Graduate Theological Union

Join the Wilmette Institute for a discussion on "A Framework for Unity: The Shared Humanity Between African Americans and Indigenous Peoples." Taking place online on Friday, September 27, at 5pm PT, this event will delve into the historical sufferings and the often-overlooked ties between these communities. Learn more and register here: https://www.gtu.edu/events/framework-unity-shared-humanity-between-african-americans-and-indigenous-peoples

In a recent GTU Voices interview, Sr. Martha Ann Kirk (ThD '86), professor emerita of Religious Studies and the Arts at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, reflected on how her GTU education shaped her global peacebuilding efforts. Founder of the Artistic Bridges project and a leader in the Charter for Compassion movement, Sr. Kirk has been recognized as the San Antonio Peace Laureate and Texas Pax Christi Peacemaker of the Year. She has dedicated her life to fostering interfaith and intercultural understanding through art, advocacy, and healing. Read more about Sr. Kirk and her work with Artistic Bridges here: https://www.gtu.edu/gtu-voices/gtu-alum-sr-martha-ann-kirk-uses-art-empower-risk-youth

Explore the latest journey from the Berkeley Art and Interreligious Pilgrimage Project (BAIPP)! The Ashura Vigil offers a profound pilgrimage experience, honoring the sacrifice of those who supported Imam Hussain’s quest for justice and freedom. This unique ritual transcends time and space, commemorating martyrs’ sacrifices through unity and community. To locate the route and find out how to participate, visit: https://pilgrimage.gtu.edu/pilgrimage/retracing-the-ashura-eve-vigil/

Apply by 5 pm this Thursday for the chance to earn a $2,500 Chan Essay Prize. To enter, any student at a GTU Member School, Center, or Affiliate must submit an original essay, a term paper for a course, or a chapter of a thesis or dissertation on this year’s topic of Religion and Economics. For more information, please visit: https://www.gtu.edu/chan-essay-prize

Please join us in congratulating David Lunceford as one of this year's recipients for the Presidential Scholarship! David is a PhD student of Sacred Texts and their Interpretation. He shared with us, "Right now, I am planning to study the figure of death in the book of Ecclesiastes as an alternative to the dominant white Christian figure of death as an enemy. I hope to do this work in conversation with the work of critical and constructive theologians as well as critical theorists, several of whom have already proved indispensable to me as a biblical interpreter."

All applicants for the GTU doctoral program are considered for our Presidential Scholarship. Each year, the Presidential Scholarship Program provides doctoral students, one from each department, with full tuition for five years. This prestigious scholarship is awarded based on merit by the GTU’s doctoral admissions committee. Presidential Scholars have added support that enables them to complete the program more quickly and to engage in professional activities such as presenting papers at conferences and publishing articles in academic journals.

Take a look at our blog, GTU Voices, to read our current interviews with the Presidential Scholars: https://www.gtu.edu/voices

Join us on September 19 at 5:30pm PT for an engaging CJS event featuring a conversation with author Naomi Seidman on her new book, "Translating the Jewish Freud: Psychoanalysis in Hebrew and Yiddish." Refreshments and snacks will be provided for in-person attendees! Learn more and register here: https://www.gtu.edu/events/translating-jewish-freud-new-book-conversation-author-naomi-seidman

Congratulations to Kenny Solis for his new role as Clinical Chaplain Fellow, Bone Marrow Therapy and Cellular Therapy at Stanford Health Care! Among his many dazzling academic and professional achievements, Kenny earned an Interreligious Chaplaincy Graduate Certificate from the GTU in 2024. His unique story is a shining example of how GTU alums forge meaningful and rewarding careers to serve those who are suffering and create a more loving society. In addition to this important work, Kenny is also writing a book on the transformative impact hospital chaplains play in healthcare settings. We can’t wait to read it!

Please join us in congratulating our students who have recently achieved significant academic milestones! We take great pride in recognizing your achievements as you progress in your educational journey at the GTU.

Working through a project this semester? Join us for a series of GTU Library workshops this September designed to enhance your research skills! We'll explore topics like literature review tools, using the Internet Archive, Biblical exegesis, and navigating Zotero.

