Today, we are offering some good news amidst such a polarizing, divisive election season. Read below to hear the story behind an influential gathering of 75 diverse Christian leaders convened by UniteBoston and ten other sponsoring organizations in October. Many of these leaders made a public commitment to Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit. This initiative was also picked up by Religion News Service!

We invite you also to consider upholding this same commitment in these days following the election by commenting on the post at the bottom as we seek to bear witness to the Way of Jesus together.

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As Christians, in a world marked by division and strife, we are called to embody the reconciling work of Jesus Christ. But what does this look like? The Apostle Paul reminds us that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). These are not just ideals, but a charge for daily living, transforming us and our communities from the inside out. If we live by the Spirit, we are called to keep in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).

We praise God that on Tuesday October 7, 2024, 75 Christian leaders from very different ethnic, theological, political, and generational backgrounds joined together for a conversation on their hopes and concerns as Christian leaders in this election year. We shared a meal together, joined together in worship, and gathered in small groups to listen and share our experience as Christian leaders in this election year, allowing God to spiritually form us through actively practicing the Fruit of the Spirit. We sought to offer a proactive alternative to the “us versus them” mentality and to be a public witness to our churches and our city that the way of Jesus is to love our neighbors through intentional, curious, respectful conversation.

The impetus for this gathering came in the late summer, as UniteBoston staff Rev. Kelly Fassett and Rev. Devlin Scott were concerned by how they saw some Christians conveying hatred, rage, and discord toward one another, which Scripture defines as the “acts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:20). In particular, there were five LGBTQ+ affirming churches in the area that were desecrated in a coordinated attack in August, with notes indicating that those committing these acts were doing so in the name of Jesus Christ. UniteBoston’s leadership released a public statement stating, “While there is much diversity on the perspectives of marriage and sexuality, how we hold our beliefs and treat one another matters. Our savior Jesus Christ calls us to be one and violence is never the answer to resolving our differences. We are called to love our neighbor as ourself (Mk 12:31) and Jesus implores us to hold a love even for one’s enemy (Mt 5:44).”

They sensed an invitation from God to convene the body of Christ, and reached out to a few colleagues to discern what type of gathering would be valuable. One of these individuals was local Spiritual Director and Dialogue Consultant Shelton Oakley Hersey. She, too, had been burdened by the nature of engagement: “We knew we must try to mend the breaches between us, only perpetuated by our culture and politics. We decided to host a gathering as a small step in faith, courage, and hope. We knew it wouldn’t change the world, but we hoped to offer a humble beginning of a different way of engagement.” A small planning team then began by finding ten co-sponsors representing a variety of local diverse Christian traditions, including the Massachusetts Council of Churches, the New England District Church of the Nazarene, Bethel AME Church, the Fellowship of Haitian Pastors of New England, and the Greek Orthodox seminary Holy Cross Hellenic College, who all extended invitations to a handful of local pastoral leaders.

Rev. Kelly shares, “It’s hard to host an event that people will come to, and even harder to host an event centering conversations on politics. We knew that the gathering wouldn’t be successful unless there was strong participation among Christians of many different backgrounds and political persuasions. I believe that having a diversity of sponsors contributed to trust and safety for Christians from many places to courageously say “yes” to coming. While our planning team was hoping there would be 30 attendees, we were pleasantly surprised to have 82 leaders RSVP for the conversation, desiring to respectfully engage with one another and embody Christ’s call to ‘love thy neighbor’ across typical lines of difference.”

When Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets Ed Gaskin walked in the room, he was pleasantly surprised at who he saw: “Most of the gatherings I attend have the ‘same old leaders,’ which lends towards the same types of conversations. But I walked in the room and said, ‘Who are these people?’ The careful curation of the people in the room elicited a different type of conversation, so we could actually talk with the people on the ‘other side’ that we might not normally get to meet personally.”

While conversations on politics can often lead to heated debates and an entrenchment of positions, the gathering utilized a time-tested model of reflective structured dialogue. This structure incorporates a cadence of reflecting, listening, and sharing, which is designed to foster more fruitful, reflective, and curious conversations. Many participants expressed how the structure enabled them to actively practice the fruits of the Spirit such as patience, kindness, and self control. Jeanette Yep, pastor at Grace Chapel, shares that, “People want to be heard and listened to. This format allows us to respectfully listen and express care while listening. The times of quiet reflection and contemplation allows us to ‘digest’ what we heard from one another. Our group was caring in our listening, and that was the gift we gave one another.” Local peace educator and dialogue practitioner Julene Tegerstrand adds, “We are called to love our neighbors, but in today’s emotionally charged political climate—where our nervous systems are often on high alert—we need safe spaces and skillful practices that allow us to truly see one another. At this gathering, we were nourished by the fruits present in the room, as people with differing political views showed each other kindness through empathy and patience in their listening.”

