Prior Website                                                                                                                        Site Search:

Welcome to PCTS

PCTS is a uniquely interdisciplinary theological society that hosts a two-day Meeting twice a year in Berkeley, California for the purpose of engaging in critical exchange over a variety of topics. Papers are posted on this website and are read before each Meeting.

Collaborative Activities

PCTS members Norm Gottwald, Jack Elliott, and Herman Waetjen have collaborated on the formation of The Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice, which has published its first book Liberating Biblical Study: Scholarship, Art, and Action in Honor of the Center and Library for the Bible and Social Justice.

Fall Meeting 2011

Nov 4-5, 2011

Theological Aesthetics

Tucson Room at Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), Berkeley, California


Friday, Nov 4

2-5 pm - Paper Session

Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu (Loyola Marymount University)

"Poetic Speech and Prophetic Action in García Lorca" ()
Respondent is Alicia Vargas, PLTS

Malcolm Young (Christ Episcopal Church in Los Altos)

"Architect Christopher Alexander’s Living World and the Theology of Jonathan Edwards" (pdf - 5.5MB)
Respondent is Mark Graves

5-7 pm - Business Meeting, Dinner (Cost = $25)


7:30-9 pm - Public Lecture

Maeve L Heaney, V.D.M.F. (SCU/JST, Bannan Fellow)

"Moving Grace: Beauty's Trace in Music"

Saturday, Nov 5

9:30–10 am - Continental Breakfast


10 am-noon - Paper Session

Elaine Belz (GTU)

"The Poet Among Ruins" (pdf, doc)
Respondent is Anselm Ramelow, DSPT

Peter Doebler (GTU)

"Just Fooling Around: Madness, Folly, and Artistic Creativity" (pdf, doc)
Respondent is Chris Renz, DSPT