About Pacific School of Religion
Founded in 1866, Pacific School of Religion (PSR) is a progressive Christian seminary, graduate school, and center for leadership development and social impact. PSR transforms individuals and communities through a flexible, stackable curriculum and a collaborative, lifelong learning ecosystem powered by diversity.
PSR offers multiple, flexible options for anyone looking to build spiritually grounded leadership skills; or learn from wisdom-based traditions. In addition to PSR’s Master of Divinity (MDiv), Master of Theological Studies (MTS), Master of Social Transformation (MAST), and Doctor of Ministry (DMin) programs we also offer Graduate Certificates including Sexuality and Religion and Spirituality and Social Change. Courses can also be completed through the Ignite Institute and our Theological Education for Leadership (TEL) programs. PSR is also home to the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS), the first seminary-based LGBTQ+ Center.
PSR is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).
PSR: Unafraid Since 1866
PSR in the News
Bay Area Reporter | 12/18/24
Tidings of Comfort, Joy, and Courage
“This Christmas, I urge you to find a welcoming place to light candles, hear angels sing, and create chosen holy families of every configuration. When we sing about peace in ancient Bethlehem, pray for peace in modern day Palestine and Israel. And come seeking comfort and joy, and also courage for the struggle ahead. Make Christmas real by promising solidarity to immigrants and asylum seekers, so that no one feels out of place and there is room for all in the inn.”
The Reverend Jim Mitulski, PSR Alum, writes this Christmas Reflection for the Bay Area Reporter.
AP News | 10/29/24
Local Pastor Publishes First Children’s Book
The Rev. Dr. Robert W. Lee (DMin ’24), a local pastor and author, has published his first children’s book.
“You are Mine and I am Yours: A Wesleyan Prayer for Kids,” which Lee co-wrote with the Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford of Kansas City, is an adaptation of the Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition.
AP News | 10/16/24
Kwaray, a community-based learning platform for rising faith leaders, is live
Kwaray is a community-based learning platform equipping rising faith leaders as they navigate an era of profound spiritual and cultural upheaval. Kwaray heralds a new day in faith leadership preparation amidst an expensive and fragmented educational landscape. Kwaray serves rising faith leaders by offering courses, cohorts, credentials, and community-events from a wide range of seminaries and organizations. The platform offers a variety of community-based learning resources tailored to each learner’s spiritual and professional goals. Kwaray’s mission is to unleash the potential of rising faith leaders as they discover their purpose and take action.
AP News | 9/27/24
How to Follow God’s Command to Love One Another in an Election Year
God entreats us to, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another,” in John 13:34. While we may all agree with this sentiment in the abstract it can feel difficult in an election year when James Baldwin’s quote, “We can disagree and still love each other unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist,” feels more urgent.
Religion News Service | 9/18/24
Pacific School of Religion to Launch Kwaray
Pacific School of Religion (PSR), a leading progressive Christian seminary known for its commitment to social justice and inclusive ministry, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of Kwaray, a bold and collaborative initiative designed to reimagine theological education. Drawing on the best of the Bay Area’s technological innovation and expanding the reach of PSR’s academic programs, Kwaray will be a distributed learning network that connects diverse voices and experiences, creating an inclusive, dynamic educational ecosystem. This groundbreaking initiative has been made possible by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. A primary aim of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s grantmaking in religion is to deepen the religious lives of Christians, principally by supporting efforts that enhance congregational vitality and strengthen the leadership of Christian communities.
Religion News Service | 9/6/24
PSR Presents: Queering the 2024 Vote
Pacific School of Religion’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS) invites you to join us for “Queering the 2024 Vote,” a series of five impactful online workshops this Fall 2024. As we approach the upcoming US elections, this series seeks to empower LGBTQ individuals, allies, and communities to be voices and votes for positive change in our nation’s urgent need for justice, hope, love, and compassion.
New Ways Ministry | 9/1/24
Dean Susan Abraham, ThD writes, “To live out a covenantal practice means that “neighbor” is not only someone who is proximate and near. It also means someone in need: a stranger, a person met on the road, who may be dying for connection and affirmation. We can be consoled here when we realize that the God of Israel and Jesus is not bound by human laws, and that this God actively chooses us even with our own needs for love and care. Heaven therefore, is the invitation to covenantal wholeness for all.”
AP News | 8/21/24
Pacific School of Religion Confronts AI and Christian Nationalism in Hybrid Lecture Series
Featured speakers Dr. John Robichaux, Executive Director for UC Berkeley’s Coleman Fung Institute, and Dr. Susan Abraham, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of PSR, will explore the relationship of AI and religion, the risks each poses to democracy, and the potential of both for marginalized and faith-based communities.
In Trust Center for Theological Schools | 8/16/24
EP. 76: Creating a New Ecosystem in Theological Education
The Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, president of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, discusses how the school is using its Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative grant to create a new ecosystem that includes not just technology but also efforts to reconsider educational modes and methods. The school’s programming includes a stackable curriculum and challenges traditional standards.
KWQC News | 8/6/24
Bless the Block Backpack Event Returns for its Fifth Year
“Every child deserves to be celebrated and to have the resources they need when school starts,” said Dr. Kit Evans-For (MDiv ’12).
The Sacramento Bee | 7/30/24
California could finally abolish our racist, costly, ineffective death penalty system
Alumnx Diana Becton (MTS ’15) is the elected district attorney of Contra Costa County and previously served for 22 years as a judge in the county, offering a voice for abolishing the death penalty system in California.
Xtra Magazine | 7/3/24
10 queer and trans country artists for your big gay twangy summer playlist
Alumnx Ryan Cassata’s (MAST ’23) song Extended Vacation is included in this round-up of country songs.
Detroit Free Press | 7/3/24
Looking back at Pride Month, a holy time where all can find acceptance | Opinion
A Pride Month op-ed by alumnx and senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, Rev. Roland Stringfellow (DMin ’16).
Axios Detroit | 6/27/24
Metro Detroit churches’ acceptance of same-sex marriage still ambiguous
Alumnx and senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Detroit, Rev. Roland Stringfellow (DMin ’16) quoted.
National Catholic Reporter | 6/26/24
‘We are not saved alone’: Catholic theologians engage the social dimensions of salvation
PSR Dean Susan Abraham’s presentation at the Catholic Theological Society of America conference is covered.
New Ways Ministry | 6/26/24
U.S. Theology Conferences This June Mark Turning Point on LGBTQ+ Issues—Here’s Why
PSR Dean Susan Abraham explores creative ways of responding to the changes in higher education at the Catholic Theological Society of America conference.
National Catholic Reporter | 6/10/24
As a trans POC minister, my environmentalism is rooted in spirituality and identity
Recent alumnx Jessie Ratcliff’s (MDiv ’24) Pride Month reflection is shared in the National Catholic Reporter’s Earthbeat.
