Starr King School for the Ministry
Former names | Starr King School for Religious Leadership, Pacific Unitarian School for the Ministry | |
---|---|---|
Type | President Rosemary Bray McNatt | |
Dean | Gabriella Lettini | |
Students | 85 | |
Location | , , United States 37°52′37″N 122°15′43″W / 37.877015°N 122.261859°W | |
Website | www.sksm.edu |
Starr King School for the Ministry is a
History
Starr King School for the Ministry opened in 1904 as the Pacific Unitarian School for the Ministry. With most
In 1941, the school changed its name to honor the
In 1962, the "Holy Hill" seminaries officially formed the Graduate Theological Union (GTU). Starr King was a member of the GTU from 1964 until 2020. From the 1960s up through the mid-1980s the seminary was known as the Starr King School for Religious Leadership.[1][2]
When Rev. Dr. Rebecca Parker became President of the school in 1990, she was the first woman to serve as the permanent head of an accredited U.S. theological school. She is an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church with dual fellowship in the Unitarian Universalist Association.[3]
21st century "New Beginning"
In 2019, the school began a process known as "New Beginnings" to ensure its future sustainability. These steps included selling its building in Berkeley and moving to a new facility in Oakland in 2022, leaving the GTU in 2020, and staff/faculty reductions.[4]
Presidents
- Earl Morse Wilbur 1904–1931
- William Morgan (1931–?)
- Josiah Bartlett 1949-1969
- Robert C. Kimball 1969–1983
- Gordon B. McKeeman 1983–1988
- Rebecca Ann Parker 1990–2014
- Rosemary Bray McNatt 2014–present
Academics
Starr King School for the Ministry educates people for Unitarian Universalist ministry and for progressive religious leadership in society. Its approach to the study of theology is inspired by Unitarian Universalism's liberal religious values. It is dedicated to providing student-centered, multi-religious, counter-oppressive graduate education that cultivates multi-religious life and learning, and creates just and sustainable communities.
The school offers two master's degrees: Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Arts in Social Change (M.A.S.C.). It also offers certificates in Chaplaincy Studies, Unitarian Universalist Studies and Multi-Religious Studies.
The school is accredited by the
See also
References
- ^ Robert Charles Kimball, "Open Letter to Board of Trustees, Unitarian Universalist Association: Concerning January 26, 1974 Progress Report of the Ministerial Education Commission 1974"
- ^ David Robinson, The Unitarians and the Universalists, 1985, p. 335
- ^ Starr King School for the Ministry Faculty & Staff. Retrieved May 6, 2013. http://www.sksm.edu/faculty/
- ^ "New Beginnings FAQs". Star King School for the Ministry. Retrieved 5 February 2023.