After an introduction question, the first go-round asked participants to share a story or experience from their lives that would help others understand what’s important or feels at stake for them in the upcoming election, considering how their unique background and identities shape how they are navigating this time. Rev. Devlin Scott, UniteBoston’s Managing Director shared that, “Being able to begin the conversation by sharing my personal experience as a Black man was really influential for me. When we begin with stories rather than positions, it opens up a different kind of conversation.” Rev. Gina Cordy, pastor of Lynn First Church of the Nazarene, adds, “I was transformed by the experience. The Holy Spirit moved me and I became even more Christlike through the honest conversations we had, as my peers shared information that I didn’t know, or had forgotten about. I began to see people I had considered as ‘other’ or with resources they ‘didn’t deserve’ as worthy, and left feeling great freedom, peace and love for all!”

The evening closed with an invitation to sign a daily charge to keep in step with the Holy Spirit and embody the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives. We sought to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who calls us to love unconditionally and values every person as created in God’s image, even in the face of disagreement or division. We praise God for the 67 leaders who signed indicating their commitment to Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit. We invite you to also consider upholding this same commitment in these days leading to the election and the days following the election.

In participants’ reflections about the gathering, the word “love” was the most frequently mentioned, which is a grace-filled miracle, considering many of these pastoral leaders had met one another just hours before the gathering. Rev. Dr. Moreen Hughes, Pastor of Concord Baptist Church, came away saying, “There is a great need for spiritual leaders in the city and state to come together and live out the mandates of Jesus to love one another. We have more in common than we think.” Rev. Corey Sanderson, pastor of Second Church in Newton adds, “The Christian faith doesn’t insist that we all think or even vote alike, but it does impel us to love and serve alike.”

And that’s how Jesus says sums up his message – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Mk 12:30-31, Mt 22:37-40, Lk 10:27). Jesus centered right relationship with God and all of our neighbors, especially anyone you might consider to be your “enemy” (Mt 5:43-44). “When we see a civic promotion of fear, hate and violence as the trajectory of our politics, we need a civic faith of love, healing and hope to defeat it. And that must involve all of us – religious or not. Loving our neighbor, and learning to practice the politics of love, will be central to the future of democracy in America” (Jim Wallis, The False White Gospel, 15).

In a world where polarization is high and divisions can seem intractable, we praise God for the fruit born through individuals taking even one step closer in relationship with one another. Spiritual Director and UB Dialogue Consultant Shelton Oakley Hersey concludes, “Loving across divides requires humility and curiosity, a willingness to admit you need that other person in your life to see more clearly. Our overarching hope is that these types of conversations become mainstream and an example to the world of what loving disagreement and conversation might look like.” While the days following the election are looming with uncertainty, we celebrate all who are making the commitment to not only ‘talk the talk’ but ‘walk the walk,’ so together we might bear witness to Christ’s reconciling work and be a sign of the gospel.

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A Daily Charge to Keep In Step With the Holy Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. […] If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-23, 25

As we go forth, we desire to live inspired by the example of Jesus Christ, who calls us to love unconditionally (Matt 22:37), and values every person as created in God’s image (Gen 1:27), even in the face of disagreement or division.

We seek to embody the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives, giving honor to all parts of the Body of Christ (Gal 5, 1 Cor 12):

WITH LOVE, we seek to bridge divides, stay curious, and pursue understanding.

WITH JOY, we seek to uplift one another and celebrate our shared faith.

WITH PEACE, we seek to become peacemakers in a world often filled with conflict.

WITH PATIENCE, we seek to listen deeply and respond with grace.

WITH KINDNESS, we seek to embody actions that reflect the compassion of Christ.

WITH GOODNESS, we seek to stand firm in our convictions while respecting others.

WITH FAITHFULNESS, we seek to remain committed to God and to one another.

WITH GENTLENESS, we seek to speak words that heal and build up rather than harm.

WITH SELF-CONTROL, we seek to temper our responses with wisdom and love.

As God’s people, we remember the call to do justice, love  mercy, and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). We go from here, as ambassadors of Christ’s love, empowered to be peacemakers in our communities (Matt 5:9). May the Holy Spirit guide you, strengthen you, give you endless grace, and fill you with hope as it is only together that we bear witness to Christ’s reconciling work and shalom in the world (Rev 7).