StoryCorps | 6/6/24
“We’re Going to Lead with Love.” A Lesbian Bishop Reflects on a Career of Service
Alumnx Bishop Karen Oliveto (MDiv ’83) and her wife, Robin Ridenour, reflect on Bishop Oliveto’s career as the first openly gay bishop of the United Methodist Church.
Sojourners | 6/3/24
25 LGBTQ+ CHRISTIAN QUOTES THAT SUSTAIN US
Alumnx Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97) included in Soujoner’s Pride Month round-up of quotes from queer Christians who bear the fruit of the Spirit.
RNS | 6/3/24
Trans POC: environmental advocacy and faith
PSR alumnx Jessie Ratcliff (MDiv ’24) shares a Pride Month reflection on growing up as a Black transgender, nonbinary individual in Oakland and how his love of nature led him to environmental activism and to seminary.
U.S. Catholic | 6/3/24
Gender diversity has always been part of the church
Emma Cieslik, founder and director of Queer and Catholic, A CLGS Oral History Project, explains how the rigid gender binaries outlined in the Vatican’s Dignitas Infinita contradict the church’s own rich history.
USA Today | 6/2/24
LGBTQ+ communities, allies around US taking steps to promote safety at Pride 2024 events
Glaad | 5/24/24
Alumnx, founder of City of Refuge UCC and Presiding Bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Bishop Yvette A. Flunder, gives the baccalaureate speech at Spelman College.
KQED | 5/12/24
San Franciscans Honor Glide Church Founder Rev. Cecil Williams at Memorial Ceremony
Alumnx Marvin K. White (MDiv ’16), who took over for Williams as Glide’s minister of celebration, speaks at his memorial.
RNS | 5/9/24
Building a Ministry That Serves Housing Insecure and Homeless Students: A Reflection by D. Lopez
DMin student D. Lopez shares the work that has become their ministry, ensuring housing and education for housing-insecure and homeless students in Fort Collins, CO.
Bay Area Reporter | 5/6/24
Methodists remove anti-LGBTQ policies
PSR faculty Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking quoted in a story about the UMC’s removal of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
CNN | 5/5/24
‘A better church is possible:’ Methodists celebrate as the church embraces the LGBTQ
PSR faculty Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking quoted and DMin student Joelle Henneman pictured in a story about the UMC’s removal of anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
AP | 5/2/24
UMC Passes Historic Changes for our LGBTQ+ Family
An Op-Ed from PSR faculty Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking.
UM News| 4/29/24
Alumnx Bishop Karen Oliveto (MDiv ’83) shares a message of love during morning worship at UMC General Conference.
BET| 4/25/24
Spelman College Announces Angela Bassett As Commencement Speaker
Alumnx Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97) will join Angela Bassett, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Atlanta community icon Rose Scott at the Spelman College commencement ceremony.
Religion News Service | 4/24/24
PSR stands for radical inclusivity: a call for change at UMC’s General Conference
A statement from PSR affirming our support for the removal of discriminatory LGBTQ+ language from the UMC’s policies at the General Conference.
NPR | 4/24/24
Remembering Rev. Cecil Williams, champion of equality in San Francisco, dead at 94
Alumnx Marvin K. White (MDiv ’16), who took over for Williams as Glide’s minister of celebration, discusses his impact.
Religion News Service | 4/9/24
At Yale, Christian pastors sign a declaration opposing religious nationalism
Alumnx Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97) was among the first to sign the declaration committing to preaching on “moral issues “ ahead of the 2024 election and opposing what the group calls “religious nationalism.”
Iredell Free News | 4/5/24
Local pastor releases new book of prayers and litanies
Alumnx Rev. Dr. Robert W. Lee (DMin ’23) releases “Night Owl Prayers: A Prayerbook,” a new book of prayers and litanies for those who find themselves in need of prayer during the hours of solitude and quietness during the night.
Religion News Service | 4/4/24
Ahead of General Conference, queer United Methodist delegates organize a caucus
Alumnx Karen Oliveto (MDiv ’83), the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church, is among those seeking changes to the Book of Discipline to make it neutral on LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Sacramento Business Journals| 4/4/24
Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center CEO Faith Whitmore is retiring
Alumnx Faith Whitmore (MDiv ’84) retiring as CEO of Sacramento Regional Family Justice Center.
U.S. Catholic | 4/3/24
A reflection for the second Sunday of Easter
Emma Cieslik, founder, and director of Queer and Catholic, A CLGS Oral History Project, pushes back on the criticism President Biden received for recognizing Trans Day of Visibility, which, this year, coincided with Easter Sunday.
PSR Newsroom | 4/3/24
PSR Welcomes Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking to our Faculty
Rev. Dr. Kristin Stoneking will serve as Associate Professor of United Methodist Studies and Leadership and Academic Director of PSR’s Congregational Renewal Cohorts Program.
Bay Area Reporter | 4/3/24
Boswell lecture to examine New Testament through queer theory
This year’s Boswell lecture at PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion will be offering an interpretation of the intersection between sex and the Bible based in queer theory.
PSR Newsroom | 3/21/24
Progressive Voices of Faith: Empathy Across the Political Divide
In this edition of Progressive Voices of Faith, we asked PSR’s faculty, students, staff, alumnx, and board how they practice empathy for those in their community who hold political views they see as materially harmful.
Columbia Spectator | 3/20/24
Alumnx Adriene Thorne (MDiv ’08) is is among the multifaith coalition of NYC faith leaders demanding “a permanent ceasefire, an end to Israel’s blockade on humanitarian aid into Gaza, and the safe return of all hostages.”
Commentary | April 2024
Profile of alumnx Setsuzo Kotsuji, a Japanese man who played a pivotal role in aiding Jewish refugees during World War II, particularly those who found temporary sanctuary in Japan.
Jesus Freak Hideout | 3/13/24
Acclaimed Songwriter Dan Damon Sets New Course for Worship with “Look At The Light”
Alumnx and international hymn stalwart Dan Damon (MDiv ’87) gives worship a fresh sound in his new album “Look At The Light.”
Religion News Service | 3/6/24
PSR welcomes two new faculty to contribute to reimagining theological education
PSR is proud to announce the appointment of two outstanding new faculty: Dr. Alexandra Rosado-Román and Dr. Ish Ruiz. These colleagues have been selected to help shape PSR’s distinctive reimagination of theological education.
Vital Signs and Statistics | 3/4/24
Cash Isn’t King—The Power of Asset Giving in a Wealth-Divided World
Alumnx Rev. Elena Larssen (DMin ’23) outlines the benefit of asset giving: “Generosity may not be the answer to everything, but it is one of the answers Jesus teaches.”
Claremont Courier | 2/29/24
Pilgrim Place hosts Christian nationalism forum Sunday
Claremont UCC and Pilgrim Place will host PSR president Rev. David Vásquez-Levy for a free lecture, “I Pledge Allegiance: Poly-crisis and the Rise of Christian Nationalism.”
