Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS), centered in downtown Berkeley, trains leaders who become Evangelical Lutheran Church in America pastors, deacons, educators, nonprofit workers, and more. We are a faith and learning community dedicated to excellence in theological education for developing leaders for the church in the world. 

Your gift to PLTS has a direct impact on our students and programs—making seminary more affordable and supporting academic and operational excellence.

Your choice to support the Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary on Cal Lutheran Cares Day is appreciated. Thank you!

Seminary Fund

Your gift to the Seminary Fund helps make seminary more affordable for every student. Investing an unrestricted gift for PLTS promotes academic and operational excellence. Giving here furthers PLTS’ commitment and mission to making theological education more accessible to more people in more places. 

Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders (TEIL) - A first-of-its-kind education for Indigenous leaders

Western theological education has remained the default methodology within the church in North America, including the ELCA. Native leaders from across the ELCA, in partnership with leaders from  PLTS seek to change that with the TEIL program. “The TEIL program is a historic and first-of-its-kind opportunity for Indigenous leaders and our church,” said Blackfox, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. “Ninety percent of our instructors, whom we call wisdom keepers, are Indigenous, and the students will experience Indigenous pedagogy, or ways of learning about ministry and biblical studies, that are not offered anywhere else in our church.”

Center for Climate Justice & Faith

The PLTS Center for Climate Justice & Faith (CCJF) empowers leaders to cultivate moral, spiritual, and practical power for the work of climate justice in communities of faith and in collaboration with others. Your gift to the CCJF supports a concentration available to MA and MDiv students, a certificate program available globally to lay and roster-seeking leaders (in both Spanish and English), and more. The Center is a new program, directed by Dr. Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, in collaboration with Lutherans Restoring Creation, Lutheran World Federation, and ELCA  World Hunger.

Heart of Gold Challenge Complete
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Success!
Heart of Gold Challenge
An incredibly generous anonymous donor—who wants to inspire Cal Lutheran students, staff, faculty, alumni, families, Regents, other donors, and the entire Cal Lutheran community—will release a $1 Million Dollar Estate Gift when the Cal Lutheran Cares Day leaderboard crosses the $650,000 mark—honoring our 65th anniversary—in support of any cause on the leaderboard through midnight tonight!
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New PLTS Program for Indigenous Leaders Challenge Complete
But you can still make a gift!
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Match
New PLTS Program for Indigenous Leaders Challenge
Give $50 or more to the Theological Education for Indigenous Leaders program at PLTS and it will be matched 1:1 by Rev. Anne & Jim Carlson, Debra Papageorge, and Bishop Jeff R. Johnson and J Guadalupe Sanchez Aldaco, up to $7,500!
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Seeds of Climate Justice Challenge Complete
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2
Match
Seeds of Climate Justice Challenge
Due to the Generosity of donors Jon and Jessie Panek and Phyllis and Herbert Anderson, all donations of $250 or more to the Center for Climate Justice and Faith will be matched dollar for dollar up to $12,000.
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We Love PLTS Seminary Fund Challenge Complete
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$12,500
We Love PLTS Seminary Fund Challenge
Be one of the first forty donors to PLTS to unlock $12,500 in matching gifts to the PLTS Seminary Fund, thanks to the generosity of Jim & Twila Burdick, Kathy Dean, and Pastor Jim Bessey!
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Let's Grow PLTS Challenge Complete
But you can still make a gift!
2
Match
Let's Grow PLTS Challenge
Thanks to the generosity of Phyllis & Herbert Anderson, Rod Gilbert, Don Shemenske, and Bishop Jeff R. Johnson and J Guadalupe Sanchez Aldaco, your gift to the PLTS Seminary Fund will be matched 1:1, up to $12,000!
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PLTS was Founded in Portland, Oregon Challenge Complete
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2
Match
PLTS was Founded in Portland, Oregon Challenge
Give $50 or more to the PLTS Seminary Fund and it will be matched 1:1 by St. James Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon, up to $6,000.
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We Believe in PLTS Students Challenge Complete
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$37,000
We Believe in PLTS Students Challenge
Thanks to the generosity of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Portland, Oregon, $37,000 will be released to the PLTS Endowed Scholarship Fund when there are 150 gifts to any PLTS fund.
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