Circle of Care
Emotional and Spiritual Wellness
As framed by Ignatian spirituality, our lives are filled with moments of consolation (moments of joy, moments when we feel love, or feel closest to God), and moments of desolation (our “desert moments” when we feel farthest from God, moments when we are lonely, or angry, or feel the least amount of love). As we move in and out of our highs and lows, we at the Office of Community Life want to make sure that you are not alone in your journey.
The Office of Community Life coordinates systems of care within the campus community. The OCL provides networks of support for the PSR community in four ways:
The Community Life Council provides student-led campus care: to listen, pray, support and respond to everyday concerns in the lives of students and their families at PSR.
Delois (Dee) Andrews (She, Her, Hers). I entered PSR in the fall of 2023. I am in the MDiv program with an emphasis on Chaplaincy. What I enjoy most about my academic journey at PSR is that with every course growth happens, sometimes on a weekly basis. I love the idea of growing intellectually and spiritually into the servant God wants me to be. I participate in the Community Life Council because I want to pay forward the support and acceptance, I have enjoyed within the PSR community. I believe this support and acceptance is what helped me to thrive as a student after not having been in school for over 25 years.
My name is Barb Craft, and my pronouns are she/her. I began my Master of Divinity program at Pacific School of Religion in the spring of 2023. What I enjoy most about my journey at PSR, is the social, religious and cultural diversity of my professors and classmates combined with a welcoming spirit bent towards supporting learning from multiple perspectives. The ability to attend through the hybrid platform has been invaluable as a resident of Honolulu HI. Participating in the Community Life Council allows me to share ideas and support collaborative efforts to meet the multifaceted needs of the student body.
Hello! My name is Kelly Weber Felch. My pronouns are she/they. I started PSR in the Fall of 2021. I am completing my MAST and MDiv this May 2025. I enjoy being in fellowship with curious minds who value creating sacred spaces for personal growth and community development. I am participating in the Community Life Council because I believe that collective student voices are crucial for creating harmony and peace in academia.
My name is Dundee Holt, a same gender loving Black Baptist minister, living in Harlem, USA. My pronouns are he/him/his. I am currently (hopefully) completing my DMin (Doctor of Ministry) portfolio project, developing resources and strategies to build the mutual embracings of LGBTQIA+ Black people and traditional Black churches. Having served in campus and urban ministries for five decades, I know the importance of learning and growing in community with others. PSR has proven to be a great place for such learning and growth, much of it facilitated by The Community Life Council. I enjoy and am challenged by working with colleagues — local and remote, all of us on varying life, educational, spiritual and theological journeys — as we work to ensure that PSR is a place where everyone thrives.
Donna “D” Lopez (They/Them) I am Doctor of Ministry Student with the new 2024-2025 Fall Cohort. This spring I graduated from PSR with a Certificate in Theological Studies (CTS). My previous degree is a master’s in public policy and administration from Colorado State University in December of 2023. What I enjoy most about the journey I am on at PSR is that it allows me to stay relatable to the student that I work with. My students are in the Fort Collins Colorado Campus Ministry Student Housing Security Initiative, a program for homeless or housing insecure college students. I am involved with the Community Life Council because I believe in PSR and its ability to meet so many different people exactly where they are in their journey.
Isa’ako Moeone (He, His, Him) My Father, the late Rev. Fasia Moeone, is an alumnus of the PSR graduating class of 1999. I am in the Master of Divinity program, aiming to be ordained in the UCC ministry. What I find most interesting during my academic journey here at PSR, besides the curriculum and the diverse perspectives of the school community, is the fellowship I enjoy every Tuesday morning at chapel service. I joined the CLC because I believe it is vital to be involved with the community; it is part of the calling.
Manuel “Manny” Falcon Padua (He/Siya) is dedicated to building relational bridges between communities, including the Community Life Council in PSR. His movement praxis and love for dance express his ancestry as a Filipinx immigrant. He engages synergy between the arts and mental and spiritual health as a trifecta for wellness and wholeness. Experienced tensions between sexuality, identity, homelessness, and being in the military led to his understanding that our relationships are a reflection of the sacred and the divine. Manuel started the MDiv program in PSR in the Fall of 2022 and has since been enjoying Community Life in numerous projects such as Eli’s Community Peace Garden, Student Digital Hallways, and the Online Cafe to ensure a thriving community.
Hi, my name is Veronica Schindler, and my pronouns are she/her. I have been attending PSR since Fall 2023 and will graduate with my Master of Theological Studies (MTS) in Spring 2025. Being a student at PSR has taught me to understand the nuances of language, religion, and history. PSR is a welcoming community that supports me in my growth as I journey towards my new career in ministry and chaplaincy. I am part of the Community Life Council to be part of creating the sense of welcome that I received for other students.
