Join us for Soul Sanctuary: A Virtual Retreat for BST Alumni, a unique opportunity to reconnect with your seminary roots and nourish your spirit. This online gathering offers a dedicated space for reflection, spiritual renewal, and fellowship with fellow alumni from around the globe. Expect contemplative and interactive moments on this retreat journey. Rediscover the enduring wellspring of faith and community that continues to sustain us in ministry and life. We will have some time in the beginning for socializing and to honor our BST Alum of the Year 2025-26!
Please select YES for email communications to receive the confirmation email with the Zoom link.
PROGRAM
4:00 – 4:10 PM
4:20 – 4:40pm
4:40 – 5pm
5:00pm – 5:10pm
5:10 – 5:55pm
5:55 – 6:00pm
6:00 – 6:45pm
6:45 – 7:00pm
Opening and Welcome by Rev. Dr. Angie Barker Jackson
BST Alum of the Year 2025-26!*
Socializing
Break
Rev. Dr. Lawrence T. Richardson’s retreat**
Break
Rev. Mylinda Bates’ retreat**
Closing remarks and prayer
4:00 – 4:10 PM: Opening and Welcome by Rev. Dr. Angie Barker Jackson
4:20 – 4:40pm: BST Alum of the Year 2025-26!*
4:40 – 5pm: Socializing
5:00pm – 5:10pm: Break
5:10 – 5:55pm: Rev. Dr. Lawrence T. Richardson’s retreat**
5:55 – 6:00pm: Break
6:00 – 6:45pm: Rev. Mylinda Bates’ retreat**
6:45 – 7:00pm: Closing remarks and prayer
*Recorded session
** The main retreat sessions with each of the facilitators will be recorded. Conversations in the breakout rooms will not be recorded.
Alum of the Year
Rev. Dr. Rogelio Ovalle (MDiv, 2002)
Rev. Dr. Rogelio Ovalle, a proud 2002 graduate of Berkeley School of Theology, holds a Master of Divinity and serves as Affiliate Faculty specializing in Christian Education for the Latino Initiative. His career has been marked by an unwavering commitment to social justice and community development. As the senior pastor of “The House Church” in Visalia, California, he focuses on the well-being of his congregation and the barrio community. Dr. Ovalle’s influential leadership includes serving as the first Latino Superintendent/Bishop on the Board of Northwest University. Nationally recognized for his dedication to barrio ministry, he also serves on the board of Semilla de Bienestar, a non-profit dedicated to helping the Puerto Rican diaspora. He previously served as a chaplain for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and has taught at several institutions, including the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, SUM College, and Bethany University. He is a proud father to his son, Rogelio, who just started his Master’s degree at BST, and his daughter, Dr. Natalie Ovalle, a clinical psychologist who serves on Indian Reservations in Nebraska. He is forever grateful for the support of his wife and lifelong friend, Dina, who encouraged him every step of the way.
Alumni Retreat facilitators
Rev. Mylinda Baits (MDiv, 1988)
Mylinda Baits lives surrounded by the forest in Sunwood Lakes, SE Olympia, WA. She currently works with International Ministries ABC-USA as a Global Consultant for Training using the Restorative Arts. She shares effective arts-based healing resources with social change agents, global peace builders, faith community leaders, and trauma survivors. She has facilitated community artmaking to accompany communities impacted by tragic loss, to promote expression, nurture peace building, empower change, and sustain resiliency. Her most recent work is focused on an intensive facilitator training program in Cuba called Expressive Arts in Transition. She has a BA in Behavioral Science, a Master of Divinity, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Expressive Arts Therapy from the European Graduate School, where she is currently a PhD candidate writing on “Piecing Together an Aesthetic Response to Collective Loss.” She has been an ordained clergywoman for over 30 years.
Rev. Dr. Lawrence T. Richardson (DMin, 2025)
Lawrence is a pastor, speaker, author, and coach with a passion for helping churches thrive. He currently serves as the Associate Conference Minister for Church Vitality and Transitions in the Michigan Conference of the United Church of Christ and is a 2025 Convergence Digital Ministry Senior Fellow. With 19 years of experience, Lawrence has revitalized churches and founded the innovative online church community Shift UCC. Lawrence served as an adjunct faculty member at both United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and Luther Seminary, and as a media trainer for Auburn Seminary. He is a digital evangelist, former social media director, and believes in leveraging digital spaces for social engagement and community building. Lawrence is the author of I Know What Heaven Looks Like: A Modern Day Coming of Age Story.
