Enhance Your Urban Ministry

Designed to enhance the practice of ministry in urban multicultural settings

BST’s Training in Christian Leadership programs (TCL) are designed to provide a fast track to an accredited master’s degree in leadership training for church and community. The programs are three-tiered, beginning with a 6 course Certificate in Community Leadership (CCL) training that builds toward a 20 course BA Equivalency Certificate (BCL), that then builds toward an accredited Master’s Degree (MCL or MDiv).

One of the Most Interculturally Diverse Theological Schools in the Country

Since our founding 150 years ago, the core values of soul freedom, service leadership, social justice, public witness, religious liberty, and the centrality of the Word (written and spoken) still guide and sustain BST to this day. These Jesus-centered values, rooted in our inclusive inter-cultural heritage, have made BST an attractive school for students of many faith and denominational affiliations.

Here you will truly enter a spiritual “world-house” of teaching and learning, with a world-class faculty and students from every habitable continent on earth.

Choose A Tier That Is Right For You

• Can be completed in as little as 2 years
• Core Introductory Courses: Bible OT & NT, History, Ethics, Theology, Writing/Technology, Inter-cultural, Leadership, and Communications 
• Concentrations: four courses in one track 
• Internship: two semesters in non-profits, community organizing, para-church, or church settings

Contact Us

(510) 841-1905

admissions@bst.edu

2606 Dwight Way

Berkeley, CA 94704

Wayfaring

Address

Phone

Email

Reinforce Your Unique Selling Proposition

Describe Trip details

Start any time with rolling admissions

Announcing Our New Cultural Responsive Doctor of Ministry

Thematic Concentrations

Four thematic concentrations offer a breadth of theological training.

Creative Church & Community

People become involved in churches when they feel a sense of authentic community and spiritual connection. Students will be equipped to create authentic, diverse communities by addressing topics such as organizational change, church renewal, conflict resolution, congregational and communal care, spiritually grounded and ethical leadership, taking one’s faith public, and more...

Justice & Reconciliation

Justice is love in action. Reconciliation is justice embodied. God’s love inspires this work. Students will grapple with the justice demands of the gospel; develop strategies for long-term justice work; engage eco-justice and sustainability studies; learn to articulate insights from the rich histories of social and restorative justice movements; and grow in their confidence to address injustice in local, national, and global contexts.

Spirituality & Resilience

Leaders need to know how to cultivate deep resources for their spiritual, emotional, and professional well-being for self and others. Students will learn to draw on scripture, history, prayer, communal practices, pastoral care, trauma studies, communication skills, the arts, and other valuable resources to support environments where people flourish.

Border Crossing & Bridge Building

Social segregation is an insidious systemic problem that continues to cause deep and lasting conflict. Students from diverse backgrounds will develop intercultural skills through praxis-oriented courses; self-directed, inventive projects; and innovative internship opportunities. Students will also gain valuable skill in using digital resources for common good, including podcasting, social media, and other emerging technologies.

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

My training at Berkeley School of Theology helped set a moral framework around economic and racial justice that will ensure no worker, family or community is left behind.

“

CHERRI MURPHY

Faith Rooted Organizer, 
Economic Justice for Black Oakland 

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Graduate Theological Union • 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709

510-826-4488 • admissions@gtu.edu

Graduate Theological Union 

2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709

510-826-4488 • admissions@gtu.edu

Graduate Theological Union • 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709

510-826-4488 • admissions@gtu.edu

Graduate Theological Union 

2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, California 94709

510-826-4488 • admissions@gtu.edu

Contact Us

(510) 841-1905

admissions@bst.edu

2606 Dwight Way

Berkeley, CA 94704

(510) 841-1905 ext. 229

admissions@bst.edu

Address

Phone

Email

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

The Berkeley School of Theology is a small community that trains men and women to become locally-grounded and globally-minded Christian leaders. It is a great privilege to be a part of this community.

“

DR. SANGYIL PARK

Associate Professor of Preaching and Director of DMin Program

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Courses taught onsite & online

Fast Track to An Accredited Degree

Cultivate spirituality & justice in your community

Financial aid is available

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

The Berkeley School of Theology is a small community that trains men and women to become locally-grounded and globally-minded Christian leaders. It is a great privilege to be a part of this community.

