Instituted in 1981 as a means of honoring individuals whose lives reflect the mission of the Seminary in the world, the Union Medal is the Seminary’s highest award. Past medalists include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Vice President Al Gore, and Judith and Bill Moyers.
2021 Union Medal Recipients
Sen. Rev. Raphael Warnock, M.Div. ’94, Ph.D. ’06
Baptist minister, scholar and theologian, civil rights activist, public advocate, and Senator for the State of Georga.
Past Union Medal Recipients
2019
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
American lawyer and jurist who served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States from 1993
2018
Dolores Huerta
Iconic labor activist, immigration reformer, and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Union; 2012 of the Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
Dr. Dhyanchand Carr
Pioneering scholar-activist whose work on Dalit theology has raised awareness about injustices based on caste, race, and class
2017
Thich Nhat Hanh ’63
Internationally celebrated Zen Buddhist monk, dharma teacher, scholar, author, and peace activist
Rev. Charles M. Sherrod ’66
Civil rights activist and Freedom Ride organizer; co-founder of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Albany Movement
Shirley M. Sherrod
Agricultural advocate; Director of Rural Development for the State of Georgia (USDA)
2016
Rev. Dr. Katie Geneva Cannon ’83
First African American woman ordained in the United Presbyterian Church (USA), Annie Scales Professor of Christian Ethics at Union Presbyterian Seminary
Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian
Civil rights activist and spiritual leader; 2013 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient; Board Member, BASIC Diversity, Inc.
2015
Mandy Carter
Human rights activist, public policy advocate, and grassroots organizer; co-founder of Southerners On New Ground (SONG) and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC)
Hon. Al Gore
Advocate and activist for solving the climate crisis; former Vice President of the United States
2011
Thoraya Ahmed Obaid
Advocate for women and youth health and empowerment; former Executive Direction of the United Nations Population Fund
Daniel E. Pellegrom ’69
Advocate and activist for reproductive health and President of Pathfinder International
2006
Ophelia Dahl
Global health activist and co-founder of Partners in Health
Paul Farmer, M.D.
Global health activist and co-founder of Partners in Health
Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Church leader and human rights advocate
2005
Bill Moyers
Award-winning television journalist; prophetic voice for democratic ideals, separation of church and state, and freedom of the press
Judith Davidson Moyers
Educator, writer, editor, television producer and advocate for children
Anne Hale Johnson ’56
Philanthropist and social activist
2003
Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin ’52
Pastor, preacher, activist and conscience of the nation
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie
Pastor, author, journalist and role model for women in ministry
2001
Rev. Dr. Ko Chun-Beng (C. M. Kao)
Church leader and human rights advocate in Taiwan
1999
Rev. Dr. George William Webber ’48, ’64
Theologian and mentor for clergy in urban ministry through the East Harlem Protestant Parish
Dr. Marian Wright Edelman
Social activist and founder of the Children’s Defense Fund
1995
Dr. Helmut Reihlen
Business leader; Evangelical Synod president; leader in effort to preserve the memory of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1994
Bishop K. H. Ting ’48
Theologian and Christian community leader in the People’s Republic of China
Kim Dae-Jung
Leader in the struggle for the democratization and re-unification of Korea
1992
Katherine Womeldorf Paterson ’62
Distinguished author of children’s books and missionary
Maestro Christoph Von Dohnányi
Music Director of The Cleveland Orchestra and nephew of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Maestro Kurt Masur
Music Director of the New York Philharmonic and leader in the German re-unification effort
1991
Rev. Dr. Donald W. Shriver, Jr.
Ethicist, author, teacher, and thirteenth president of Union Seminary
Dr. Peggy A. L. Shriver
Author and church leader
1990
Rev. Dr. Allan Boesak
South African anti-apartheid activist, theologian and author
1989
Dr. Richard Freiherr von Weizsäcker
President of the Federal Republic of Germany
1988
Rosalind E. Havemeyer
Benefactor and first female Chair of the Board, Union Seminary 1969-75
Pamela Ilott
Vice President for Religious and Cultural Affairs, CBS
1987
Rev. Dr. John Knox, Sr.
Baldwin Professor Emeritus of Sacred Literature
Dr. Darlene Nicgorski
Sanctuary Movement activist
Rev. John M. Fife
Sanctuary Movement activist
George Macleod (the Very Reverend the Lord Macleod of Fuinary)
Founder of Scotland’s Iona Community
1986
Rev. Dr. John C. Bennett ’27
Christian social ethicist and eleventh president of Union Seminary
Anne McGrew Bennett
Peace activist and feminist theologian
1984
Rev. Gardner Taylor
Leading American preacher
Dr. Eberhard Bethge
Colleague and biographer of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1983
Rev. Rachel Henderlite
Educator; first woman ordained by the Presbyterian Church, USA
Dr. Okgill Kim
President Emerita of Ewha Women’s University, Korea
1982
Hon. George Kennan
Diplomat and scholar
Hon. Andrew Young
Political Leader and diplomat