berkeley/san francisco and progressive seminary schools: anyone

[faithnotgreed]

attend one in that area or know someone who does (by any chance). most especially interested in the pacific school of religion but any other in the area would be a help also

im looking at several progressive seminaries in the country and with du help have been hooked up with contacts at each of those schools except for the one in berkeley:
the pacific school of religion which is part of the graduate theological union
they look pretty right on so i would really like to find someone who knows anything - good or bad - about it

thank you for any help
peace

my request for this information has also been posted in the california and religious groups

[rug]

1. www.pnac.org ?

Guess not.

[faithnotgreed]

2. actually rug i have to say im not sure why you would post that

but thats yours to say if you want to

im just posting a question, and not interested in putting my beliefs on anyone else
thats important to me - to live my beliefs and not push any of it on anyone

thank you for understanding
take care

[Tallison]

3. Does the particular denomination matter?

I was a religious studies major, UVA '96, and my advisor had gone to Duke's Methodist seminary, which is far more ecuminical than dogmatic in its approach to theological training. Reihold Niebuhr taught at Yale's seminary; there's also a very liberal Presbyterian seminary in Washington State that my old pastor went to (the primary Presbyterian one being at Princeton.) I've thought in the past about pursuing graduate work in seminary alongside obtaining a master's in either social work or nursing (I'm an RN now). Not sure about ordination. What's your professional background?

[faithnotgreed]

6. great question and information. thank you

this is actually for a dear friend

no denomination does not matter. as long as its spirit filled and a broad solid creative education
also a place that values or even incl holistic healing of some sort

so far the list incl
pacific (non denominational)
bangor theological (ucc)
lancaster theological
earlham (quaker)
lutheran theological of chicago

background incl working for progressive lutheran church in dc, polarity training (energy work) and a major love and seeking of God

its interesting that you mention you thought about seminary and sw or nursing
just last night i was looking at the lutheran theological and they look interesting and progressive
they offer a double major: m div with them and msw with university of chicago
that would be a great education!

[LibertyLover]

11. Schools

I would say Lutheran Theological - but then I'm a U of Chicago grad and so not prejudiced at all LOL.

[faithnotgreed]

13. thank you ll. aside from the proximity can you tell me anything

else about lutheran theological/why you recommend them

they do look interesting

[LibertyLover]

14. Well, it's been a very long time, but

if I am remembering correctly, Theo students can take classes at UC. I don't remember if they could do it for credit (aside of course from the MSW program) or if they just audited. I had 2 "theos" in a class I took on ancient Egyptian religion. If this is still the case, by going there you will get a wonderful eclectic education that would, I think, be a great background for whatever ministry you decided to pursue. I also think the duel theo/MSW is a wonderful idea. So much of a minister's time is taken up with counseling, that having the MSW will serve you in excellent stead. I have taken some pastoral counseling classes as part of my priestess training. The classes, geared as they were to the non-professional, were excellent. If I were not the only breadwinner in the family and didn't have a 3 year old daughter, I would be very tempted to pursue an academic ministerial degree with a counseling component.

The other things that I think are a benefit are borrowing privileges for theos at UC's Regenstein Library. It's a great library. And them of course, it's in Chicago - good museums, great pizza and not a bad cultural scene. Good luck with your decision and with your studies.

[faithnotgreed]

16. thank you so much. yes they do look good

and to have even the opportunity to take additional classes at uc does add a cool dimension

thanks and best wishes to you as well

[Kathy in Cambridge]

4. Ask RevCheesehead

she went to seminary and she's a liberal rev. :-)

[faithnotgreed]

7. yes youre right. thank you. i am hoping someone can become a contact

for the pacific school of religion but any advice and guidance is very helpful
i will have to find out where she went - perhaps wisconsin!! ya think

thanks kathy

[KamaAina]

5. UU's Starr King School for the Ministry is in Berkeley

that's Unitarian Universalism, of course. Apparently UUs can't even say it's a "seminary" :-)

http://www.sksm.edu/

Starr King is one of only two seminaries for the small but tradition-rich (and way progressive) denomination, the other being Meadville-Lombard in Chicago, though it also maintains sort of a special relationship with Andover Newton in Mass. It is also part of the Graduate Theological Union.

[faithnotgreed]

8. yes i saw them since they are part of the gtu (as is pacific)

interesting you mention andover newton because that is a possibility as well
just learned today that they have some form of offering reiki
which is close to polarity

thank you

[tigereye]

12. an old friend went there - to the UU seminary, I think

haven't seen her in years. She was a very cool woman.

[faithnotgreed]

9. kick

[KitchenWitch]

10. United Theological Seminary in suburban St Paul, MN

http://www.unitedseminary-mn.org/about/

Here is a quote from one of the faculty:

A Message from the Vice President for Institutional Advancement

As a past graduate of United Seminary (1999), and now as a member of the staff, I see United Seminary as an important wellspring of ideas about a large and subtle God, a God less divisive than the one we too often hear about, a God who calls us to courageously move past old ideas and new fears. I experience United Seminary as a prophetic voice giving witness to the “God beyond God” as Paul Tillich said. The rise of fundamentalist religions across the world concerns me, and I believe more than ever that United Seminary provides a powerful and crucial voice in the religious dialogue of our times.

Since 1962, over 1,600 graduates of this institution have moved out through the world, giving voice to this open-minded and welcoming God of universal love. This immense web of impact in the world has been made possible only through the generous support of our alumni/ae, trustees, and friends as well as churches, foundations, and CUE. We thank you all and we send you our blessings!

Perhaps, as you read the words above, you found yourself saying “Yes, this is the God I also carry in my heart!” If so, I ask you to provide financial support to this seminary, and help us to continue to do our important work in the world. I am honored to be a member of the team raising funds for United Seminary, and its core message: that there is a divine voice beyond all the voices of fear, greed and revenge, and it is calling us to a higher consciousness, and to nobler actions.

Blessings,
Jaime Meyer, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

[Kickin_Donkey]

15. I can give you some anecdotal information ...

about PSR, nothing specific regarding the school itself.

I separately met a couple of PSR students. They seemed to be progressive, open, mainstream types -- not fundies or holier than thou.

My parents got married at PSR, a union of Christian and Buddhist familes -- and, no, they were not boomers/hippies, more like the Korean War generation.

PSR is only a few blocks from the UC campus, and they have some sort of agreement with UC whereby PSR students can take classes at UC. I met one while in Japanese class at UC.

Sounds pretty right on to me.

[faithnotgreed]

17. thank you kd - im with you. i think this place sounds right on

theres a lot i dont know certainly and other schools that are great. but if all things equal wouldnt berkeley, psr and all that it is be great!

thanks again