THE VISION THAT GUIDES US

Thank you for your interest in supporting the Boston University School of Theology. As we look to the future, we seek to strengthen the school’s identity as a global, visionary, and public leader—particularly in the face of shifting educational and religious landscapes.

With your support, we will lead the way in research, teaching, and leadership formation; cultivate transformational leaders who balance knowledge and tradition with innovation and compassionate listening; and model a commitment to seek peace with justice in a diverse and interconnected world. To meet these goals, we have set five strategic priorities:

• Transformative research: As a school embedded in a major research university, STH will lead in theological and religious inquiries that exemplify excellent scholarship, research ethics, innovation, and practical applications amid changing academic, ecclesial, and social contexts.

• Innovative, responsive teaching and programs: We will model creative practices, programs, and partnerships that cultivate transformational leaders in a changing world.

• Commitment to racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion: We will hold ourselves accountable and distinguish STH as a theological leader in addressing systemic inequalities and injustice through our policies, teaching, and community engagement.

• Increased access through more flexible curricular offerings: We will pursue strategic hybrid and/or online offerings to make excellent theological education and formational communities more accessible and affordable for increasingly diverse audiences.

• Strong, hospitable infrastructure: We will strengthen administrative structures to secure keystone programs and faculty lines while amplifying our commitments to hospitality, accessibility, and ecological justice.

SPOTLIGHT Religion & Conflict Transformation: Moving through discord to a better world

“We see conflict as a natural part of human life together,” says James McCarty, director of the Tom Porter Religion & Conflict Transformation Program (RCT). “And when engaged well it can be transformational—it can bring about a new world where we better live the values we and our faith traditions profess.”

RCT focuses on five key areas of study and practice: conflict studies, trauma healing, restorative justice, human security, and the spiritual formation of peacebuilders. The program attracts students in both degree and non-degree programs, as well as ministers and other professionals; students who complete the program earn a certificate offered in partnership with the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI). The program includes one required course, The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation, as well as opportunities for students to deepen their skills in self-reflection. Just as important as the formal instruction is the learning that takes place outside the classroom. Students serve as interns in community organizations, learn from visiting practitioners in the field, and travel to areas of conflict to explore how different cultural contexts affect the work of bringing people together in greater mutual understanding.

“We say ‘conflict transformation’ rather than ‘conflict resolution’ because not all conflict is fully resolved,” McCarty says. “Theologically, we’re interested in the values, practices, and procedures that enable ongoing transformation toward a peace that does justice. Our mission is to prepare religious and other community leaders to become a resource for such transformation in a multicultural, multifaith world. We see this as sacred work.”