Washington Blade | 2/24/24
New book chronicles founding of gay-owned Falls Church News-Press
Review of a new book profiling Falls Church News-Press and its founder, journalist, and gay rights activist Nick Benton (BDiv ’69).
Outreach | 2/23/23
Psychotherapist William D. Glenn on growing up gay and rediscovering Jesus
Excerpt from alumnx and CLGS co-founder William D. Glen’s (MDiv ’00) book I Came Here Seeking a Person: A Vital Story of Grace.
KUNC NPR for Northern Colorado | 2/19/23
Current MDiv Student D.L. Lopez is interviewed on work they are doing to help unhoused college students in Fort Collins.
PSR Newsroom | 1/5/24
Progressive Voices of Faith: Hope for the New Year
This month, we asked PSR’s faculty, students, staff, alumnx, and board what gives them hope for the new year!
The Black Chronicle | 12/27/23
Reverend Adriene Thorne Breaks Ground in Liberation Theology
Alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne (MDiv ’08) discusses her work at historic Riverside Church and her radical existence as a Black woman.
Religion News Service | 12/19/23
Pacific School of Religion Applauds Papal Approval of Blessings for Same-Sex Couples
At a time of increasing attacks upon LGBTQ+ persons, now is the time for all Christian denominations to recognize and celebrate loving, same-sex relationships for what they are: outward signs of the Divine’s love and presence in our world today.
SFist | 12/18/23
Glide Primes Up to Serve House of Prime Rib Christmas Eve Feast, and Give Out More Than 2,000 Toys
Alumnx and Glide’s minister of celebration Marvin K. White (MDiv ’16) leads the organization for the historic church’s Christmas celebrations.
PR Newswire | 12/6/23
The grant will fund an education and community-building program designed to help congregations adapt to changing social and cultural contexts and to reimagine the church in ways that deepen faith and transform community.
CBS 6 News Richmond | 11/29/23
Viral video of RPD traffic stop sparks conversation with Richmond residents, police
Current student and pastor Donte McCutchen speaks out against police use of force at a meeting he helped organize between Faith leaders, residents, Richmond Police, and their councilwoman.
Rolling Stone | 11/23/23
How Bishop Carlton Pearson Inspired a Generation of Singers and Gospel Artists
PSR alumnx Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97) quoted in a tribute to her friend and fellow singer and gospel of inclusion preacher Bishop Carlton Pearson.
Associated Press | 11/9/23
Why Christians Must Speak Out Against Christian Nationalism
An Op-Ed from Pacific School of Religion President Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy on the dangers of Christian nationalism.
Associated Press | 11/2/23
PSR Professor Honors Mentor in “Howard Thurman: Seeking, Queering and Transcending”
On Nov 7th Pacific School of Religion professor Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake will give the 48th annual Graduate Theological Union’s Distinguished Faculty Lecture.
New Ways Ministry | 10/31/23
New Oral History Project Collects LGBTQ+ and Ally Catholics’ Stories
New Ways Ministry co-founder takes part in the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion’s “Queer and Catholic: A CLGS Oral History Project.
Contra Costa News | 10/13/23
Garamendi Honors 53 Women at Annual Women of the Year Awards
Contra Costa District Attorney and alumnx Diana Becton (MTS ’15) was recognized as a leader and visionary in her community at the 10th annual Women of the Year Awards.
NY Daily News | 10/12/23
Hochul says right to shelter can’t be ‘open invitation to 8 billion people’
Alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne (MDiv ’08) joins a crowd of prominent religious leaders to protest against the suspension of New York City’s right-to-shelter rule.
PSR Newsroom | 10/6/23
The Genesis of CLGS, The Country’s Oldest Seminary-Based LGBTQ+ Center
Planning for PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion began over 25 years ago; a response to attempts by Christian groups to bring their negative beliefs about LGBTQ+ people from the religious to the political sphere.
PSR Newsroom | 10/6/23
DMin Student Rev. Karen Van Fossan Publishes Memoir, A Fire at the Center
In A Fire at the Center, Van Fossan takes readers behind the scenes of the Dakota Access Pipeline conflict, to penitentiaries where prisoners of war have carried the movement onward, to the jail cell where she was held for protesting.
Oconomowoc Enterprise | 10/5/23
First Congregational UCC welcomes new pastor
Alumnx Matthew Schneider-Adams (MDiv ’88) is installed as the new pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) of Oconomowoc, WI.
PSR Newsroom | 10/2/23
Alumnx and current DMin student William Martin (MTS ’22) talks about his book series which chronicles his experiences as a queer human living in the Bay Area and beyond.
Religion News Service | 9/22/23
In search of a decolonized Jesus
Current DMin student Leeann Younger (MTS ’23) shares a reflection on her search for a decolonized Jesus through her studies at PSR.
Religion News Service | 9/22/23
From Rockettes to Riverside: Senior minister Adriene Thorne leads NYC church
Alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne (MDiv ’08) talks to RNS about her installation as Senior Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City.
The Frisc | 9/21/23
Colleges and Religious Places Could Build More Housing Statewide. Here’s How SF Might Lag Behind
PSR President Rev. David Vásquez-Levy is interviewed about SB 4, the proposal to make it easier for churches and universities to develop housing in California.
Associated Press | 9/14/23
PSR Welcomes Most Diverse Class in its 157-Year History
Pacific School of Religion celebrates historic growth and inclusivity with an incoming class that’s 68% students of color and almost 50% LGBTQ+-identifying.
PSR Newsroom | 9/14/23
PSR Congratulates Professor McMahon on Completion of His Ph.D.
PSR professor Dr. Leononard McMahon successfully defended his dissertation, “Together and Apart: An Apophatic Approach to Self, Politics, and Race.”
PSR Newsroom | 9/11/23
Alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne to be Installed as Senior Minister at The Riverside Church!
Alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne (MDiv ’08) will be installed as Senior Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City on Sunday, September 17th. Rev. Thorne will be the eighth senior minister at the historic church, and the first Black woman to hold the position.
Gloucester Daily Times | 9/9/23
New minister takes the reins at First Universalist Church in Essex
Alumnx Rev. Tess Baumberger (MDiv ’03) starts a new role as minister at First Universalist Church of Essex after six years as a hospice chaplain.
New York Times | 9/01/23
Making It Official With a Song and a Scroll
Profile of alumnx Ryan Cassata (MAST ’23) and his husband Dr. Stephen Vincent Lee Meeneghan’s wedding in the NYTimes Style section.
Next Avenue | 8/31/23
Quaker Minister Creating a Tiny House Village for Homeless Young Adults
PSR alumnx Sally Hindman (MDiv ’90, MA ’91) leads development of a tiny house village for homeless 18-24-year-olds in Richmond, CA
GLAAD | 8/29/23
PSR alumnx, Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97), is one of eight Black LGBTQ+ religious leaders brought together by GLADD for a 60th March on Washington pre-event called “Listening Session: Learning From Black Queer Voices.”
