The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology's mission is to train people to be competent in the study of text, soul, and culture in order to serve God and neighbor through transforming relationships.
What does it take to move from talking about anti-racism to building communities where equity, belonging, and meaningful change can happen? Dr. Paul Hoard, PhD, LMHC, Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology, and Dr. Ron Ruthruff, DMin, Professor of Theology & Culture, explore what it takes for churches, schools, agencies, and other organizations to move beyond […]
We are grateful for this conversation with Lindsey Rithner, a student in our Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology program. What brought you to The Seattle School and how did you choose your degree program? I was first introduced to The Seattle School because my husband, CJ, attended the on-campus program and graduated in 2020. […]
This conversation explores Eucontamination as a theological framework for understanding how disgust shapes our inner lives, communities, and responses to difference. Building from their book, Eucontamination: Disgust Theology and the Christian Life, Dr. Paul Hoard and Billie Hoard argue that disgust is not merely an emotional reflex but a formative moment that reveals what we […]
During times of deepening polarization, increasing anxiety, and ongoing chaos, it can seem everyone is saying something to no avail. Are we listening to one another? Are we listening for shared values? Understanding of one another? Or are we reacting from our own triggers and concerns? In this webinar, Dr. Gadson discusses how becoming an […]
What if there is more beyond traditional church and talk therapy models? How do we use the transformative tools of psychology and theology, but also not get stuck in models that lack responsiveness to these times? Theologians, Dwight Friesen and Joel Kiekintveld, join in conversation with psychologist, Paul Hoard, as they explore the question of […]
Areej is a Palestinian Christian woman from Bethlehem and the founder of Khayari Women’s Leadership and Economic Empowerment Organization. In a September 2025 interview with Dwight Friesen, Professor of Practical Theology at The Seattle School, Areej spoke about. Areej spoke about her experiences having been born and raised under occupation and what it meant to […]
The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology welcomes Dr. Roberto Che Espinoza— Transqueer, Latinx public theologian, activist-scholar—as they discuss their new book “Body Becoming: Our Path to Liberation.” Pointing to the increasing disconnection from our bodies and from one another, Body Becoming takes a critical look at which bodies count in this country and offers […]
The purity movement of the 1990s is usually seen as a grassroots pushback against the sexual revolution—a return to “biblical values” in a more permissive culture. But that view misses something important: purity culture actually grew out of a much longer effort by evangelicals, spanning about a century, to figure out how to respond to […]
Our hope at The Seattle School is to be led by our alumni and their stories–how they labor to live out their calling among the people and communities they serve. Recently we had the opportunity to catch up with Sonja Lund, MDiv 2023 and understand how The Seattle School helped shape her path. How did you […]
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology announced that President and Provost Dr. J. Derek McNeil will complete his service to the school in June 2027, concluding a season of leadership marked by institutional resilience, mission clarity, and academic integration. Dr. McNeil first joined the School’s leadership as Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and […]
At The Seattle School, we remain deeply grateful for the faculty who continue to shape students’ hearts and minds through immersive learning, thoughtful care, and innovative teaching. From long-standing professors to returning alumni and new adjuncts, each educator brings our mission to life—transforming relationships and forming reflective practitioners.
Vanessa Ryerse, a current student in the Master of Arts in Theology & Culture – The Arts program, discusses the process of creating her final project for the Constructive Theology course, taught by Dr. Lauren Sawyer. Vanessa shares insight into her creative journey, offering reflections on her approach and the development of her work. Dr. […]