In June, Princeton Seminary alumni/ae voted online for a new alumni/ae
trustee to join the Board of Trustees in the Class of 2015, replacing
Susan Faye Wonderland.
1,105 alumni/ae voted for one of
two candidates, Renée Sundberg (M.Div., 1998), associate pastor of University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington, and Quinn Fox (Th.M., 1989), associate pastor
at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington DC. Sundberg received
610 votes and Fox received 495.
Renée Lawler Sundberg previously represented Region 12
(Alaska, Northern California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) on the
Alumni/ae Association Executive Council.
Sundberg began in vocational ministry at University Presbyterian Church in
Seattle (UPC) in the nation’s largest church-based ministry to college
students, leading along with Denny Rydberg (current president of Young
Life) for five years before pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at
Princeton Theological Seminary. As a part of her work in the Admissions
Office at Princeton Seminary, she particularly enjoyed hosting
prospective students during their four-day campus visits. Her leadership
in the PCUSA as a young adult inspired the Seminary’s director of
admissions to establish what would be a new merit-based scholarship, the
highest paying seminary grant. Upon graduation Sundberg won a preaching
prize and was ordained in the PCUSA as executive director of an
innovative ministry to working professionals. Simultaneously, she served
in the local church and on Seattle Presbytery’s CPM, a body of pastors
and elders, shepherding more than one hundred adults in their
discernment and preparation process for ordination. In 2002, she
returned to UPC as associate pastor of community life, serving alongside
the Reverend Earl Palmer. Through her leadership of the church’s small
group ministry, more than 3,000 adults are active in small groups. Renée
has four children and shares the privilege of raising them with Justin
Sundberg (M.Div., 1998), her husband of fifteen years.
“Besides a wonderful theological education, PTS gave me the gift of a richly diverse and talented community of students and faculty that significantly shaped my ministry. As a community builder, I would strive to be the leading voice on our Board of Trustees advocating for creative ways of developing and enhancing meaningful connections to PTS for our Seminary's current and future alumni/ae.” — Renée Lawler Sundberg