To view the schedules and details, visit our website: https://www.gtu.edu/library/get-help/library-workshops

Join the GTU’s Madrasa-Midrasha Program for the discussion "Emerging Scholars: New Thinking" on September 16 at 11:10am PT. Moderated by Dr. Mahjabeen Dhala and Dr. Deena Aranoff, this hybrid event will feature the work of current GTU students researching topics in Islamic Studies and Jewish Studies. Learn more and register here: https://www.gtu.edu/events/emerging-scholars-new-thinking

Please join us in congratulating Alysiana Carter as one of this year's recipients for the Presidential Scholarship! Alysiana is a PhD student of Historical and Cultural Studies of Religion. She shared with us, "Through my research at GTU, I hope to help further define the contours of the psychedelic canon, and to examine how these texts influence our understanding of psychedelics. I am particularly interested in the role of expectation in the psychedelic experience, and the mutuality of the relationship between the psychedelic state and this ‘psychedelic canon’."

All applicants for the GTU doctoral program are considered for our Presidential Scholarship. Each year, the Presidential Scholarship Program provides doctoral students, one from each department, with full tuition for five years. This prestigious scholarship is awarded based on merit by the GTU’s doctoral admissions committee. Presidential Scholars have added support that enables them to complete the program more quickly and to engage in professional activities such as presenting papers at conferences and publishing articles in academic journals.

Take a look at our blog, GTU Voices, to read our current interviews with the Presidential Scholars: https://www.gtu.edu/voices

Join us at 5pm TONIGHT for the opening reception of the CARe exhibition "American Prayer: Photographs by Lucas Foglia" at the Doug Adams Gallery! Enjoy music, refreshments, and a chance to meet the artist. Co-sponsored by the Center for Climate Justice & Faith, this exhibit explores the powerful connection between humanity, nature, and the divine. Learn more here: https://www.gtu.edu/events/opening-reception-american-prayer-photographs-lucas-foglia

Join us this Thursday evening for the opening of American Prayer at the CARe Doug Adams Gallery!

Experience the beauty and diversity of religious rituals across the United States! For American Prayer, photographer Lucas Foglia traveled throughout the United States to photograph people participating in religious and spiritual rituals in nature. This exhibit is a collaboration between Foglia, the Center for Climate Justice and Faith at PLTS , and the Center for Art and Religion at the Graduate Theological Union. Visitors to the gallery will have opportunities to participate in local climate advocacy, register to vote, and get involved with Bay Area organizations addressing the climate crisis.

The opening reception is from 5-7 pm on Thursday, September 5th, at the Doug Adams Gallery, 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA. Please RSVP here: https://events.gtu.edu/event/638250

The GTU is wishing you all a prosperous semester ahead! May your hard work and dedication lead to new achievements and opportunities this fall.

Please join us in congratulating Antoinette Bailey as one of this year's recipients for the Presidential Scholarship! Antoinette is a PhD student of Religion and Practice. She shared with us, " I believe that my doctoral studies will equip me with the skills needed to tackle pressing issues today—problems that stem from poverty and are reflected in education, unemployment, housing, and urban life. At the GTU I seek to become a greater scholar, activist, leader, and above all else: servant."

All applicants for the GTU doctoral program are considered for our Presidential Scholarship. Each year, the Presidential Scholarship Program provides doctoral students, one from each department, with full tuition for five years. This prestigious scholarship is awarded based on merit by the GTU’s doctoral admissions committee. Presidential Scholars have added support that enables them to complete the program more quickly and to engage in professional activities such as presenting papers at conferences and publishing articles in academic journals.

Take a look at our blog, GTU Voices, to read our current interviews with the Presidential Scholars: https://www.gtu.edu/voices

When you embark on a doctoral program at the Graduate Theological Union, you will join a vibrant community of scholars and students devoted to exploring life’s deepest questions and creating a more just, peaceful, and sustainable world. With more than 30 concentrations to choose from, our world-class faculty will help you chart an academic path as unique as you. Learn more today at gtu.edu.

In an episode from the Faith & Work Podcast, GTU grads Noreen Herzfeld (PhD '00), Greg Cootsona (PhD '96), and Jeff Hoffmeyer (PhD '15) delve into the transformative role of AI in our world. From rethinking old ways to embracing new forms of connection, this conversation challenges us to find better paths forward in our political, social, and environmental landscapes.

Listen to "AI Series: Artificial Intelligence, Work, and What it Means to Be Human" here: https://www.denverinstitute.org/ai-series-artificial-intelligence-work-and-what-it-means-to-be-human/

Lovers of the arts, we invite you to become a CARe Member today! Support CARe by becoming a member: https://www.gtu.edu/supportcare

- Free admission to members-only previews and receptions
- Invitations to special lectures, parties, and tours
- Discounts on selected local arts-related programs
- Monthly updates via the CARe Members’ newsletter
- Membership to the North American Reciprocal Museum Association, giving you and a friend free admission to over 1000 museums around the country, many in the Bay Area
- A beautiful exhibition catalog from one of CARe's past exhibitions of your choice

CARe in the news! 😍🤩🥳

'American Prayer: photographs by Lucas Foglia,' on view in the Doug Adams Gallery from September 5 through December 13, interweaves art and activism. Co-sponsored by the Center for Climate Justice & Faith at the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, 'American Prayer' powerfully illustrates the connection between humanity, the natural world, and the divine.