Spotify | 8/27/23
Bernard Schlager — The Bible is Not a Weapon
CLGS‘s executive director Bernard Schlager discusses the complex relationship between faith and queerness in the newest episode of the podcast Deep Dive with Shawn C. Fettig
Pride Source | 8/25/23
Construction Begins on Long-Awaited Affordable LGBTQ-Friendly Housing for Older Adults in Michigan
Further coverage of the ground breaking for the Shepherd House, an LGBTQ-inclusive, affordable housing project for seniors, sponsored by PSR alumnx and managing director of CLGS, Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow.
The Detroit News | 8/23/23
Ferndale welcomes LGBTQ+ inclusive affordable housing project for seniors
Ground breaks on the Shepherd House, an LGBTQ-inclusive, affordable housing project for seniors, sponsored by PSR alumnx and managing director of CLGS, Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow.
The Times of Israel | 8/8/23
Exhibit uncovers forgotten laborers behind British Mandate’s archaeological exploits
Badè Museum curator Melissa Cradic talks with The Times of Israel about the museum’s award-winning, open-access web exhibition, “Unsilencing the Archives: The Laborers of the Tell en-Naṣbeh Excavations (1926-1935)”
The Times of Israel | 8/8/23
Exhibit uncovers forgotten laborers behind British Mandate’s archaeological exploits
Badè Museum curator Melissa Cradic talks with The Times of Israel about the museum’s award-winning, open-access web exhibition, “Unsilencing the Archives: The Laborers of the Tell en-Naṣbeh Excavations (1926-1935)”
Religion News Service | 8/8/23
Melvin Talbert, first United Methodist bishop to officiate same-sex wedding, dead at 89
Obituary for former PSR Board member Bishop Melvin Talbot, a United Methodist leader who was known for his social justice advocacy.
Patheos | 8/5/23
What Does Being Politically Pastoral Look Like?
Current DMin student Rev. Jason Carson Wilson shares how he confronts injustice and oppression through ministry with a compassionate heart to create a more just world for all.
The Washington Post | 8/4/23
Photos of New York’s female pastors
PSR alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne (MDiv ‘08), senior minister of the historic Riverside Church, is included in the photo essay of influential female pastors.
The Philadelphia Inquirer | 8/4/23
Gloria J. Smallwood, pastor, teacher, writer, and artist, has died at 81
Obituary for PSR alumnx and former faculty Rev. Gloria J. Smallwood (MDiv ’84).
The Christian Century | 7/19/23
Faith groups get total of $92 million for innovative programs for children
The Yvette A. Flunder Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with City of Refuge UCC and supporting the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, has been approved for a $930,000 grant. Executive director and PSR alumnx Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97) said the money will be used to develop books, curricula, and home activities to accentuate her religious groups’ support of Black LGBTQ families.
The Record-Courier | 7/15/23
PSR alumnx Latu Paea (MAST ’22) becomes the third pastor in 40 years at Carson Valley United Methodist Church in Gardnerville, NV.
United Church of Christ Newsroom | 7/14/23
The Rev. Sharon Li Mei Shem MacArthur, 81
Obituary for the Rev. Sharon Li Mei Shem MacArthur (MDiv ’01) a PSR alumnx and former chair of the board and moderator of the Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries (PAAM) of the United Church of Christ.
Pink News | 7/10/23
Thousands of congregations disaffiliate from national church over LGBTQ+ issues
Bishop Karen Olivetto (MDiv ’83), the UMC’s first openly lesbian bishop, said the schism is “extremely wounding to LGBTQ persons” in that “our very personhood is being used as a wedge to disrupt unity in the church.”
Newsweek | 7/9/23
Trans Country Artists—Making Music With a Conservative Following
Musician, activist and PSR alumnx Ryan Cassata (MAST ’23) is featured, “I can’t be someone that gets on stage and has a platform and doesn’t speak up about trans rights. I have to use my platform for my community.”
Associated Press | 7/5/23
A faith-based argument for affirmative action from Pacific School of Religion
A statement from PSR about the unjust dismantling of affirmative action by the Supreme Court. We mourn the implications of this decision and its devastating impact on our efforts to address the savage inequalities that plague our educational system.
Religion News Service | 6/30/23
PSR believes in the power of education to dismantle systemic barriers and empower individuals and communities and we remain steadfast in our commitment to provide an inclusive and transformative educational experience that equips our students to challenge injustice, promote equality, and foster social change.
Newsweek | 6/26/23
Catholic Bishop, Sister Spar Over Guidelines for Transgender People
PSR’s CLGS’s Bernie Schlager says the Bishops’ revision “gives no voice whatsoever to transgender people of faith who, in embracing their authentic identities, embraced the person that the divine intended them to be and become.”
Bay Area Reporter | 6/28/23
Pelosi honored at Alice Pride breakfast
PSR alumnx Bishop Yvette Flunder (MA ’97) delivers invocation at the start of the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club’s annual Pride breakfast.
Buffalo News | 6/28/23
Building housing for older LGBTQ+ adults in Michigan
PSR alumnx and managing director of CLGS, Roland Stringfellow (MDiv ’16) discusses the planned senior home in Ferndale, Mich., which will house older adults who encounter those housing struggles because of their identities.
Pride Source | 6/26/23
Current Dmin student Reverend Dean Aponte-Safe is appointed pastor of Episcopal Church of the Incarnation in Ann Arbor, MI.
Standard Examiner | 6/20/23
Elim Lutheran Church pastor steps into new role, denomination
PSR alumnx Chelsea Page (CAPS ’17), steps into a new role as pastor at Elim Lutheran Church in Ogden, UT.
PSR Newsroom | 6/15/23
Progressive Voices of Faith: Creating LGBTQ+ Welcoming and Affirming Congregations
This Pride month, during a time of increasing verbal, legislative, and physical attacks on the LGBTQ+ community, we asked the PSR community what congregations can and should do to stand with and fight for the rights of our LGBTQ+ family.
PSR Newsroom | 6/12/23
The Danger of J.K. Rowling and TERFs to the Transgender Community: a Reflection by Ryan Cassata
Musician, LGBTQ+ activist and PSR alumnx Ryan Cassata (MAST ’23) shares a reflection on the very real dangers of the transphobic rhetoric from J.K. Rowling and other TERFs.
National Catholic Reporter | 6/9/23
González-Andrieu honored for scholarship, mentoring undocumented students
PSR’s Dean, Susan Abraham, speaks in praise of González-Andrieu who was recognized with the 2023 Ann O’Hara Graff Award at the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America.
CBS 6 News Richmond | 6/7/23
‘I can’t count anymore’ A conversation about gun violence following Richmond mass shooting
Current student Donte McCutchen who works as a trauma healing coordinator in Richmond, VA discusses gun violence in the wake of another mass shooting.