Rev. Dr. Rick Mixon (MDiv, 1973)
Dr. Rick teaches Pastoral Care as Affiliate Faculty at Berkeley School of Theology. He is an ordained American Baptist minister with over 50 years of experience in pastoral ministry, church leadership, and social justice advocacy. Since October 2024, Rick currently serves as the Interim Pastor of First Baptist Church of Ann Arbor. From 2006-2020, Rick was Pastor at First Baptist Church of Palo Alto, California and since then has held several interim pastorships all over the United States. Rick has also been involved in various regional and national organizations, such as the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists, the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America, the American Baptist Minister’s Council, and the Santa Clara County Council of Christian Churches. In addition, Rick holds his M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University-East Bay in Hayward, California and Ph.D. in Religion and Personality from the Graduate Theological Union.
Chaplain Kwee T.L. Say (MDiv & MCL, 2019)
Chaplain Say is a Lieutenant in the United States Navy and is currently serving as a Command Chaplain aboard the USS ROSS (DDG 71). She joined the U.S. Navy in 2018 as a non-active reservist and started her active duty in the Navy in October 2022. Kwee came to America in 2004 from Burma (Myanmar) and is the very first Burmese Karen, her ethnic group from Burma, to become a Chaplain in the United States Navy. She received dual degrees from Berkeley School of Theology, in Divinity and Community Leadership. Chaplain Say was ordained in the American Baptist Churches USA and Karen Baptist Churches USA.
directions
The program is located in Fleming Hall. You can enter BST’s campus from Dwight Way. There will be directional signs. For directions to BST’s campus including public transportation and parking lots, please refer to BST’s website.
la versión en español
La Oficina de Graduados/as de BST se complace en ser anfitriona de nuestra Reunión de Graduados/as de primavera, Esperanza en la Celebración: Honrando a los Graduados/as y Exalumnos/as de BST, el viernes 16 de mayo de 2025. En esta reunión presencial, honraremos a los nuevos graduados/as de 2025 y les daremos la bienvenida a la comunidad de graduados/as de BST. Este será un evento tipo recepción y se servirán aperitivos abundantes.
Los familiares de los graduados/as son bienvenidos a asistir; la familia puede registrarse a través del formulario de inscripción que se encuentra a continuación. El espacio es limitado y se asignará por orden de llegada.
Exalumnos/as de BST: ¡reconéctense con sus compañeros, celebren y ayúdennos a dar la bienvenida a los graduados/as de 2025 a la comunidad!
Información del Programa
Fecha: Viernes, 16 de mayo de 2025
Hora: 5:30 – 7:30 p. m.
Lugar: Fleming Hall, en el campus de BST
PROGRAMA
5:30 – 6:00 PM Registración, socialización y aperitivos abundantes
6:00 – 7:00 PM Homenaje a los Graduados/as y Exalumnos/as de BST
7:00 – 7:30 PM Postre
INSTRUCCIONES
El programa se llevará a cabo en Fleming Hall. Pueden ingresar al campus de BST desde Dwight Way. Habrá señales indicativas. Para obtener indicaciones sobre cómo llegar al campus de BST, incluyendo transporte público y estacionamientos, por favor consulten el sitio web de BST.
graduation anniversaries
Did you graduate from Berkeley School of Theologly in one of the classes below? You’re celebrating a graduation anniversary in 2025! At the winter Alumni Gathering, we will acknowledge alumni in attendance with anniversary milestones. Register and reconnect with your fellow alumni!
Class of 1955: 70-year anniversary
Class of 1960: 65-year anniversary
Class of 1965: 60-year anniversary
Class of 1970: 55-year anniversary
Class of 1975: 50-year anniversary
Class of 1980: 45-year anniversary
Class of 1985: 40-year anniversary
Class of 1990: 35-year anniversary
Class of 1995: 30-year anniversary
Class of 2000: 25-year anniversary
Class of 2005: 20-year anniversary
Class of 2010: 15-year anniversary
Class of 2015: 10-year anniversary
Class of 2020: 5-year anniversary
Then the Alumni Office shone the spotlight on seven incredible alumni who were celebrating milestone graduation anniversaries! A legacy of leadership, service, and impact, we celebrated our alumni who have been making a difference for up to an incredible fifty years!
- Rev. Dr. Barbara Jim-George (2010, MDiv): 15 years
- Rev. Dr. Lauren Lisa Ng (2005, MDiv): 20 years
- Rev. Dr. Lauran D. Bethell (1985, MDiv): 40 years
- Rev. Timothy T. Malone (1985, MDiv): 40 years
- Rev. Katie Choy-Wong (1980, MDiv): 45 years
- Rev. Dr. Douglas R. Sharp (1975, MDiv): 50 years
- Rev. Brad M. Veitch (1975, MDiv): 50 years
The BST Alumni Office is sending a massive wave of gratitude to every single person who attended and brought the energy to make this evening absolutely unforgettable. Your presence, your enthusiasm, and your unwavering support are what make the BST family so extraordinary. Thank you for making it a truly special night!
Upcoming 2025 Alumni Gatherings
Save the date for our next virtual Alumni Gathering on Thursday, February 26, 2026!