“

DR. SANGYIL PARK

Associate Professor of Preaching and Director of DMin Program

”

Cultivate spirituality & justice in your community

Quick Facts

Berkeley School of Theology is a Christ-centered school that trains women and men in leadership for church and community in the 21st century.

especially attractive to bi-vocational ministers and lay leaders

Prepared to lead in a multicultural and multiracial world

Rooted in social justice heritage and tradition

Informed socially, theologically and biblically

Skilled in the practice for personal, ecclesial, and social transformation

Fast Track to An Accredited Degree

A flexible distance learning program that puts you in the driver's seat

Courses taught on site and online

Get Credit for Your Life Experience With Our Competency-Based DMin

A flexible distance learning program where you get credit for your life experience

Announcing Our New Cultural Responsive Doctor of Ministry

A flexible distance learning program where you get credit for your life experience

Get Credit for Your Life Experience With Our Competency-Based DMin

A flexible distance learning program that puts you in the driver's seat

Inquire for more information

Courses taught on site and online

Apply anytime with rolling admissions

Some Of Our Other Programs

Master of Divinity

The Master of Theological Studies (MTS) is an academic program for graduate students seeking to dive deeply into theological reflection on the academic emphasis of their choosing as they prepare for a type of specialized ministry, community work or for further education. Topics immediately available include: race relations, gender studies, church & society, public theology, power politics, inter-cultural studies, inter-religious studies, and many more!

Master of Theological Studies

The Public Theology Certificate trains seminarians and pastoral leaders in the arts of faith-based organizing as ecclesial practice for pastoral excellence, congregational vitality, and an active public theology applied to current social problems

Public Theology Certificate

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) is the basic professional degree program designed to prepare men and women for church ministry, chaplaincies, or other specialized ministries. The Program meets American Baptist ordination requirements, is recognized by numerous denominations, and provides appropriate preparatory background for further graduate study in theology and religion.

Border Crossing & Bridge Building

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

BST offered me a place at the table, to learn how to expand my theology and where my place lies within it. My call to ministry has been clarified. I am equipped. Thank You BST!

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RENAE EARL

BST Graduate 2021

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MDiv & Public Theology Certificate '21

Equipped for ecumenical and inter-faith partnership

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

My time at BST has been amazing—spiritually enriching, academically challenging, and excellent preparation for real-life ministry in today’s complex culture.

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NATHAN BRITTSAN

BST Graduate 2021

”

MDiv & Public Theology Certificate '21

Curriculum

Describe Trip details

• Certificate in Ministerial Studies in one year
• Certificate in BA Equivalency in two years
• Accredited MDiv or MA in 4+ years
• Core Courses: Bible OT & NT, History, Ethics, Theology, Writing/Technology, Inter-cultural, Leadership, and Communications  ???
• Example Elective Courses: two semesters in non-profits, community organizing, pa church settings ???

All course work recognized or accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)

• Old Testament
• New Testament
• Theology
• Preaching/worship
• Leadership

Example Courses for Certificates

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Committed to the justice demands of the Gospel

WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS SAY

What I am planning to do with my degree is serve at my local church as an associate pastor and in the future as a senior pastor. Thank God for the opportunity to study at BST.

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CARLOS MINGELI

BST Graduate 2021

”

MDiv & Public Theology Certificate '21

Choose The Track That Is Right For You

Describe Trip details

Certificate in Ministerial Studies

Certificate in BA Equivalency

Accredited MDiv or MA

6 courses
complete in one year

20 courses
complete in 3 years

46 courses
complete in 4-6 years

Schecdiules geared toward the working student: nights, weekends, and intensives, or daytime cohorts

All course work recognized and accredited by the Association of Theological Schools (ATS)

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Fast and affordable track to an accredited Master's degree

Los programas de Capacitación en Liderazgo Cristiano (CLC) de BST están diseñados para brindar capacitación ministerial formal a los lideres y pastores de la iglesia.  Los programas tienen tres niveles que comienzan con un Certificado de 6 cursos in Estudios Ministeriales que se suma a un Certificado de Equivalencia de BA de 20 cursos que se suma a un titulo acreditado de Maestría en Divinidad.

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Schedules geared toward the working student: nights, weekends, and intensives, or daytime cohorts