Religion News Service | 6/7/23
Transition as an act of co-creation in partnership with the Divine
Master of Divinity student Micah Melody Taberner shares how a Transgender Christian Ethic of Liberation can give all individuals the agency to co-create their bodies, and the world, toward greater flourishing and abundant life.
The Ancient Near East Today | June 2023
Archaeological Laborers of 20th-Century Palestine
Badè Museum curator Melissa Cradic writes about “Unsilencing the Archives: The Laborers of the Tell en-Naṣbeh Excavations (1926-1935)” in ASOR’s The Ancient Near East Today.
Daily Montanan | 5/13/23
White Christian Nationalism and the 2023 Montana Legislature
PSR alumnx Robyn Morrison (MDiv ’08) offers an inclusive, biblical counterpoint to the Christian nationalist views behind #SB99, which would ban gender-affirming care for trans youth.
Religion News Service | 5/4/23
Climate change is causing ‘trouble in paradise’ for the Pacific Island Nations
Master of Divinity student Najon Saina Tuiolemotu reflects on the ways climate change is threatening the existence of her Pacific Island Nation home.
Monkey Mind | 4/23/23
THE MOTHER OF MY HEART: Reflections on the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California
Rev. James Ishmael Ford (MDiv ‘91, MA ‘92), shares his reflections on the PSR’s Alumnx Gathering where he was recognized as a 2023 Distinguished Alumnx.
Graduate Theological Union Newsroom | 4/20/23
The Rev. Dr. Dorsey Odell Blake Named 2023 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer
PSR professor and Presiding Minister of The Church for The Fellowship of All Peoples Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake honored by GTU faculty and Council of Deans.
Bear World Magazine | 4/20/23
Overcoming Spiritual Violence and Embracing Peace with Rev. Dr. Roland Stringfellow
Stringfellow, the managing director of PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion, gives advice to queer adults looking to re-examine their relationship with Christianity.
Religion News Service | 4/19/23
Progressive Voices of Faith: Creating a World Where All Can Thrive
We asked the PSR community about how their vocational and spiritual goals connect with PSR’s mission: to prepare a diverse cadre of spiritually rooted leaders with the vision, resilience, and skill to create a world where all can thrive.
Black Perspectives | 4/12/23
Beyond Faiths and Race in Interfaith, Interacial Worship
PSR professor Rev. Dorsey Blake, a former student of Thurmond’s, contributes to Black Perspectives’ forum on Howard Thurman and the Civil Rights Movement.
Bay Area Reporter | 4/5/23
Berkeley Seminary to hold ‘Souls A’Fire’ conference
Coverage of CLGS’s African American Roundtable’s ‘Souls A’Fire 8 Conference: A Gathering for Black Queer Theology.
Religion News Service | 3/16/23
Pacific School of Religion is leading the conversation around Black queer theology
CLGS will host two marquee events exploring Black queer theology in April — the Souls A’Fire 8 Conference and the 16th John E. Boswell Lecture.
Religion News Service | 2/21/23
PSR Continues Rising Enrollment Trend While Maintaining Diversity
Bucking the national trend for seminaries, PSR has grown steadily over the past five years with Spring 2023 representing the largest enrollment in recent history — up 44% since 2018.
Petaluma 360 | 2/21/23
Finding ‘Belonging’ in the voices of immigrants
PSR alumnx Lina Hoshino (MDiv ’08) releases a documentary series about the experiences of first-generation Asian American women.
PSR Newsroom | 2/19/23
Progressive Voices of Faith: Climate Crisis
Each month we reach out to the PSR community to get their perspective on important, often polarizing issues. This month we spoke with alumnx, faculty, and students about climate change.
The Past | 2/13/23
A profile of PSR’s Bade Museum’s exhibit, Unsilencing the Archives: the laborers of the Tell en-Nasbeh excavations (1926-1935).
Religion News Service | 2/8/23
Princeton Theological Seminary launches the Center for Contemplative Leadership
PSR faculty Leonard McMahon is an inaugural member of the Center for Contemplative Leadership’s Advisory board.
Coast Reporter | 2/3/23
St. Bart’s Church welcomes a new priest
PSR alumnx Rev. Dr. Joyce Parry-Morre (MDiv ’10) welcomed as the new Parish Priest of The Anglican Parish of St. Aidan and St. Bartholomew in Gibsons, BC.
Patch | 2/2/23
Diana Becton Inaugurated In Ceremony For 2nd Term As District Attorney
PSR alumnx Diana Becton (MTS ’15) was sworn in by state Attorney General Rob Bonta to serve a second term as District Attorney for Contra Costa County.
PSR Newsroom | 1/31/23
PSR Stands in Solidarity and Grief with Tyre Nichols’ Family and Community
A statement from PSR about the violent death of Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis police officers.
Bay Area Reporter | 1/31/23
LGBTQ Agenda: MCC minister takes helm of LGBTQ religious studies center this year
PSR alumnx Roland Stringfellow becomes managing director at PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion.
PR Newswire | 1/26/23
Pacific School of Religion announces $3.5M Gift for Ethics Chair
The Stanley Watson Endowed Chair in Ethics is funded by alumnx and former board member Stan Watson who came to PSR to study ethics and health care in the wake of the AIDS crisis.
The Huntsville Item | 1/12/23
A profile of alumnx Daniel Paul (MDiv ’99) to honor his installation as pastor at First Christian Church of Huntsville in Huntsville, TX.
PSR Newsroom | 12/14/22
Each month we reach out to the PSR community to get their perspective on important, often polarizing issues. This month we spoke with alumnx, faculty, and students about the fight for the establishment and expansion of rights for transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) people.
Outreach | 12/9/22
The Need to Chronicle and Preserve Queer Catholic History
Profile of ‘Queer and Catholic: An Oral History,’ a project of #CLGS‘s Catholic Roundtable & one of the first centralized oral history repositories dedicated solely to the queer Catholic experience.
PSR Newsroom | 11/30/22
Badè Museum Curators Win ASOR Community Engagement and Public Outreach Award
Current Bade Museum curator Melissa Cradic and former Bade curator Sam Pfister recognized for their work on the multi-platform project and web exhibition, Unsilencing the Archives: The Laborers of the Tell en-Masbeh Excavations (1926-35).
The Heights | 11/13/22
A Queer Pastor Fights To Prove That Christianity Can Be Inclusive
A profile of the work PSR Alumnx Rev. Nikira Hernandez (MDiv ’16) is doing at their UCC church to heal some of the negative experiences her community, especially LGBTQ+ and POC folks, have had with Christianity and create an open and affirming congregation.
PSR Newsroom | 11/7/22
Each month we reach out to the PSR community to get their perspective on important, often polarizing issues. Ahead of the midterm elections, we asked alumnx, faculty, and students how they felt their faith informed their political views.
