Dear Ones— We are all well aware of our dire national situation—we talk about it, and as a minister I have been preaching about it in venues all over the country. People across the political spectrum consider the election a major disruption to all that they know and have experienced. For some of us the… Read More
Reflections from the President
You Are Welcome Here
Dear Ones- Here at Starr King, we are committed to building a beloved, inclusive community; we believe we teach best by who we are. Although it requires hard work and ongoing self-examination on all our parts, we have taken actions to create a warm and welcoming environment for all our students. That is why last… Read More
Take Courage
Dear Ones— I am writing in the midst of what is shaping up to be a bittersweet time. Earlier this week, we celebrated the birth of Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most important religious warriors for human rights our world has ever known. By week’s end, we will have witnessed the inauguration of… Read More
What Now?
Dear Ones— Are your hearts as broken as mine? My heart began to crack in mid-June, as the news revealed the heinous murders of 49 people in Orlando, most of them LGBTQI, nearly half of them Latinx. Here at Starr King, we held a vigil to honor these fallen souls and to recommit ourselves to… Read More
A Tribute to The Rev. Dan Kane
Dear Ones— I am writing with the sad news of the death of The Rev. Dan Kane, a 2008 Starr King graduate, Acting President of the Starr King Graduates Association, and a member of our Board of Trustees as well as the First Unitarian Church of Oakland, CA. Dan died at home on Tuesday, October… Read More
I Am Starr King: Interview with The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt
Watch The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, 7th President of Starr King School for the Ministry, speak about her experience and vision for Starr King School. Why did you decide to become a religious leader? I think I became a religious leader after years of doing a lot of other things, most notably, journalism. I was… Read More
Repent and Believe in the Gospel of Love
Dear Ones— Wednesday was a busy day, with lots to do—preparation for two big meetings and a retreat, little personal errands I couldn’t seem to get done. My head was full, and yet I felt a restlessness, as though I had forgotten something, as though I should have been somewhere but hadn’t yet arrived. I… Read More
This Opportune, Sacred Moment
Dear Ones— One of the privileges that come with leading Starr King is the chance to make common cause for justice with other African-American religious leaders. One such opportunity arose this past week when I attended the annual gathering of African American Presidents and Deans of Theological Schools in Raleigh, NC, sponsored by the Association… Read More
Year-End Transitions
Dear Ones— I am writing with difficult news: the resignations of Starr King faculty members Dr. Dorsey Blake, Associate Professor of Spirituality and Prophetic Justice; and Rev. Kurt Kuhwald, Assistant Professor of Preaching, Pastoral Care, and Social Change. Their resignations will take effect on January 9, 2015. For those students registered for spring classes taught… Read More
A Prayer in the Struggle — Message from SKSM President Rosemary Bray McNatt
Dear Ones — In this time of challenge, I offer this prayer of comfort and challenge: Gracious spirit of all our lives, God of many names and many voices And one abundant love: At this time of holy unrest, give us the peace that comes When we know why we struggle and what… Read More
