New College Berkeley

One of my dearest friends passed on this morning in Vancouver BC: Dr. W. Ward Gasque (1939-2020) after a few years of illness and declining strength. I was the... instigator and driver of the creation of New College Berkeley from its informal conversations in 1976 to its founding in 1977 to its formal launch asa full-time graduate school in 1979and Ward came down from Regent College to be our first President. He insisted I be his dean and sidekick. He was big (6'7") in stature and even bigger in vision, optimism, love, and positivity. I thrived under his leadership: best boss by far I ever had. He was a brilliant scholar, a jovial, hilarious companion. He was full of faith, hope, and love. My heart goes out to Ward's wife Laurel Gasque and their daughter Michelle Gasque. May you both lean on the love of your many friends and find comfort in our Christian hope. See more

Given the season and the circumstances, we in the community of New College Berkeley offer you a private prayer retreat for the final days of Advent, as we trust that the Light shines in the darkness and is not overcome. Take time each day to use this guide as a springboard for your communion with God. Feel free to share the retreat, too. We send you our wishes for God’s blessings and assurance of love in this fourth week of Advent. Begin your retreat here: https://www.newcollegeberkeley.org/private-retreats

Register now for GCC 2020: a weekend virtual conference of listening to voices of Christians of color who are on the front lines of combating racial injustice. Our six speakers are well known, dedicated faith leaders who are involved in issues of racial justice and the church. We hope they will help us move from that complicity to overcome racial injustice in our own hearts and minds, so we may be able to commit, with energy and compassion, to the collective work of change in the church and in our communities. Cosponsored by First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley and New College Berkeley. https://www.newcollegeberkeley.org/fall-2020

"We are living through a time of radical uncertainties. We need to find ways to be more flexible and resilient, and more deeply aware of our connectedness. We’re not sure what we’re preparing foror being prepared for. This course is an invitation to experiment with bringing words to the losses, fear and dread and also to new sources of hope that are emerging in the midst of pandemic, economic crisis, and social disruption." Registration for Dr. Marilyn McEntyre's course "Writing into the Unknown" is open now. https://www.newcollegeberkeley.org//writing-into-the-unkno

Executive Director Susan Philips shares a powerful and personal story of crisis and grace: https://www.newcollegeberkeley.org/blog/2020/6/1/covid-kavod