The entire PSR community celebrates with alumnx Rev. Adriene Thorne (MDiv ’08) as she is installed as Senior Minister at The Riverside Church in New York City on Sunday, September 17th at 4pm ET! Rev. Thorne will be the eighth senior minister at the historic church, and the first Black woman to hold the position.
“It is truly an honor to have been selected for this historic role,” said Rev. Thorne. “I am grateful to God for the blessed opportunity to bring my gifts to The Riverside Church and to join with the faithful servants here who are tirelessly nurturing God’s fresh vision of the Beloved Community. In this tumultuous chapter in our nation’s story, I am ready to lead an engaged community of faith that has the grace and fortitude to repair the harm visited upon God’s planet and people.”
Asked about the impact of her time at PSR, she said, “As I reflect on all the steps that led to my becoming Senior Minister of The Riverside Church, I must acknowledge Pacific School of Religion, who helped equip me with the leadership and pastoral skills needed to fully develop an embodied ministry of care. To have enjoyed the mentorship of the Rev. Dr. Archie Smith, Carla de Sola, and many other creative theologians was transformational for my life and ministry. PSR gave me a powerful theological grounding and the care and healing focus to embark on the journey that led me to The Riverside Church.”
Rev. Thorne was recognized as a 2023 Distinguished Alumnx at our Alumnx Gathering Conference and Distinguished Alumnx Awards Banquet in April along with Deborah Streeter (MA ‘78, MDiv ‘82), Bridget Cooke (MDiv ‘90), Dr. Kit Evans-Ford (MDiv ’12) and Rev. James Ishmael Ford (MDiv ‘91, MA ‘92).
Two other PSR alumnx have served in prominent roles at The Riverside Church: Rev. Patricia De Jong (MA/MDiv ’78), now the Chair of the Board of Church World Service, served as Minister Of Education for Christian Discipleship from 1984-89 and Rev. John H. Vaughn (MDiv ’85), the Executive Pastor at Ebeneezer Baptist, served as Minister for Education and Social Justice from 1996-2000. Rev. Barbara Essex, who will be the preacher for Rev. Thorne’s installation, was formerly the Minister of Community Life at PSR.
President David Vásquez-Levy, who will be in attendence at the ceremony said, “Rev. Thorne embodies the best of Pacific School of Religion — a prophetic vision that both challenges and inspires, a deep well of resilience rooted in spirituality, and the skill to bring about a world where all can thrive. Together we celebrate her installation and the good work she will continue to do as Senior Minister.”
The Riverside Church is a leading voice of progressive Christianity, sharing PSR’s long history of social justice and action, and hosting influential speakers including the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, and Marian Wright-Edelman of the Children’s Defense Fund.
Watch the installation service with the video below.