UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

Revelation in Ecumenical Perspectives

As a part of the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, Rodney L. Petersen, (PhD, Princeton) along with Gerald L. Bray (PhD, La Sorbonne) have co-edited and published the volume on the highly enigmatic and consequential Book of Revelation under InterVarsity Press. Sixteenth-century Reformers, much like interpreters today, show a diversity of opinion on how Revelation is to be understood, whether through more spiritual and Last Judgment connotations, or as a snapshot in historical context. Much like the vast social and political upheaval in the time of the Reformation, we have called upon Rodney and his colleagues to remark upon Revelation in ecumenical perspectives today. Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries (CMM) and the Boston Theological Interreligious consortium (BTI), two of Rodney’s previous places of directorship, are helping to put this conversation together with friends—at the Boston University Marsh Chapel on Thursday, November 20, 2025, from 3-5pm—for an afternoon of retrospection and future revelation. (This will also be, in a way, an opening for AAR/SBL Boston, which begins the next day.) Click here to purchase the book

PROGRAM SUBJECT TO CHANGE

  • Welcome: Dr. Stephanie Edwards (BTI) and Dean Robert Allan Hill (BU)
  • BTI International Mission and Ecumenism reflections on the book: Dr. Meg Guider (BC) and Dr. Todd Johnson (GCTS)
  • Practical implications: Rev. Dr. Casely Essamuah and Dr. George Walters-Sleyon
  • Thank you/closing prayer/last word: Rev. Dr. Rodney Petersen and Thomas W. Porter, Jr., Esq.

A Musical Exploration of the Psalms

Explore the psalms in a unique and unforgettable way.

This unique interactive event uses live musical performances as a springboard for discussion about Scripture and faith.

Participants gather to hear world-premiere performances of brand-new musical compositions inspired by the psalms, then join each other in conversation about the ways these pieces help us experience and understand Scripture. Almost like a ‘musical Bible study”, this spiritual formation event brings to life these ancient texts in meaningful and memorable ways.

Join us to witness the power of the arts to bring together Christians in unity, fellowship, and conversation!

This free event is open to all. No musical experience is necessary – just a willingness to open your hearts to Scripture in a new way!

The culmination of a yearlong collaboration between composers and performers representing a wide variety of Christian traditions, this ecumenical event celebrates the unique power of the arts to bring together Christians in fellowship and mutual conversation around our shared love for Scripture.

Fratelli Tutti – Everyone is Connected: Brothers and Sisters, All

Sunday, January 3, 2021, 4 – 5:30pm

Online via Zoom

(Registration ends at 3pm on the day of, and the Zoom link will be sent right after that)

 

Fr. Tom Ryan of the Paulist Center will deliver remarks on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, reflecting on how we can all live out the call to fraternity, social friendship, and solidarity. We could not think of a more fitting way to begin the new year. Father Tom Ryan is also a member of the UniteBoston Board of Directors. Responding to him will be Boston Islamic Seminary President Dr. Basyouny Nehela and others to be announced. Audience Q&A will follow the presentations.

 

Born and raised in southern Minnesota, Fr. Tom Ryan did his graduate studies in theology at the Washington (D.C.) Theological Union and the University of Geneva. He was ordained a Paulist in 1975, and served in campus ministry at the Ohio State University (Columbus) and at McGill University (Montreal, QC.), prior to directing the Montreal-based Canadian Centre for Ecumenism for 14 years and working in all ten provinces of Canada. Perceiving the need for places where Christians of different traditions could gather to share faith and life with each other as well as with members of other religions, he spearheaded the founding of Unitas in Montreal, an ecumenical center for spirituality and Christian meditation co-sponsored by eight different denominations. He served as its director for five years prior to answering the call of his community in January of 2000 to set up and develop the Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations.

 

Dr. Basyouny Nehela holds an M.A. in Fundamentals of Religion, and a Ph.D. with Honors in Da’wa and Islamic Culture, both from Al-Azhar University. He is currently the Dean of Academic Affairs and professor at Boston Islamic Seminary. Dr. Basyouny was previously an Associate professor at Qatar University’s Faculty of Sharia and Islamic Studies, Department of Islamic Creed and Da’wa, a faculty member at Al-Azhar University and Islamic American University, and Imam of the Islamic Society of Boston. He has also served as head, and coordinator of many academic committees covering Curriculum Enhancement, Core Curriculum, Strategic Plan, Academic Activities and Events, & Professional Development. He has taught many academic courses including Fundamentals of Dawa, Ethics, Comparative Religion, Islamic Creed, Islamic Culture, Quranic Studies,…etc.

 

To register, click here. For more info, please visit www.coopmet.org or email info@coopmet.org

The Lord’s Prayer Experience

An ecumenical transformance: Holy Family parish is pleased to host composer Yosef Kottlerin gathering Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox, & Jews to celebrate our common roots while honoring each other’s paths through a prayer so common to us.

There are two ways to participate:
1. Just come to the event itself on May 19th
2. In addition to that, join the event choir, which involves also coming to rehearsal at Holy Family on May 13th, 7:30-9pm.

In the composer’s words: An uplifting journey into song & spirit—accompanied by a rhythmic jazz ensemble & interfaith chorale…Our goal is to connect in a deep way with each other and with all who join us. As we pray the music and sing the prayer, we affirm the power  of love to make the world a better place. We envision each concert as a “Transformance” through which we share the transformational power of the Lord’s Prayer as a way to honor our relationships with each other and our world.

Join us in Joyful Song to Celebrate our Common Unity! Wine and cheese will be served

Produced by One Spirit Foundation. To learn more, visit: onespiritfoundation.org
To contact the host parish: Dr. Elizabeth Smith, pastoral associate, pastoralassociate@holyfamilyconcord.org

OPEN TO MUSICIANS AND NON-MUSICIANS ALIKE!

 


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