My name is Qaisul Takihunang, and my pronouns are he/him/his. I began my Master of Divinity program at Pacific School of Religion in the Fall of 2023. What I enjoy most about my theological journey at PSR is moving beyond traditional metaphysical biblical studies to embrace a theology focused on human care and understanding. This approach is more grounded and opens my heart to embrace diverse perspectives from different cultural backgrounds while striving to create a world where all can thrive. Pacific School of Religion is a hybrid, multicultural, and inclusive community. Participating in the Community Life Council helps me focus on enhancing our collective learning experience and offering companionship to my fellow students.
Minister Robert (Bobby) L. Wiseman, Jr (use of pronouns is not preferred). I entered PSR in the fall of 2023 having transferred after one year with another seminary. In spring 2024, I requested to transfer from the MDiv program to the MAST. For me, my journey is academic, personal, and relational/faith-driven. For me, these components are interdependent and speak directly to my core, foundation, and my continued adventures. My participation in CLC is not because I have to. My participation is not because I have a tremendous amount of leisure/down time. My participation….. just is. The times the CLC gather/convenes fuels, engages, and gives continual new outlook, gives new insights in thought process, yield a nuance to collaboration, and more importantly unprecedented moments of inspiration, moments of belly laughs, and moments of reflection.
To learn more, contact Ann Jefferson, Director of Community Life and Spiritual Care at (510)849-8257 or ajefferson@psr.edu.
The Pastoral Care Team is comprised of ordained clergy with office hours and locations on the PSR campus. The campus pastors have set aside time from their particular ministries to provide pastoral care for free to the PSR community.*
*Note that the PCT provides “pastoral care,” not “pastoral counseling.” Pastoral care is a broad and inclusive way of pastoral work that is concerned with the support and nurturing of persons and interpersonal relationships. Pastoral counseling is an extended and structured conversation focused on the needs and concerns of the one seeking help (as defined by The Dictionary of Pastoral Care and Counseling).
Pastor Kamal Hassan:
“I am a spiritual leader, educator, and community servant. I currently serve as Pastor/Teaching Elder at the Sojourner Truth Presbyterian Church in Richmond California, a position I’ve held since 2008. Before this call I spent more than three decades as both a public and private school educator, community organizer and religious worker. I hold an AA degree in Radio Broadcasting from Los Angeles City College, a BA in History from California State University Los Angeles, and a Master of Divinity degree from the San Francisco Theological Seminary.
I’m a founding member of both the New Afrikan People’s Organization and the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, and I’ve worked for social justice and Human Rights locally, nationally, and internationally. I was also a volunteer programmer of a regular liberation focused program on radio station KPFK the Pacifica affiliate in Los Angeles for 10 years. I now serve as a Board member of OneLife Institute for Spirituality and Social Transformation based in Oakland California.
I firmly believe that Spiritual Communities must be critically engaged in the effort to mend the tear in our social fabric that has allowed so many of us to focus on our individual needs and ignore the sufferings of others. To be true to our prophetic calling, we must act locally for justice, freedom, and peace while considering the global implications of our commitments. At the same time we must each pursue our inner and outer journeys of faith. I can be reached by facebook, twitter @kamalhassan1 or by phone (510)691-5204.”
To learn more, contact Ann Jefferson, Director of Community Life and Spiritual Care at (510)849-8257 or ajefferson@psr.edu.
In situations when the Campus Care Network and Pastoral Care Team are not available, the Director of Community Life and Spiritual Care will provide pastoral care, especially during emergency situations. This includes PSR’s after hours (weekdays and weekend).
Contact Ann Jefferson, Director of Community Life and Spiritual Care at (510) 849-8257 or ajefferson@psr.edu.
The Campus Care Network, Pastoral Care Team, and Assistant Dean of Students will refer the community to self-care resources outside of PSR when needed (although a PSR community member is welcome to access this resource anytime).*
VIEW RESOURCE LIST HERE
*The lists are not given as endorsements but as a starting place to begin your search for a spiritual director, therapist, or counselor who meets your needs and desires.
Health Insurance
Having health insurance is a legal requirement and Pacific School of Religion encourages all students to maintain coverage. If you need health insurance, you may compare plans at Covered California.
Common Health Care Terms
The additional fee a person pays upfront for each visit to a doctor or for each prescription purchased at the time when service is rendered. Unlike coinsurance where the insured is required to pay a certain percentage of the covered costs, co-pay plans require the insured to pay a specified dollar amount.
The cost a person pays for medical care before the insurance company pays. Some policies have a limit on how much a person will pay in deductibles in a year.
Health Management Organization; PPO – Preferred/Participating Provider Organization; for more info on the differences visit here.
The limited time period in which an individual may enroll, cancel or change their health insurance plan. Once the time of open enrollment has passed, the individual must wait until the next open enrollment time in order to enroll, cancel or change their health insurance plan.
The amount paid or to be paid by the policyholder for coverage under the contract, usually in periodic installments. Premium costs for students will be assessed each semester.