Pacific School of Religion
James and Clarice Foster Professor of Pastoral Psychology and Counseling
Core Doctoral Faculty Member

At GTU since 1975

Ph.D., Brandeis University, 1973
M.S.W., Brandeis University, 1971
S.T.M., Union Theological Seminary, 1966
M.Div., Colgate-Rochester Divinity School, 1964
B.A., Lindfield College, 1961

Phone: 510/849-8213
E-mail: asmith@psr.edu

Current Research and Teaching Interests

• Children, Attachment Theories & Pastoral Care
• African American Families in American Society & History; Biblical Families/Contemporary Families
• Uses of Social Science Information in Pastoral Care: History, Sociology, Psychology & Theology; Social Psychology and Theological Reconstruction; Theories of the Mind & Self-in-Relations (including economic and social class theories)
• Teaching Systemic Thinking & Inter-Cultural Competence in Pastoral Care & Counseling
• Factors in Black Church Religion Spirituality as Resources for Militant Change and/or Complacency
• Uses of Narrative in Healing; Narrative & Pastoral Family Care

Selected Publications

• “We Need to Press Forward: Jonestown, Twenty Years Later." University of North Dakota Website. Religion & Philosophy Dept. 1999.
• Tending the Flock, co-authored and edited with K. Bernie Lyons (Westminster/John Knox Press, 1998).
• Navigating the Deep River: Spirituality in African-American Families, (Cleveland: United Church Press, 1997).
• “Reaching Back & Pushing Forward: A Perspective on African American Christian Spirituality.” Theology Today, 1999.