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.
Unafraid Since 1866
Pacific School of Religion’s mission is to prepare a diverse cadre of spiritually rooted leaders with the vision, resilience, and skill to create a world where all can thrive.
Founded in 1866, PSR is a progressive Christian seminary, graduate school, and center for leadership development and social justice located in Berkeley, CA. PSR transforms individuals and communities through a flexible, stackable curriculum and a collaborative learning ecosystem powered by diversity.
Grounded in the rigorous study and faithful practice of progressive Christian faith, we partner 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 educational opportunities that are marked by innovation, reflection, and excellence.
PSR is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
Our Commitment to Radical Inclusion
Pacific School of Religion has forged a theological education devoted to a radically inclusive gospel. That means we welcome students with diverse theological views and racial and cultural backgrounds, new college grads as well as second-career professionals, LGBTQ+ students, families with children, and people with disabilities. That also means we don’t tolerate racism, sexism, homophobia, or xenophobia.
As a majority people-of-color community, from the Board to our student body, we’re fiercely committed to being an anti-racist institution. We believe our strength comes through the diversity of our backgrounds, experiences, and expertise.
As part of that commitment, we continue to focus on developing coursework, outreach programs, formation events, and thought leadership addressing racism as a core commitment.
We seek to find a balance between empowerment and resilience in every touch point to form and prepare students to lead communities that are transformative, anti-racist, anti-homophobic, and anti-xenophobic.
Our goal is to become a “go-to” destination for communities of color to feature and develop their wisdom-based leadership, attracting recognized leaders of color and identifying rising leaders who are effective, but whose work may be marginalized by racist practices.
We are an Intergenerational Community
To foster the richness of our inclusive culture, we’ve partnered with missionally-aligned organizations to create a diverse learning community on the Pacific School of Religion campus. Collaborating with Berkwood Hedge Middle School and The Coleman Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership at UC Berkeley, PSR exemplifies its dedication to nurturing an enriching, intercultural, and intergenerational community.
The Coleman Fung Institute for Engineering Leadership, housed in the Seely Mudd building, trains inclusive leaders to solve the world’s problems through innovation, technology, and collaboration. Through this collaboration, PSR extends its commitment to diversity to encompass technological innovation. By bridging theological and engineering disciplines, this partnership will enable cross-disciplinary research, workshops, and projects.
Berkwood Hedge School, housed in PSR’s former Chapel space prepares children for a life of active and engaged citizenship. As Berkeley’s first racially integrated school, Berkwood Hedge shares PSR’s historical commitment to diversity. The intergenerational exchange of ideas, experiences, and insights made possible by this partnership will help nurture future leaders with empathy and understanding.
Together, we’re building a dynamic model for collaboration that benefits all our communities. The shared experience of those living and learning together provides additional opportunities for meaningful connections, conversations, and scholarship to deepen learning for students and faculty alike. This holistic approach allows us to educate the mind while we embolden the heart and strengthen the hands.