Union Presbyterian Seminary is 
pleased to announce and to recognize the Rev. Dr. Dean K. Thompson as its 2019 Distinguished Alum. He received three degrees from Union in Richmond: B.D., 1969; Th.M., 1970 and Ph.D. in Church History, 1974. He received the D.D. from Centre College, 2005, and from Hanover College, 2007.
Thompson was a member of the seminary’s board of trustees (2000-2004) and served as the eighth president of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, serving also as professor of ministry (2004-2010).
“Dean Thompson’s 40 years of ministry have been characterized by a love for God, love for the church, love for theological education, and love for the people of God,” a representative of Louisville Seminary said.
For 31 years, Thompson served pastorates in West Virginia, Texas, and California, serving on the PC(USA)’s Committee on Theological Education and as an adjunct professor and a visiting lecturer at two of the denomination’s theological seminaries – San Francisco and Austin. His pastoral ministry and commitments have included justice and mercy activities such as civil rights and racial issues, and anti-war and anti-death penalty concerns. The state of West Virginia presented Thompson its Martin Luther King Jr. “Living the Dream” Human and Civil Rights Award for civil rights leadership in 2004.
Thompson is the co-author of three books and has written more than 100 articles on ministry, church history, and theology. His recent book, “Mentoring: Biblical, Theological, and Practical Perspectives,” co-edited with D. Cameron Murchison (B.D. ’68), was published by Wm. B. Eerdmans on May 1.
Dean Thompson will be recognized as the seminary’s 2019 Distinguished Alum at a reception held on the Richmond campus during the annual Sprunt Lectures, May 6-8, 2019.