Congratulations to Chaplain Sheila Burns, a 2025 Master of Divinity graduate, who has answered a new call by accepting a Chaplaincy position at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Health! Sheila started in August and is elated to begin this chaplaincy. Sheila stated, “With this position it’s an honor to bring comfort to so many patients of various religious backgrounds and ethnicities.” We are so proud to see Sheila living out her ministry, bringing comfort to patients at UCSF Health.

We are delighted to share wonderful news that Rev. Sylvia Lane, formerly Britt, (M.Div. ’25), has had an incredibly exciting season both professionally and personally. Sylvia has launched into a thriving ministry career, starting her new full-time position on September 8, 2025, as a Palliative Care Chaplain with Kaiser, and also serving as a Per Diem Chaplain with Sutter Hospitals, in addition to her volunteer role with the SFPD. We are also sending our heartfelt congratulations to Sylvia and her spouse, Londi, on their recent marriage on October 4, 2025! We celebrate both her dedication to compassionate care and this beautiful new chapter in her

Rev. Staples received her Master of Divinity Degree in 2005 and is celebrating her 20th graduation anniversary from Berkeley School of Theology. Rev. Staples was present at the February virtual alumni gathering, “Hope in Spiritual Care”, for the alumni graduation anniversaries segment where she acknowledged one of her influential professors, Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr., professor of Preaching and African American Spirituality. Upon graduation, Rev. Staples was the recipient of the L. Doward McBain Preaching prize for outstanding preacher in the graduating class of 2005. Rev. Staples completed her pastoral education at Sequoia Hospital, now Dignity Health, and then was Chaplain for ten years with the Veterans Affairs. She was also a faculty member of the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple Baptist Church. Rev. Staples thoroughly enjoyed the 1:1 spiritual care aspect that chaplaincy offered.

Donald and Bertha graduated in 2025 from the Master of Divinity program at Berkeley School of Theology. In addition to earning their degrees, the couple has another reason to celebrate: They were united in holy matrimony on Saturday, September 13, 2025!

Meeting at BST, a friendship that began over Zoom blossomed into relationship, culminating in an engagement on the day prior to their graduation.

As one professor at Commencement exclaimed, “How could this have happened Zoom?!” Their answer is, “With God, all things are possible!” After their wedding, Don and Bertha will launch their new ministry, “Intercultural Prophetic Ministries,” in the Biloxi, Mississippi area, where they reside. They are also continuing to work on a ministerial project already in progress in the Bay Minette, Alabama communities. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as they begin this new chapter together.