Since its founding in 1977, NCB has served undergraduates, graduate students, and lifelong learners with wide-ranging courses, conferences, seminars, lectures and retreats aimed at renewing minds, deepening faith, and shaping vocation. 

Our Mission

To equip the body of Christ with theological, contemplative and contextual integration to become a truthful, imaginative, and restorative presence in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We envision a growing, multiethnic community of emerging leaders and the seasoned faithful who encourage one another in love and service, together engaging the present and emerging challenges of our day. We seek to foster mutual learning and friendship across all cultures, generations, and theological traditions. New College Berkeley (NCB) is an affiliate of the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and a member of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers. 


WHAT WE DO

The work of NCB comprises three distinct but interdependent program areas, representing development of the mind, the soul, and the body.  All are needed, and we contend that the Church gets in trouble when one or two prevail at the expense of the other. In other words, theology must be embodied if it is to be of any substance, but the involvement of the Spirit is necessary if our actions are to bear fruit.   

THEOLOGICAL: Renewing the Christian Mind 

  • Seminars / webinars / symposia

  • Author dialogues and events                                             

  • Biblical and theological resources

  • GTU graduate-level courses (TBD)

CONTEMPLATIVE: Nurturing Spirituality and Imagination

  • Spiritual direction / Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

  • Contemplative retreats

  • Writing workshops

  • Faith & Film, and other art offerings

CONTEXTUAL: Discerning Place and Practice

  • Congregational Discernment Retreats (e.g. renewal, communal healing, local mission)

  • Critical Concern Series (e.g. artificial intelligence, climate change, and nationalism)

  • Workplace discipleship (resources for integrating faith and vocation)

  • Listening Circles and other conversation-based offerings