The Kelly Clarkson Show | 11/1/22
Doctor of Ministry student Rev. Sarah TevisTownes appears on the Kelly Clarkson show with Shawn Dromgoole discussing her involvement with Shawn’s grassroots movement to create unity in neighborhoods across race.
State of California DOJ Press Release | 11/1/22
PSR alumnx Dr. Sarai Crain (MTS ’06) was selected as CA’s first-ever sexual assault evidence outreach coordinator. Dr. Crain previously served as the Deputy Chief for the City of Oakland’s Department of Violence Prevention and as the Executive Director of Bay Area Women Against Rape, the nation’s oldest rape crisis center.
UCC News Room | 10/18/22
Amid ‘major cultural shifts,’ millions from Lilly will help seminaries innovate, collaborate
Coverage of PSR’s Lilly Endowment Inc. Grant through the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.
PSR Newsroom | 10/12/22
PSR Community Grieves the Loss of MDiv Student Isamaeli (Eli) Mata’afa
The entire Pacific School of Religion community grieves deeply for the sudden death of Isamaeli (Eli) Mata’afa. We hold his family, church, and the entire Bay Area Samoan and Tuvaluan community in prayer.
PR Newswire| 9/27/22
PSR Receives $5M Grant From Lilly Endowment Inc. To Build Innovative Educational Ecosystem
Delivered through an online platform currently in pilot under the brand name The Ignite Collective, PSR’s educational ecosystem will be funded through the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative.
PSR Newsroom | 9/26/22
Progressive Voices of Faith: Reproductive Rights
Each month we reach out to the PSR community to get their perspective on important, often polarizing issues. In September we asked alumnx, faculty, and students about reproductive rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade.
San Diego Jewish World | 9/19/22
Every Song a Protest: Interview with Ryan Cassata
An interview with musician, trans activist, and PSR Master of Divinity student, Ryan Cassata.
ABC 8 News | 9/14/22
Richmond’s trauma healing coordinator connects those impacted by gun violence to resources
A profile of Doctor of Ministry student, Donte McCutchen, and the impact he has in his home community of Richmond, VA as the health district’s trauma healing coordinator.
PSR Newsroom | 9/14/22
Pacific School of Religion’s Ignite Institute Launches Ignite Collective Membership
The Ignite Collective, an innovative online learning and community platform for emerging leaders seeking spiritually-rooted transformation, launches with two membership options.
PSR Newsroom | 8/29/22
Historically Large and Diverse Class Enters PSR in Fall 2022
Students from around the country are drawn to PSR for its rigorous scholarship, compassionate and welcoming community, flexible, stackable curriculum, and commitment to intersectional inclusion and social justice.
PSR Newsroom | 8/1/22
PSR Welcomes Four New Faculty Members
Following a rigorous faculty and community search process, these colleagues have been selected to shape PSR’s distinctive reimagination of theological education.
Religious News Service | 7/18/22
The Rev. Adriene Thorne voted eighth Senior Minister of The Riverside Church in the City of New York
PSR alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne becomes the 8th Senior Minister and third PSR alunmx to serve historic Riverside Church.
United Church of Christ Newsroom | 7/12/22
Teruo Kawata — Conference minister, national staffer, PAAM elder — dies at 94
Obituary for Rev. Teruo “Terry” Kawata (DMin ’82), PSR alumnx and influential speaker and leader in the United Church of Christ, and the UCC’s Pacific Islander and Asian American Ministries.
San Francisco Business Times | 6/30/22
Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez assists BIPOC, immigrant restaurateurs at La Cocina
Profile of Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez (MDiv ’18) PSR alumnx and board of trustee vice-chair and executive director of La Cocina.
Almanac News | 6/26/22
New senior pastor at Woodside Village Church
Woodside Village Church voted to promote PSR alumnx Ama Zenya (MDiv ’96) to senior pastor of the church. Zenya plans to focus her ministry on compassion, creativity, and community.
PSR Newsroom | 6/24/22
LGBTQ+ Pioneers Share Hopeful Vision for Radically Inclusive Faith
During a Pride month event PSR alumnx Loey Powell (MDiv ’77) and current student Ryan Cassata shared their experiences as LGBTQ+ pioneers, why they were drawn to seminary and how PSR helped them build a community that fueled their activism.
Premier Christianity | 5/27/22
When are we going to do something? Why America needs Christians to stand up for gun law reform
An urgent plea for Christians to call for sensible regulation of weapons in the wake of the Uvalde massacre by PSR alumnx Rev. Peter Cook (MDiv ’89, MA ’91).
The Pajaronian | 5/24/22
Pastor retires after 42 years at La Selva Beach church
PSR alumnx Rev. Jane Grady (MDiv ’79) retires as pastor of La Selva Beach Community Church in La Selva, CA after 42 years of service.
Standford Report | 4/13/22
Stanford announces Baccalaureate speakers for Commencement Weekend 2022
PSR alumnx, author, Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, and founder of City of Refuge, Bishop Yvette A. Flunder (CMS ’95, MA ’97) to address Stanford graduates.
Seattle Medium | 3/16/22
Rev. Carey Anderson Announces Bid For 30th District State Rep.
PSR alumnx Rev. Carey G. Anderson (MDiv ’89) announced that he is running for the seat vacated by State Rep. Jesse Johnson of the 30th District.
The Crime Report | 2/24/22
PSR alumnx and the first African American to lead the Contra Costa District Attorney’s office, Diana Becton (MTS ’15) discusses her career and her vision for reforming the criminal justice system.
Religious News Service | 2/10/22
Are today’s seminarians tomorrow’s corporate leaders?
Profile of PSR’s Ignite Institute and their Wisdom Based Leadership cohort program as part of a larger trend of seminaries creating ethical leadership programs.
Taos News | 11/2/21
Obituary for alumnx, Rev. Pamela Mars Shepherd (MDiv ’05) who founded Taos United Church of Christ and Taos Medical Debt Relief Project.
The San Francisco Examiner | 10/4/21
San Francisco’s first trans bishop is here to heal our spirit
Profile of PSR alumnx, Megan Rohrer (DMin ’17) the first openly transgender bishop by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
Bay Area Reporter | 9/20/21
Episcopal bishop and LGBTQ ally John Shelby Spong dies
Obituary for PSR faculty, Bishop John Shelby Spong a liberal theologian and ally who championed women’s and LGBTQ ordinations.
Bay Area | 9/13/21
Evangelical Lutheran church installs 1st transgender bishop
PSR alumnx, Megan Rohrer (DMin ’17) will lead one of the church’s 65 synods, overseeing nearly 200 congregations in Northern California and northern Nevada.
The Guardian | 9/11/21
US Evangelical Lutheran Church installs first openly transgender bishop
PSR alumnx, Megan Rohrer (DMin ’17) is installed as the first openly transgender bishop by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
Berkeleyside | 7/8/21
Berkwood Hedge School opens a middle school this fall
Berkwood Hedge middle school moves onto PSR’s campus as part of our transition to an inter-generational learning community.
