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Commencement 2023

The 128th Commencement Exercises of Church Divinity School of the Pacific was held Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 10:30 AM Pacific Time in St. Margaret’s Courtyard. It was livestreamed on the CDSP website. The speaker was the Rev. Canon C. K. Robertson, PhD, canon for ministry beyond The Episcopal Church to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.

The traditional Baccalaureate service for graduates and their families was held Friday, May 19, 2023, at 5:45 PM Pacific Time in All Saints Chapel. Participation via Zoom was available to the CDSP community according to the usual procedures for chapel services.

Congratulations to the CDSP Class of 2023!


Honorary Degree Recipients

Each year, CDSP honors individuals whose life and ministry have had a significant positive impact on the Church and the world.

Dr. Esther Mombo headshot

Dr. Esther Mombo

PhD (Edinburgh); DD (VTS); MPhil (Trinity College, Dublin); DB (St. Paul’s)

Esther Mombo is a Professor at St. Paul’s University in Limuru, Kenya, where she has served as Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs and Director of International Partnerships and Alumni Relations. A graduate of St. Paul’s University, University of Dublin, and University of Edinburgh, in 2007 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Virginia Theological Seminary for her work in bringing to the fore issues of gender disparity and gender justice in Church and society. 

She is a founding member of the Tamar Campaign in Kenya, which seeks to acknowledge the existence of Gender-Based Violence in society and empower churches to address this concern. She has been at the forefront of inclusivity in theological education, serving as co-chair of the Commission on Education and Ecumenical Formation of the World Council of Churches, Advisor of Education for the All Africa Conference of Churches, and coordinator of the East African Region for the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. She has co-authored several books, the latest being Christianity and COVID-19: Pathways for Faith.

The Rev. Mary Morrison headshot

The Rev. Mary Morrison ’00

MDiv (CDSP); BA (UC Davis); BTS (School for Deacons)

Mary Morrison is a native Californian. Before seminary, she taught elementary school and was a church organist for many years. Mary worked at CDSP for two years as Program Director for CALL, served St. Luke’s, Los Gatos as Pastoral Associate for six years, and was elected Rector of St. James’, Paso Robles in 2008. She retired in 2013, moving to Sacramento in 2018.

In El Camino Real, Mary served on Diocesan Council and Standing Committee, and as chair of the Transition Committee for the Bishop’s search in 2008. Shortly after her ordination, Mary was asked to become the liturgical officer for the diocese, a position she continued until her retirement.

She is married to the Rev. Claudia Jo Weber, Deacon. Together with Jo she is Mom to four, Grandma to six, and Great-Grandma to one.

The Rev. Canon Chuck Robertson PhD headshot

The Rev. Canon C. K. Robertson, PhD

PhD (Durham University); DD (VTS); MDiv (VTS); BA (Virginia Tech)

Chuck Robertson has served as Canon to two Presiding Bishops of The Episcopal Church, visiting professor at various seminaries and universities, general editor of a theological book series, and senior review leader for the recently released 30th anniversary NRSV updated edition of the Bible.

A life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Robertson has served on various national and international boards, and worked with the U.S. State Department, the White House, and the United Nations. Author/editor of over a dozen books, he also is a producer of the upcoming documentary A Case for Love.