Unafraid Since 1866
As we emerge from the pandemic, we’re called to stand up. There are churches to reimagine. There are lives to restore. The fight for justice and equality must continue. New demands for climate action must be made. PSR’s legacy was formed in defining moments, and now it’s our generation’s turn.
It’s time to reinvent the story of grace and inclusion
for a new world, for a new day—Unafraid.
PSR Class of 2021 Rises to the Challenges of a Transformative Year
As a progressive Christian seminary and graduate school, PSR is firmly committed to serving the church and nonprofit organizations. PSR welcomes students from all denominations and religious backgrounds. We embrace diversity and are committed to racial, gender, sexual orientation, economic, and social justice.
Academics
Pushing the Boundaries of Theological Education
PSR’s innovative curriculum combines theological study with contextual education, cross-cultural immersion, spiritual formation, and professional development. We have both online and on-campus programs.
An advanced professional degree for experienced, spiritually rooted leaders and practitioners
Prepares students for ordained or lay ministry, related vocations, and further academic study (with concentrations in Congregational Ministry, Chaplaincy, and Sexuality and Religion)
Designed for students who are entering teaching ministries, as well as those who want to pursue an area of particular interest before taking a call
Equips students to think critically about socio-political dynamics and reflect constructively on the role played by religion and theological traditions in movements for social change
An opportunity for students from other professions to integrate theological studies into their practice, and preparation for doctoral studies
Offers a broad, yet comprehensive, education in theological studies across a range of disciplines
Offers students an opportunity to explore theological studies and vocational goals
A chance for those who are already engaged in social change, as well as those eager to embark on this vocational path, to combine spiritual formation and theological reflection in a cohort of changemakers, leadership skills for critically constructive social analysis, and immersive learning and practice with experienced mentors
Provides specialized leadership training in the theological, historical, ethical, pastoral, and practical dimensions of sexuality, sexual orientation, and gender identity
Deepens ministers’ theological education
Student Life
Building Community Through God's Presence
At PSR, you’re sure to be with others different from yourself. We welcome students who have diverse theological views and cultural backgrounds.
Upcoming Events
Jul
02
Public Event
PSR Engage Admissions Event
Jul
05
Academic Office
Independence Day Observed: Administrative Holiday / Library Closed
Jul
21
Public Event
PSR Engage Admissions Event
Aug
16
Public Event
PSR Engage Admissions Event
Aug
30
Academic Office, Admissions / Financial Aid, Office of Community Life, President's Office / Administrative, Public Event
PSR Virtual New Student Orientation (8/30 – 8/31)
Latest News
- June 10, 2021
- June 10, 2021
- June 9, 2021
Reach Out to Our
Admissions Team
Our Centers
Pacific School of Religion is home to several centers that provide critical scholarship resources on some of today’s most cutting-edge theological, social, cultural, and ethical issues.
Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology
Fostering a greater understanding of and appreciation for the ancient biblical world.
CLGS: Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion
Shaping a new public discourse on religion, gender, and sexuality.
Ignite
Institute
A leadership and innovation lab that develops visionary, socially-responsible leaders in both nonprofit and for-profit spaces.
Theological Education for Leadership
Special courses and seminars providing progressive, accessible Christian theological education year-round for clergy, laity, and spiritual seekers.
Graduate Theological Union
The most comprehensive center for the graduate study of religion in North America.
Alumnx & Giving
Ways to Give
Your gift allows students to apply a critical, theological lens to pressing social concerns and impacts the lives they touch through ministry, community building, and social transformation.
About Us
Mission and Fast Facts
Pacific School of Religion prepares a diverse cadre of spiritually rooted leaders with the vision, resilience, and skill to create a world where all can thrive.
Grounded in the rigorous study and faithful practice of progressive Christian faith, PSR partners with students of all backgrounds to deepen their spirituality and enhance their capacity to lead in transformative ways. Connected to a broad network of religious, educational, not-for-profit, and private sector organizations—with a particular commitment to the wisdom of historically marginalized communities—PSR offers an education that is marked by innovation, reflection, and excellence.
Pacific School of Religion is a member of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), an interreligious consortium of seminaries and institutes in the San Francisco Bay Area. PSR is a non-profit founded in 1866 and is located in Berkeley, California.
A Timeline of PSR’s Legacy
1866 – Enfranchising Chinese Immigrants Ahead of the Exclusion Act
1895 – Enrolling Women During the Heart of Suffrage
1942 – Opposing Japanese Internment During WWII
1950 – Appointed Georgia Harkness, the First Female Full Professor of Theology at a U.S. Protestant Seminary
1959 – Combined Civil Rights Activism and Scholarship
1966 – Marching for Farmworkers’ Rights
1969 – Protesting the War in Vietnam
1972 – Ordained the First LBGTQ Minister in a Mainline Denomination
1997 – Protested Nuclear Proliferation at the United Nations
2000 – Founded First Seminary-Based LGBTQ Center
2015 – Supporting Black Lives Matter
2016 – Standing with Standing Rock
2017 – Protesting the Militarization of the Police
2020 – Reaffirming Our Commitment to End Racism
2021 – Commitment to Educating an Emerging Generation of Students of Color
2021 – Alumnx Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer Makes History as the First Openly Transgender Bishop in Any Mainstream American Denomination