CST Makes History: Entire 2025 Cal-Nev Elder Ordination Class and Presiding Bishop Share Alma Mater

From right to left: Akesa Fakava, Molly Knappen, Tevita Koroi, April Sousa, Palenitina Tiueti.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Monday, June 20, 2025 /CST/ — In an unprecedented and deeply meaningful moment for theological education and church leadership, the entire 2025 class of newly ordained Elders in the California-Nevada Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church are graduates of Claremont School of Theology (CST). Even more remarkably, their ordaining bishop—Bishop Sandra Olewine—is also a proud alumna of CST, making this a historic alignment of formation, vocation, and spiritual leadership.

This unique milestone underscores CST’s legacy as a wellspring of theological excellence and social justice commitment, preparing faith leaders who are shaping the future of the Church across the Western Jurisdiction and beyond.

“This is a profound moment,” said Bishop Sandra Olewine, Resident Bishop of the California-Nevada Annual Conference and a graduate of CST. “To stand before these gifted leaders, all formed by the same institution that shaped my own calling, and to lay hands on them in ordination—it’s an embodiment of the Spirit’s continuity across generations. Claremont’s values of compassion, justice, and theological depth are alive in these ordinands.”

The ordination service, held earlier this week, drew broad attention across the Western Jurisdiction as it illuminated CST’s distinctive impact on cultivating leaders for a rapidly changing church.

“We often say that CST forms leaders who are called to heal a fractured world,” said Dr. Jeffrey Kuan, Co-President of Claremont School of Theology and a retired clergy member of the California-Nevada Conference, who was present at the ordination service. “What we saw in this ordination is that this formation is not only individual but collective. The fact that every one of these ordinands is a CST alum speaks to the school’s central role in the leadership pipeline of The United Methodist Church in the West.”

Now located in Los Angeles on the campus of Westwood United Methodist Church, Claremont School of Theology continues its legacy as an ecumenical and interreligious institution committed to theological education for transformative leadership.

Dr. Grant Hagiya, Co-President of CST and also an alumnus, reflected on the moment’s broader implications: “This is not just a milestone—it’s a message. A message that CST continues to be at the forefront of nurturing courageous, thoughtful, and spiritually grounded leaders for the church we need today. As an alum, I am filled with pride and hope. As president, I am committed to ensuring CST remains a beacon for generations to come.”

As The United Methodist Church navigates theological shifts, social challenges, and denominational restructuring, this moment serves as a clear reminder: faithful, justice-rooted leadership is being formed—and transforming the world—through institutions like Claremont School of Theology.