For alums who may remember long hours in Kresge Chapel, and for donors who have faithfully walked alongside this school, it can be startling to see how much has shifted in the past decade.<\/strong> Graduate theological schools across the country have shuttered or scaled down. Others have narrowed their focus, retreating from engagement with the world. CST has chosen a different path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It has never been easy to train leaders for the church and the world. But today, when freedoms are questioned, when diversity is under attack, and when even the meaning of theological education is being stripped away\u2014the challenge is even greater. Claremont School of Theology has not only survived these storms; it has leaned into them, reshaping theological education for a new generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We believe the times demand courage and imagination. And that is exactly what our programs are designed to cultivate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Preparing ministers for the pulpit remains central to our mission, but the scope of ministry today extends far beyond Sunday mornings, and pulpits can be found wherever we look. Today\u2019s leaders are called into hospitals, nonprofits, classrooms, counseling centers, and community settings where faith meets life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s why CST\u2019s programs now reach well beyond the traditional Master of Divinity. <\/strong>The Doctor of Spirituality (SpD) equips professionals to weave spiritual practice into leadership across business, education, and civic life. The Doctor of Professional Counseling (DPC) prepares counselors who serve communities at the intersection of mental health and faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even within our core degrees, innovation is central. The Master of Divinity offers an Interfaith Chaplaincy track, recognizing that ministry increasingly takes place in multifaith contexts. And the Master of Arts in Ministry, Leadership, and Service (MAMLS) provides a focused pathway for those already immersed in hands-on ministry who want sharper skills without being able to commit to a longer program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We are fully aware that these commitments put CST at odds with today\u2019s cultural climate. Institutions are being punished for embracing diversity and inclusion. Books that teach empathy are being banned. Academic freedom continues to be eroded. Many schools are being pressured to retreat into safe enclaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CST is taking the opposite stance. We believe theology matters most when lived out in public<\/strong>\u2014when it lifts silenced voices and shapes leaders who will not shrink from the call to justice. This conviction guides our PhD programs in Religion and Practical Theology, where students wrestle with the questions raised by culture and community. It fuels our graduate certificates in areas such as Religion, Activism, and Social Justice, which invite students from many walks of life to connect their faith with action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theological education has also had to adapt to new ways of learning. Where once every course required a physical presence, today\u2019s students need options. CST offers courses on campus, online, and in hybrid formats so leaders from across the world can study with us without uprooting their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This accessibility has drawn students from across the United States and abroad, particularly Korea and other parts of Asia, making CST a global hub for interreligious, justice-driven education. Our graduates serve as pastors, chaplains, counselors, educators, nonprofit directors, and advocates in settings where faith intersects with daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For alums and donors, the question is not simply what programs exist, but why they matter. At a time when theological schools are scaling back, CST is daring to imagine something larger. We are equipping leaders who resist forces that diminish human dignity and who carry forward the values of compassion, justice, and belonging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These programs are shaping those who step into pulpits, clinics, classrooms, and communities, carrying the best of what CST has always stood for. Your support makes this possible. Without it, theological education risks fading into irrelevance. With it, CST continues to be a beacon of hope and a force for courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n CST has always been ahead of its time. Today, that means refusing to bow to fear, renewing our commitment to justice, and reimagining what it means to prepare leaders for church and society. We invite you, our alumni and friends, to stand with us\u2014not only in spirit, but in action. Consider making a gift to support scholarships, sustain innovative programs, and ensure that future leaders have the courage and imagination this moment demands. Because the world needs the kind of leaders only CST can form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWays to Support CST<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n