Precinct Reporter | 8/19/21
Pastor Francine A. Brookins Elected 141st Bishop of AME Church
PSR alumnx Francine A. Brookins (MDiv ’02) was elected Bishop in July with her assignment to the 18th Episcopal District responsibilities covering the four African countries of Lesotho, Mozambique, Eswatini (Swaziland), and Botswana.
Out | 5/10/21
Reverend Megan Rohrer Elected First Trans Lutheran Bishop in U.S.
PSR alumnx, Megan Rohrer (DMin ’17) becomes the first-ever transgender bishop of a major Christian denomination within the U.S.
Desert News | 3/27/21
What put Passover in the Jewish home? Not the pandemic
Rabbi Jane Rachel Litman, leader of the Jewish Roundtable at PSR’s Center of LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion discusses how Jewish women have shaped rituals like Passover throughout history.
NPR | 9/12/20
California Catholics Adjust To Outdoor Worship During Pandemic
PSR Dean, Susan Abraham, shares reasons Catholics have historically eschewed outdoor service, a practice that gained traction during the pandemic.
New York Times | 9/1/20
From the Seabed, Figures of an Ancient Cult
Aaron Brody, director of the Badè Museum at PSR weighs in on an archeological discovery containing figurines of Tanit, a 5th century Phoenician goddess about whom Brody previously published work.
Monterey County Weekly | 8/6/20
A queer pastor faces homophobia upon arriving in Marina — but looks ahead to building community
PSR alumnx, Angel Rivero (MDiv ’20) faces pushback from some in the community but chooses to focus on the future for his leadership at Marina UMC in Marina, CA.
Religious News Service | 7/20/20
As seminaries welcome openly transgender students, church lags behind
PSR, described by a student as “the most welcoming and accepting place I had ever experienced,” featured as one of the seminaries working to increase inclusion of trans seminarians post-graduation.
The Salt Lake Tribune | 6/15/20
Utah Methodist pastor takes on a demanding role in a faith on the brink of an LGBTQ schism
Profile of PSR alumnx and superintendent of the UMC’s Utah/Western Colorado District, Rev. Elizabeth McVicker (MDiv ’93) as she helps her denomination navigate the worldwide schism over LGBTQ+ inclusion.
The Maui News| 2/1/20
PSR alumnx, Kahu Kealahou Alika (MDiv ’79) bids farewell to Keawala‘i Congregational Church after 29 years of service to the Kihei, HI congregation.
Vice | 9/17/2019
The Female Pastors Making Space for Queer Christians to Express Their Faith
A profile of PSR alumnx and founding pastor of Ministerio Latino, Rev. Rhina Ramos, and her work creating inclusive spaces for queer Christians.
Religion and Politics | 7/30/19
The Vatican Draws a Line on Gender, and Transgender Catholics Push Back
MDiv student, Murphy Guinane speaks about PSR is one of the few places where they could feel at home as a non-binary Catholic.
Detroit Free Press | 6/29/19
Ministers argue for state to adopt legal protections for LGBTQ Michiganders
Op-ed from PSR alumnx and senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church Detroit, Roland Stringfellow.
The Daily Californian | 4/30/19
UC Berkeley students navigate intersection of LGBTQ+, Christian communities
PSR professor and executive director of PSR’s Center for LGBT and Gender Studies in Religion, Bernard Schlager on how to repair and build relationships between Christain and LGBTQ+ communities.
The Body | 3/30/19
10 Black Transgender Women to Watch
A profile of PSR alumnx Rev. Monica Joy Cross as part of a roundup of leaders in the nationwide fight for civil and human rights for trans and gender nonconforming people of color.
The Denver Post | 3/25/19
Activist, “washed-up beauty queen” brings unique perspective as Boulder church’s new minister
Profile of PSR alumnx Rev. Nicole Lamarche as she begins her service at south Boulder’s Community United Church of Christ.
Iowa State University News Service | 2/25/19
Iowa attorney general, national faith leader to discuss immigration
PSR president David Vasquez-Levy discusses immigration laws and the current landscape from a faith-based perspective with Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller.
The Salt Lake Tribune | 1/12/19
Karen Oliveto, PSR alumnx and the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist church, discusses the schism in her denomination over LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Chestnut Hill Local | 10/4/18
Ancestors were nation’s largest slaveowners: Springside alumna’s film reveals her family’s history
PSR alumnx Katrina Browne produces a documentary, “Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North,” about her own ancestors’ involvement in the slave trade.
New York Times | 9/28/18
Robert Wood, 95, Dies; Urged Christian Acceptance of Gay People
PSR professor and executive director of the Center for LGBT and Gender Studies in Religion, Bernard Schlager discusses the impact of Wood’s seminal 1960 book, Christ and the Homosexual.
San Diego Reader | 8/17/18
One thing worth saying all the time
PSR alumnx Rebecca Littlejohn (MDiv ’01) says all her sermons share two points, “God loves you very much and God loves everyone else very much. If you love God, you have to love what God loves and live your life that way.”
Southwest News Media | 6/8/18
New Spirit United Church of Christ welcomes new pastor with installation service
PSR alumnx Rev. Sonny Graves (MDiv ’16) installed as the new pastor at New Spirit United Church of Christ in Savage, MN.
Honolulu Star Advertiser | 6/8/18
Sommelier earns divinity degree, MS certification in same year
Alumnx David Yoshida passed the final level of the Court of Master Sommeliers exam in 2017, the same year he earned his Master of Divinity degree from PSR.
Yale Divinity School | 10/13/17
Obituary for former PSR faculty, David Bartlett, a professor, minister, and author or editor of nearly twenty books that focused on the integration of scholarship and ministry.
5280 Denver’s Mile High Magazine | 9/1/17
Meet the Woman Who Wants All Religions To Get Along
Profile of Boyung Lee, who led PSR’s Changemaker Fellowship Program which helped graduate students from a variety of religious backgrounds develop projects that addressed social justice and human rights issues.
The Christian Century | 1/18/17
How do you hold together your trans identity and your life of faith?
Justin Tanis, director of the Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS) discusses how religion informed his transition, “I had a sure sense that God knew exactly who I was and loved me as I am.”
Daily Times Chronicle | 11/3/16
Reverend Jamie Michaels is Old South’s new Pastor
PSR alumnx Jamie Michaels (MDiv ’12) appointed the Senior Pastor of our Old South United Methodist Church in Reading, MA.
CSUEB’s The Pioneer | 10/26/16
CSUEB makes a difference in community
PSR Director Jakada Iman gives the keynote speech at Cal State East Bay’s Make a Difference Day.
NPR | 9/28/16
Hear Something, Say Something: Navigating The World Of Racial Awkwardness
PSR faculty Robyn Henderson-Espinoza talks about she responded to racist comments, big and small, from family, friends, and strangers.
