Walking the Way Together: What’s Ahead at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)

That image—hands firmly on the plow, eyes forward—continues to shape the life and witness of the community at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary. Drawing on Luke’s Gospel and the rich legacy of the Civil Rights movement, Rev. Dr. Yvonne Williams Boyd once invited a community of campers to imagine discipleship as steady, embodied, and faithful work—work that requires focus, perseverance, and trust in God’s promises. It is a message that resonates deeply in our present moment.

As PLTS enters a new semester, that call remains clear. In a world marked by uncertainty and fatigue, the seminary continues to form leaders grounded in God’s love for the world and committed to the justice-inaugurating way of Jesus. Together, students, faculty, and partners walk this Way—sharing the work, taking turns to rest, and encouraging one another to keep going with courage.

This winter, PLTS gathered students on campus for a lively season of residential intensives, including courses in Faith-rooted Social Transformation, Evangelism and Justice, Community Organizing, and TEEM formation. The community was also enriched by a visit from The Humble Walk, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at the University of Maryland, whose students traveled more than 2,000 miles to explore vocation, worship, organizing, and theological education in practice.

Looking ahead, PLTS invites the wider church to engage several important opportunities for learning, discernment, and celebration:

  • Wednesday, February 25, 2026 | 9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. PST

    Disputatio on Artificial Intelligence — exploring the ethical, legal, and social implications of AI, online and in person.

    Learn more & register.

  • Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 4:00 p.m. PT

    State of the Seminary — an online conversation hosted by Rector Rev. Dr. Colleen Windham-Hughes.

    Register online.

  • March 13–15, 2026 | Berkeley, CA

    Signs Along the Way: Discernment Weekend — for those exploring a call to ministry and theological education.

    Register & learn more.

  • Saturday, May 23, 2026 | 10:00 a.m. PT

    Commencement at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, Berkeley, CA, with a reception to follow and livestream available.

    Early registration now open.

PLTS is also celebrating the launch of new cohorts through its Center for Climate Justice and Faith, including a Spanish-language Certificate in Climate Justice and Faith welcoming students from across Latin America and the Caribbean, and a new Certificate in Faith-based Community Organizing for Climate Justice serving teams across the U.S. and beyond. These programs equip leaders to respond to the climate crisis with theological depth, practical skills, and a commitment to economic, racial, and gender justice.

As this semester unfolds, PLTS offers a clear witness to what it means to stay rooted, to walk together, and to keep our hands on the plow—trusting that God is still at work, shaping furrows where justice, hope, and new life can grow.

Region 2Brian FlatgardPacific Lutheran Theological SeminaryComment