One week after “March Madness,” Presbyterian seminaries held their own version of the Final Four on April 8 at the second annual Ultimate Frisbee Revival held at Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, Va.
More than 70 players from five seminaries participated, along with dozens more who came as spectators or participated in the weekend’s other events. Players participated from Princeton Theological Seminary, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary, Union-PSCE and its neighbor, the Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, for a double elimination tournament.
The fast-paced game is a cross between soccer and football. Played in two 20-minute halves, a seven-member team made up of men and women can win its match by scoring the most “touchdowns” when time expires. Players from all seminaries were mixed together into teams drawn by lottery. That ensured interaction between the players from different seminaries.
“It’s been fun meeting people, mixing it up,” said David Watermulder, a final-level student from Princeton Theological Seminary. “It’s a lot easier meeting fellow students from different schools. We’ve got to find a way to keep this going!” David Paul, a final-level student at Union-PSCE and one of the organizers of the event, agreed. “It’s more about fellowship than competition,” he said.
In addition to the games, the students shared meals together and held a vespers service. Peninnah Ziegler, moderator of the student government assembly at Union-PSCE, preached on Matthew 14:15-22, the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Music for the service was provided by Nancy Sandoval, whose husband, Joe, is a student at Union-PSCE’s campus in Charlotte, N.C.
Students from all the seminaries were communion servers at the worship service. Later that evening, a concert of Irish-Celtic music was provided by Union-PSCE student Jonah Bartlett and his band.
Meredith Yuckman, a first-year student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, played in the tournament with her husband, Colin. Colin is a recent alumnus of Princeton Seminary and pastor of United Presbyterian Church in New Kensington, Pa.
“It’s been very collegial, very friendly,” said Meredith. “It’s nice to compare notes on how different seminaries work. And mixing up the teams this year has given us a chance to get to know each other, because you never know who your colleagues will be once you’re out in the church.”
Glenn Birch is director of communications for Union Theological Seminary & Presbyterian School of Christian Education.
