A Berkeley seminary is treating the Nov. 3 election as a moral calling. Pacific School of Religion put out a statement this month urging people to "vote early, plan, and protect the right of every eligible neighbor to be counted on November 3," the East Bay Express reported.
"The word move has shaped our 160-year history," the statement says. "When we see injustice, we move. When we see oppression, we move."
Why a seminary is talking about voting
PSR president the Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy told the Express that recognizing political power is how communities change, and that not using it causes setbacks. "We encourage our communities to participate," he said. He pointed to how diverse the East Bay is. About 70% of PSR's students are people of color, and a large share identify as LGBTQ+, the Express reports.
About PSR
The school was founded in 1866 as Pacific Theological Seminary and moved to Berkeley in 1901. It took its current name in 1916, when it became nondenominational. On its website, PSR calls itself a progressive Christian school that welcomes people of all denominations and spiritual traditions. It has formal ties to the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.