--- description: Rev. Dr. Serene Jonesis President ofUnion Theological Seminary in the City of New York, where she also holds the Johnston Family Chair in Religion and Democracy. She is Vice President of the American Academy of Religion, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and author ofTrauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World. title: TIME | Current & Breaking News | National & World Updates image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production ---  # Serene Jones  ## Serene Jones Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close _Rev. Dr. Serene Jones_ _is President of_[Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York](http://utsnyc.edu)_, where she also holds the Johnston Family Chair in Religion and Democracy. She is Vice President of the American Academy of Religion, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and author of_[Trauma and Grace: Theology in a Ruptured World](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/poptheology/2012/07/trauma-and-grace/)_._  ## Serene Jones Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close *  Sep 1, 2021 ### [Why Are Conservatives So Afraid of Critical Race Theory?](https://time.com/6094044/bible-slavery-critical-race-theory/) [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Sep 7, 2016 ### [How to Heal the Spiritual Pain of America](https://time.com/4477582/heal-the-spiritual-pain-of-america/) We need a new common narrative about who we are as a country [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Dec 21, 2015 ### [The Original Christmas Story Is Really About Refugees](https://time.com/4155651/christmas-story-refugees/) It should open our eyes and our hearts to those most vulnerable [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Dec 3, 2015 ### [U.S. Must Repent of the Sins of Fossil Fuels](https://time.com/4132917/paris-climate-conference-leadership/) It is our moral responsibility to act on climate change [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Nov 18, 2015 ### [Don’t Blame Islam for the Paris Terrorist Attacks](https://time.com/4117190/paris-attacks-religion/) Calling ISIS “religious” is a dangerous oversimplification [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Nov 13, 2015 ### [Why the Democrats Need to Talk About God](https://time.com/4112030/democratic-debate-god/) I want to know whether my next president has grappled with deep existential questions [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Sep 23, 2015 ### [What Feminist Christians Think About Pope Francis](https://time.com/4046990/what-feminist-christians-think-about-pope-francis/) He gives us hope—but the church can do more for women [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Jul 23, 2015 ### [The Path to Redemption for Our Criminal Justice System](https://time.com/3967938/criminal-justice-white-supremacy-redemption/) We must first address the underlying issues [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Apr 2, 2015 ### [Dear Indiana: Christian Love Embraces Those on the Margins of Society](https://time.com/3768793/indiana-conversion-religious-freedom/) Religious freedom was never meant to override the inherent dignity of human beings [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Jan 27, 2015 ### [Separation of Church and State Is Important, But So Is Faith in Congress](https://time.com/3684353/separation-of-church-and-state-is-important-but-so-is-faith-in-congress/) You can't separate faith, values, and politics and expect our democracy to thrive [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Dec 5, 2014 ### [Corporations Are People But People of Color Are Not](https://time.com/3620521/eric-garner-michael-brown-justice/) The collusion of police and capitalist structures has prevented meaningful criminal justice reform [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Nov 25, 2014 ### [Ferguson Decision Shows the Brutality of Racism](https://time.com/3604119/michael-brown-darren-wilson-ferguson-whiteness/) State-sanctioned violence perpetrated against young men of color in this country is abominable [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Nov 5, 2014 ### [This Election Proves That Our Country Is Stuck](https://time.com/3559354/midterm-elections-stuck-country/) With each election, Americans become less confident that their leaders will make America more just, ... [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Sep 19, 2014 ### [Religions for the Earth: Redefining the Climate Crisis](https://time.com/3404006/religions-for-the-earth-redefining-the-climate-crisis/) The climate crisis is not just a scientific and political challenge--it is an urgent moral imperativ... [IDEAS](/section/ideas/) *  Jul 3, 2014 ### [Dear Christians: Stop Opposing Obama’s Ban on LGBTQ Job Discrimination](https://time.com/2954744/dear-christians-stop-opposing-obamas-ban-on-lgbtq-job-discrimination/) People of faith asked the President for special permission to discriminate. That is simply theologic... 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