Join us September 25–26, 2026, as the Earl Lectures mark 125 years of courageous public theology and 25 years of LGBTQ and gender justice at PSR, gathering voices around the theme Faith Beyond Exclusion.
The 2026 Earl Lectures will mark a singular moment in our institutional and public life. This gathering will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Earl Lectures, making them the longest-running public lecture series in California and the western United States. At the same time, we will honor the 25th anniversary of PSR’s Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies, the first center of its kind at any Christian seminary. Together, these milestones invite both gratitude for a legacy of courageous faith and renewed commitment to the unfinished work of justice.
This year’s lectures will focus on the theme of “Faith Beyond Exclusion.” Taking place in the weeks preceding consequential midterm elections, the 2026 Earl Lectures will seek to offer a clear and compelling religious voice—one grounded in the Christian gospel and resonant with other faith traditions—that affirms inclusion rather than fear, dignity rather than domination. Bringing together scholars, pastors, advocates, non-profit leaders, and students, the lectures will respond not only to the toxic distortions of Christian nationalism, but more importantly will proclaim good news: that faith, rightly understood, is a source of liberation, moral courage, and expansive belonging.
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Schedule
Friday, September 25th
6:00pm – 9:30pm – Cocktail Hour & Alumnx Banquet
Saturday, September 26th
8:00am – Lecture Registration
9:00am – Opening Worship and Plenary: Rev. Dr. Robert Chao Romero
10:30am – Breakout Sessions
12:00pm – Lunch in the courtyard
1:00pm – Breakout Sessions
2:30 pm – Heralds of Welcome Awards
3:00 pm – Closing Plenary: Bishop Yvette A. Flunder
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Featured Speakers
Rev. Dr. Robert Chao Romero
Rev. Dr. Robert Chao Romero is Professor and Chair of the UCLA Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies. His research explores the little-known history of Asian-Latinos, as well as the role of Christianity in social justice movements in Latin America and among U.S. Latinas and Latinos. Romero is the author of several award-winning books, including, “The Chinese in Mexico, 1882-1940”, “Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity”, and “Christianity and Critical Race Theory: A Faithful and Constructive Conversation.” Romero is also an attorney, an ordained minister, and a faith-rooted community organizer. He received his Ph.D. from UCLA in Latin American history and his Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley.
Bishop Yvette A. Flunder
Bishop Yvette Flunder, a native of San Francisco, Pacific School of Religion alum, and a third-generation preacher, has dedicated herself to promoting justice and taking prophetic action for over three decades. Her mission to blend proclamation, worship, service, and advocacy for marginalized individuals in both the church and society led her to establish the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in 1991. In addition to her remarkable pastoral achievements, Rev. Dr. Flunder is characterized by her unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community. As a leader and a trailblazer, she has played a pivotal role in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights within religious institutions and society, including her advocacy on the steps of the Supreme Court before the landmark decision granting Marriage Equality in 2015.
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