An Introduction to SFTS Southern California

Welcome to the Southern California campus of San Francisco Theological Seminary located in the Kirk House Community Center on the grounds of Pasadena Presbyterian Church. This campus (fully-accredited by the Association of Theological Schools) was established 20 years ago under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Jack Rogers and has enjoyed a rich history of meeting the theological education needs of students here in Southern California.

In the early years, students had to complete their degree with at least the equivalent of one year’s residency on the main campus in San Anselmo, but with the full accreditation came the ability for students to earn the complete degree in Southern California. Because all of our classes are scheduled during evenings and Saturdays, SFTS/SC is ideal for students seeking a strong academic graduate program in theology who are already employed in ministry or elsewhere.

SFTS/SC specializes in offering practical, contextual education for those seeking a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) or Master of Arts in Theological Studies (MATS) degree. Our program reflects and contributes to the unique urban community of Southern California, and enjoys the participation of a diverse student body, taking courses designed for nurturing them as church leaders in the broad spectrum of faith communities, including multicultural, African-American, Hispanic/Latino, Korean, Anglo, and other traditions.

The Doctor of Ministry degree program has expanded to the SFTS/SC campus with collegium groups meeting September through May. Students are involved in the following sequence of foundational courses: Pastor as Person, Theology of Ministry, and Culture and Mission. In addition, two Resource Seminars will be offered in Southern California as well as the Dissertation/Project seminars. All Southern California D.Min. students will attend at least one Resource Seminar on the San Anselmo campus.

SFTS (north and south) is a PC(USA) seminary, but we maintain ecumenical relationships with churches and educational institutions throughout California, including Fuller Theological Seminary. Our students represent a wide array of denominational affiliations creating a rich environment for learning about the changing needs of the church in an increasingly global society.

We invite you to explore the SFTS/SC portion of the web site and learn more about our campus and our program. We would be happy to talk with you about becoming a part of the SFTS/SC family and invite you to visit our campus so you can experience for yourself our community of dedicated faculty and staff, committed to the intellectual and spiritual growth of our students.

Rev. Judy Yates Siker, Ph.D.
Vice President, SFTS/SC
Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins