Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School took a major step toward growing its international profile by signing a memorandum of understanding with the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) on Jan. 28.
The new partnership will allow the two schools to do ministry together and learn from each other, Beeson Dean Douglas A. Sweeney said.
“We’re grateful to God for enabling this strategic partnership with colleagues at UETS,” Sweeney said. “We are working hard these days to internationalize Beeson Divinity School and the worldviews, horizons and ministry networks of our students, faculty and staff. Our friends in Kyiv not only stand in need of our friendship and support. They also have much to teach us about discipleship and ministry in the midst of great hardship and suffering.”
In addition to formalizing a ministry partnership and friendship, the hope is for a future faculty/student exchange between the two schools.
Ivan Rusyn, president of UETS, was present for the signing. He said the help and partnership of Beeson is a “blessing for the people of Ukraine” and hopes UETS can be a blessing to Beeson as well.
UETS, which has between 650 and 700 students, is interdenominational, sharing that commitment with Beeson.
Theology on the Frontlines
While in Birmingham, Rusyn shared how the ongoing war with Russia has affected the seminary and country.
“The full-scale war has changed our landscape, even our theological missional landscape,” Rusyn said. “Since we are facing an existential threat, it requires a very deep, profound response. Every single class, subject and program has been redefined in the face of this existential threat.”
Theology has moved from the classroom to the front lines of war. "Several ideas became very relevant to us: incarnational ministry and mission, suffering the same way others suffer,” Rusyn said.
In addition to providing theological education, the seminary has become a hub for tangible needs for those in Kyiv and beyond. The school routinely feeds people and provides firewood and medicine to those in need.
“Quite a lot of people are able to survive because of an educational institution,” Rusyn said.
The campus was hit soon after Russia invaded in 2022, but the school has rebuilt. Rusyn hopes the church can help present a vision of a “new Ukraine after the war.”
“Ukraine has been healed and transformed by the Gospel,” he said. “Society needs a new narrative, a new song, and we try to be a community of faith that is writing that narrative, which is faithful to our painful past, but not limited by it. Now, our society truly needs to see the church as a shepherd, as a leader who will navigate us through this storm and help heal Ukraine.”
The partnership with Beeson will allow UETS to learn from Beeson faculty, especially in the areas of theology, trauma healing and chaplaincy, which are needed as the country continues to experience war.
“It’s an answer to our prayers,” Rusyn said. “Beeson can really strengthen us by the competence it has. We’re looking forward to it.”
UETS also does ministry in some Muslim countries in Central Asia. Those ministries, he said, will also benefit from this new partnership.
Rusyn asked for believers to pray for justice and peace in Ukraine, and for seminaries and churches to have strength to respond to this “existential challenge.”.
“We need God’s wisdom and strength to heal our land,” he said. “We need to see partners who can join our hands, who can support our seminaries and churches, while we take care of our wounded nation.”
GIVE: Support international partnerships at Beeson Divinity School by designating your giving for Beeson’s International Education Fund.