Monthly on Tuesdays, 11:00AM–2:00PM | Starts September 16 | $750 Stipend | Application Due August 15

 – Do you long to be in a community of Boston-based leaders from a variety of Christian traditions and backgrounds?

 – How do we follow Jesus’ call to love our neighbors – and our enemies – without losing our convictions?

 – Do you want to explore how conflict can strengthen our connections to one another instead of fracturing us apart? 

 – Do you long for the Church to be known for what we are for, rather than what we are against? 

 – Do you desire to be an ambassador of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:20) and want to grow in learning how to lead your community in the peacemaking, reconciling Way of Jesus?   – 

If these questions stir up something inside you, then the Beloved Community Lab might be for you!

A New Kind of Leadership for our Divided Time

Despite Jesus’ clear mandate for unity and welcoming all to the table, churches remain some of the most divided institutions in our society. With over 45,000 Christian denominations and countless divides over race, gender, theology, and politics, the Church’s fractured witness stands in stark contrast to Jesus’ prayer that we would be one (John 17).

A team of diverse Christian leaders in Boston recognized this gap and came together to ask:

What kind of discipleship is needed to form leaders who uphold God’s call for unity and oneness in today’s world?

Through prayer, study, and listening, UniteBoston has been on a two-year journey of developing the Beloved Community Lab, a unique opportunity for Boston-area Christian leaders to come together across lines of difference to learn and practice unity, justice, and reconciliation in their leadership contexts.

We call this a “lab” because it combines core theological concepts with real-world application through case studies, interactive exercises, and spiritual practices. This cohort is a space for spiritual formation—shaping leaders into peacemakers and reconcilers, growing into the life and way of Jesus. 

The things that are keeping us part are deep-rooted: we need a vision of togetherness that doesn’t only lean into our differences but also brings about holistic gospel transformation. If we want to see a different kind of world and a more embodied Christian witness, we must become different kinds of people. Our pilot Beloved Community Lab cohort is an experiment in Christian unity that seeks to change not just what we know, but how we live.

Details 

WHEN: Tuesdays from 11:00AM–2:00PM
FORMAT: Monthly gatherings in-person (Greater Boston Area) or Zoom
STIPEND: $750 for full participation
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 15, 2025
WHO SHOULD APPLY:
Christian leaders in Greater Boston who value unity, reconciliation, and justice—and want to grow in living these out. We are seeking to convene a cohort community of stakeholders that come from a wide range of denominational, theological, racial/ethnic, and generational backgrounds to shape the curriculum during its pilot stage.

Click here to see the Beloved Community Lab Cohort PDF to learn more about the vision, dates, core competencies, and more. We will be choosing 15 pastoral leaders from diverse backgrounds and we do have $750 stipends to honor leaders for their time and participation.

We believe there’s no better time than now for Christ followers to prioritize the ministry of reconciliation by engaging well across our deep differences – serving as peacemakers in our fractured world. Today’s algorithms and silos will seek to keep us fractured and divided, but God calls us to a different way. 

Apply by August 15 to join the Pilot Cohort! 

We look forward to learning with you!