary Committee

Clifford and Leslie Hudson
The Rev. Nancy Jennings '95, ‘99
Virginia Johnston and Dan Crisci
David Klassen '03
Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum and Randi Weingarten
Caroline Laguerre-Brown
Lyn Lear
Carey Lovelace
The Rev. James Lynch, Jr.
Sr. Joan Magnetti, RSCJ
David and Nanci McAlpin
Rhonda Joy McLean
Calvin Mew '73 and Mary Crawford
The Rev. Dr. Robin Meyers
Craig Miller

The Rev. Ted Pardoe ’05
Chang Park
Dan ‘69 and Sally Pellegrom ‘ 68
Keith Reinhard
The Rev. Susan Sgarlat '07
The Rev. Madison Shockley '86
Anna Deavere Smith
The Rev. Stan Sloan
Krista Tippett
The Very Rev. Winnie Varghese '99
Rita Walters
Mim Warden '98, ‘04
The Honorable Raphael Warnock '94, '06
Ruth Wooden '16

Our Sponsors

Builders of Grace

Wolcott B. Dunham Jr. and Joan Dunham
Clifford and Leslie Hudson
Rhonda Joy McLean
Calvin Mew '73 and Mary Crawford
Nancy Jennings '95, '99

Union is so very grateful for the generous support from:

Proponents of Peace

Emcore LLC

Advocates for Justice

James Blue / Storyboard Pictures
Ecosystem
G&C Plumbing and Heating
Ginny Johnston and Dan Crisci
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Ventures Group

Protectors of Democracy

Geoffrey and Suzanne Brown
David Klassen '73
David and Nanci McAlpin
Ruth Wooden '16