Mother Jones | 8/29/16
The Methodist Church May Split Over LGBT Issues. Meet the Lesbian Bishop Caught in the Middle
PSR alumnx Karen Oliveto (MDiv ’83) on choosing to become Bishop despite the controversy, “If you’re going to tell me that my love is wrong, I’m concerned about the church and its ability to recognize God. Because we believe God is love and love is of God.”
Gaston Gazette | 7/16/16
Pastor from Gaston, prayer for nation
PSR alumnx Rev. Malcolm J. Bryd delivers prayer on the floor of the House of Representatives calling for social justice and reform in the wake of police shootings.
The Washington Post | 5/27/16
A transgender divinity student finds peace as a man
PSR highlighted for having a large population of transgender students and for convening the Trans Seminarians Cohort a nationwide leadership development program through PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion.
Los Angeles Sentinel | 5/26/16
Price Chapel AME Plans Women of Faith Revival
PSR alumnx Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins (MDiv ’02) will give one of three sermons as part of the Women of Faith Summer Revival.
The New York Times | 5/3/16
Bob Fitch, Photojournalist of Civil Rights Era, Dies at 76
Obituary for alumnx Bob Fitch (MDiv ’72), who photographed the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other prominent black civil rights figures as the official chronicler of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
Brooklyn Daily Eagle | 4/21/16
Brooklyn Heights Church Appoints a new pastor
PSR alumnx Rev. Adrienne Thorne (MDiv ’08) is called to be the new pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn.
The Rafu Shimpo | 1/25/16
Nakagawa Named District Superintendent of UMC Cal-Pac Conference
PSR alumnx Rev. Mark M. Nakagawa (MDiv ’85) has been appointed as the next superintendent of the West District of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church.
The New York Times | 10/28/16
Since Caitlyn Jenner, Renaming Ceremonies Gain Visibility
PSR student Constance McEntee on being rebaptized, “It was pretty powerful and moving to be baptized in a tradition of my choosing,” she said. “And to be able to say, ‘My name is Constance’ into the microphone when they asked me, ‘What is your chosen name?’”
Times Standard | 10/22/15
A dream fulfilled: Roy King is new art center executive director
PSR alumnx Roy King (MDiv ’12) appointed new exec director for The Westhaven Center for the Arts, plans more outreach to young students in the neighboring communities.
SF Gate | 4/20/15
Why I think Berkeley is the best place to live in the Bay Area
PSR’s campus is listed as one of the attractions that make Berkeley the best place to live in the Bay Area.
Lahaina News | 4/20/15
Kahu Jeff Crews leads an ‘amazing treasure’ in Waiola Church
PSR alumnx Kahu Jeff Crews (MDiv ’10) is installed as the new Senior Minister at Waiola Church in Waiola Church in Lahaina, HI.
The Guardian | 1/29/15
Obituary for Charles Townes Nobel prizewinning physicist who laid the groundwork for the invention of the laser and member of PSR’s board of trustees from 1983 till his death.
The Press Democrat | 1/16/15
Sebastopol pastor heeds her inner voice
Profile of PSR alumnx Rev. Judith Stone (MDiv ’80) pastor of Sebastopol UMC in Sebastopol, CA. “We use modern language. We celebrate diversity and recognize the sacred worth of all persons. I like a faith that engages the heart and the intellect.”
The New York Times | 12/25/14
Harold M. Schulweis, Progressive Rabbi, Is Dead at 89
Obituary for alumnx Harold Schulweis (DTh ’72), an influential rabbi and theologian who focused his sermons, books, and social activism on connecting the Jewish community with the wider world.
West Seattle Blog | 12/17/14
Holcom to be ordained just after New Year’s
PSR alumnx Andrew Conley-Holcom (MDiv ’14) installed as pastor at Admiral Congregational Church, Seattle, WA.
The Advocate | 12/5/14
Artist Brings a Queer Eye to Female Catholic Saints
PSR hosts “Queer Saints: Holy Violence” exhibition which includes paintings and silkscreen prints that bring the artist, Alma Lopez’s, lesbian perspective to the saints she learned about as children.
Washington Post | 9/22/14
Gerald A. Larue, religious scholar who debunked Bible stories, dies at 98
Obituary for alumnx Gerald Larue (Dmin ’53), an archeologist, a religious scholar, and debunker of claims such as Lazarus rising from the dead and the discovery of Noah’s ark.
Emory University News Center | 4/24/14
Noah’ film spurs scholars to share research on ancient flood myths
PSR faculty Ingrid Lilly creates a website for scholars to share essays and research on ancient flood myths ahead of the release of the Darren Aronofsky film, “Noah.”
Palo Alto Online | 4/18/14
Photos from the front lines of change
Profile of alumnx and photographer Bob Fitch (MDiv ’72 who documented the movements led by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Cesar Chavez for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.
New York Magazine | 7/10/12
Episcopal Church Approves Rite to Bless Same-Sex Unions
“This is significant because it’s saying, ‘This is around to stay — this is not a passing fad,’” said Mary A. Tolbert, founding director of PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS).
The New York Times | 2/18/12
A Quiet Struggle Within the Gay Marriage Fight
PSR faculty, staff and alumnx are among the leaders in mainline Protestant denominations fighting for marriage equality and the ordination of gay clergy.
The Daily News | 10/21/11
Young pastor brings Longview church into digital age
PSR alumnx Eric Atcheson (MDiv ’11) becomes pastor of Longview First Christian Church, Longview WA.
Time | 3/22/11
Fertility Goddess Asherah: Was ‘God’s Wife’ Edited Out of the Bible?
PSR faculty and Director of the Badè Museum of Biblical Archaeology, Aaron Brody speaks on early Israelite polytheism.
SF Gate | 4/4/10
Gay worshipers find special meaning in Easter
LGBTQ+ activist and PSR alumnx Jim Mitulski (MDiv ’90) discusses the special meaning of easter as a gay man. “Easter ‘evokes from us the experience of resurrection in our own bodies and in our own spirits.'”
The New York Times | 3/04/07
Moved by the Spirit to Dance With the Lord
PSR faculty Doug Adams, who has edited several books on the subject of dance and the church, discusses its growing popularity.
SF Gate | 2/18/07
Demonstrators protest ‘ex-gay’ seminar
PSR student Corey Hidlebaugh shares his experience with conversion therapy, “We’re here because we believe ex-gay therapy is not only poor science but poor theology.”
SF Gate | 6/13/05
LIFE MET ART HERE / Part one: 1965-75
PSR alumnx Laird Sutton (BDiv ’62) discusses his time as director at Intersection for the Arts which began as a place where religion crossed paths with the arts.
F Gate | 2/25/04
Marriage’s lineage a bit convoluted
Mary A. Tolbert, founding director of PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion (CLGS) discusses the Bible’s complicated history of marriage.