Join us on Thursday, September 5 from 5-7pm to enjoy music and refreshments and meet the artist at the exhibition Opening Reception!

Read the article online: https://eastbayexpress.com/photo-exhibit-pictures-faith-outside-walls/

•
•
•

In a recent article, Rob Peach (GTU PhD '18) shares insights on his journey of healing and identity, and how he found his spiritual home at The Way Christian Center in Berkeley. Read more here:

What Does it Mean for White People to Embody Hip-Hop? Finding ‘The Way’ Underground For this unsuspecting white dude, a Black-led church in Berkeley would be a site of self-revelation in the spirit of a movement

From its early days to today, our library has been a cornerstone of learning, reflection, and growth. Check out how the heart of our academic community has evolved over the years. Some things may have changed, but the spirit of scholarship and community remains as strong as ever!

In a recent speech at Georgetown University's Outreach conference, Mark Bosco, S.J. (GTU PhD '03) spoke about the paradoxical journey of LGBTQ Catholics, who experience God's love through the Church while facing marginalization. Read his speech here:

Flannery O'Connor, the Holy Ghost and LGBTQ Catholics If gay and le***an folks are still with us today in the church, celebrating with us, they have probably had to mature faster than most.

Interested in working on a master’s degree in religious studies or theology with some of the world’s leading scholars? Choose an in-person or online path from over 30 concentrations across diverse fields of study at the GTU. Here, you can expand your knowledge of the world’s major spiritual traditions at an institute of higher learning unlike any other. Learn more today at gtu.edu.

Calling all GTU faculty and students! Are you working on something special this summer? Do you have an exciting project on the horizon? Please let us know by DM or emailing [email protected]. We'd love to shine a spotlight on the transformative impact you're making in the world!

At the GTU we embrace the wisdom of interreligious traditions that highlight the importance of unity and compassion. As Rev. Valerie Miles-Tribble reminds us, by listening with our hearts and working together as a community, we can create a better world.

Join a community of learners that believes in a better world! With GTUx you can engage with the critical issues of our time on your time. Sign up today to gain access to a sweeping range of offerings across themes like storytelling, sacred narrative, spiritual care, ethics, justice, and sustainability. Explore more at gtu.edu/x.

Are you thinking about applying to the GTU? Visit our stunning campus in Berkeley to learn more about the exceptional faculty, programs, library, and location that make the GTU such a unique locus for learning. On-campus visits with Director of Recruitment and Outreach Ben Woehler are available every Wednesday this month with an appointment.

Book your visit now to learn more about the many ways a degree from the GTU can prepare you for creating a positive impact in the world: https://www.gtu.edu/events/campus-visit-wednesdays-3

The Graduate Theological Union is deeply saddened to share news of the passing of Dr. David Biale, Scholar in Residence at the Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies and Emanuel Ringelblum Distinguished Professor of Jewish History at UC Davis. Dr. Biale served as the inaugural Koret Chair and Director of the Richard S. Dinner Center for Jewish Studies at the GTU from 1986-1999. He passed away after a battle with cancer on July 28, 2024.

https://www.gtu.edu/news/gtu-remembers-david-biale

We're excited to announce the return of the Bay Area MFA Show! Join us on August 1st at 5pm to celebrate the third iteration of this dynamic exhibition, featuring the remarkable work of recent graduates from top Bay Area MFA programs. Discover the unique artistry of April Camlin, Leah Koransky, Nivedita Madigubba, and Willow (陈柳静). This exhibition will be in the Doug Adams Gallery from August 1-23.

Learn more here: https://www.gtu.edu/events/bay-area-mfa-show-3-opening-celebration

We are delighted to celebrate that Nancy Pineda-Madrid (GTU PhD '05), T. Marie Chilton Chair of Catholic Theology at Loyola Marymount University, took office as president of the Catholic Theological Society of America in June. Pineda-Madrid is a feminist theologian who researches the Latinax faith experience and the possibilities that Catholic theology offers in response to the world’s injustices. We are confident that she will bring an invaluable discernment to her role with CTSA.

Read a full announcement from LMU: https://bit.ly/4bkBDVl