Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary (PLTS) develops leaders in the Lutheran tradition for a complex and changing world. We equip people to put their faith into action as the church and culture face dramatic change; because people who follow their purpose can transform a community — and the world.
An Engaging Urban Landscape
Located in Berkeley, California, PLTS is situated close to everything: Berkeley is home to the free speech movement of seventies, vast world-class educational opportunities, easy access to the cosmopolitan city of San Francisco, and outdoor adventure on trails and beaches in all directions.
PLTS provides theological education for the training of clergy and lay leaders through ordination, non-ordination, and research level degrees and certificates. Let us prepare you to learn, graduate, and lead others to fulfill their life calling as you fulfill yours.
As one of seven seminaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, PLTS is a founding member of the Graduate Theological Union and a graduate school of California Lutheran University. PLTS was the first ELCA seminary to become Reconciling in Christ (RIC).
Theological education at PLTS is done in the context of people who are rich and poor, liberal and conservative, and a wide array of human race, religion, sexuality, education, experience, and background. If our theology did not take all people into account, it would be deficient.