Andrew Dreitcer
Dean of the FacultyProfessor of SpiritualityCo-Director of the Center for Engaged Compassion
Dr. Dreitcer’s current research and teaching interests lie in the exploration of the nature and experience of contemplative practices across religious traditions, the relationship between spiritual practices and neuro-scientific understandings, the ways in which contemplative practices form compassionate actions and attitudes of living, and Christianity as a spiritual path of engaged compassion. He is also Director of Spiritual Formation at Claremont School of Theology, and co-director of the Center for Engaged Compassion.
Dr. Dreitcer has been the co-founding director of a seminary program in spiritual direction and served 15 years as a Presbyterian pastor. Studies with Henri Nouwen and a year spent at the ecumenical monastic community of Taizé significantly shaped his own spiritual life and his perspective on both the role of spiritual formation in theological studies and the value of contemplative approaches in leadership, and organizations of all types.
Dr. Dreitcer’s publications include: Living Compassion: Loving Like Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2017) — Named One of the Best Spiritual Books of 2017 by Spirituality and Practice; and, Beyond the Ordinary: Spirituality for Church Leaders (Eerdmans, 2001).
He serves as a Fellow at Mind & Life Institute, and as a Board member at Global Compassion Coalition. Service in the wider community includes co-facilitation of Restorative Justice men’s groups, Insight Prison Project, San Quentin Prison; family shelter children’s tutor, Oakland, California; Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children, Indianapolis, IN; Social Justice Ministry member, Imani Community Church, Oakland, CA.
Contact
Email: adreitcer@cst.edu
Education
BA, Wabash College, with studies at Oxford University
MDiv, Yale Divinity School
PhD, Graduate Theological Union, with studies at UC Berkeley
Publications
Living Compassion: Loving Like Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2017) — Named One of the Best Spiritual Books of 2017 by Spirituality and Practice
Beyond the Ordinary: Spirituality for Church Leaders (Eerdmans, 2001)
Service
Fellow, Mind & Life Institute
Board member, Global Compassion Coalition.
Co-Facilitator of Restorative Justice men’s groups, Insight Prison Project, San Quentin Prison.
Family Shelter children’s tutor. Oakland, California.
Court Appointed Special Advocate for abused and neglected children. Indianapolis, IN.
