Bishop Lucinda Delivers Commencement Address and Receives Honorary Doctorate at CDSP
Photo by the Rev. David Starr
On Saturday, May 24, Bishop Lucinda Ashby returned to her alma mater, Church Divinity School of the Pacific (CDSP), to deliver the 2025 Commencement address—and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree in recognition of her leadership and service to the Church.
Speaking to graduates, faculty, and families gathered in Berkeley, Bishop Lucinda offered a deeply personal and powerful reflection on church leadership—grounded not in certainty, but in the holy work of being lost, faithful, and open to mystery.
Drawing from her own experience in parish ministry, she encouraged graduates to embrace humility, curiosity, and authenticity. “Isn’t it when we are lost that we learn what it is to be a faithful person?” she asked, reframing traditional notions of leadership in favor of spiritual honesty and trust in the meandering movement of the Holy Spirit.
Her message was both a celebration and a charge: to speak the truth in love, to lead with humility, and to step boldly into the unknown.
You can watch the video of her Commencement address HERE,
and read her full address HERE.
We are also grateful for the moving introduction offered by CDSP President and Dean Dr. Stephen Fowl, which beautifully captured Bishop Lucinda’s journey and contributions. You can read the full introduction HERE.
We give thanks for Bishop Lucinda’s presence and voice at CDSP’s Commencement and celebrate this well-deserved honor.