Prayerfully Crafted by Shelton Oakley Hersey and the Unite Boston Team

Original Signatories:

• Benjamin Pierce, Cru City Neighborsd
• Rev. Carlos DePina, Pastor of Ebenezer Church of the Nazarene
• Chris Lawson, Cru
• Carolina De Jesus, Executive Director of the Boston HERC
• Rev. Corey Sanderson, Pastor of Second Church in Dorchester
• Rev. David Searles, Pastor of Central Community Church
• Rev. David W. Hill, Pastor of City Church Boston
• Rev. Devlin Scott, UniteBoston Managing Director and Pastor of NewCity Church
• Rev. Dieufort J Fleurissaint, Pastor and Executive Director of Total Health Christian Ministries Inc.
• Doug Cogswell, Grace Chapel
• Rev. Emmanuel J. Correa Vázquez, Pastor of House of Prayer Lutheran Church
• Rev. George Woodruff, Pastor of Columbus Avenue AME Zion Church
• Rev. Gina Cordy, Pastor of Lynn First Church of the Nazarene
• Rev. Dr. Gloria White-Hammond, Pastor at Bethel AME Church
• Rev. Dr. Gregg Detwiler, Intercultural Ministries and Leadership Development, Emmanuel Gospel Center
• Ed Gaskin, Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets
• Rev. Hady Hanna, Pastor of Arabic Evangelical Baptist Church of Boston
• Rev. Jeanette Yep, Pastor of Missional Partnerships and Multicultural Ministry, Grace Chapel
• Rev. Dr. Jeremy Scott, Assistant District Superintendent for Church & Mission Engagement at New England District Church of the Nazarene
• Rev. Joseph Ardayfio, Pastor of Mars Hill Fellowship
• Rev. Jua Robinson, Executive Director of Boston Collaborative
• Rev. Dr. Julene Tegerstrand, Spiritual Director, Dialogue Practitioner and Peace Educator at Heart to Heart
• Rev. Kat Hampson, Pastor of Riverwalk Covenant Church in Brookline
• Katelyn Hannan, Development Director, Emmanuel Gospel Center
• Rev. Dr. Kazimiera Fraley, Pastor of First Church of the Nazarene of Cambridge
• Rev. Kenneth Young, Associate Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches & Director of the Black Ecumenical Council
• Kim Cogswell, Grace Chapel
• Rev. Kelly Fassett, Executive Director of UniteBoston
• Rev. Laura Everett, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches
• Lexi Carver
• Rev. Marcella Charles, Pastor of Dorchester Immanuel Church of the Nazarene
• Rev. Monica Paige, Associate Pastor at Morning Star Baptist Church
• Rev. Pamela Werntz, Pastor of Emmanuel Church Boston
• Rev. Philomena Hare, Pastor of the First Congregational Church of Wareham
• Rev. Rocklyn E. Clarke, Pastor of Life Church Boston
• Scott Walker, Life/Work Direction, Inc.
• Rev. Sean Richmond, Pastor of Antioch New England
• Shelton Oakley Hersey, Spiritual Director and UniteBoston Dialogue Consultant
• Rev. Sophia Kim, Youth Pastor at the First Korean Church in Cambridge
• Rev. Rick Picariello, Pastor of Mount Hope Christian Center
• Susie Richardson, Senior Writer at Cru
• Rev. Tim Ghali, Pastor of Discipleship, Grace Chapel
• Rev. Valerie Copeland, Pastor of Neighborhood Church of Dorchester
• Rev. Dr. Varnel Antoine, Fellowship of Haitian Evangelical Pastors of NE

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Join Us to Walk in Step with the Holy Spirit

We invite you to comment on the post below to publicly commit to walk in step with the Holy Spirit. By signing this pledge, you commit to living daily in step with the Holy Spirit, embodying the Fruit of the Spirit in your life and relationships, with God’s help. You are invited to print the charge and place it on a visible wall to remind yourself of this commitment.

You can also use this daily charge as a responsive liturgy within your community, with the leader reading the regular text and the congregation reading the capitalized text.

Let’s move forward in faith, empowered by the Holy Spirit, as peacemakers in our world. Join us today and sign this pledge to keep in step with the Spirit!

~ May Jesus, the Prince of Peace, lead the way ~

#KeepInStepWithTheSpirit #HolySpiritCharge #FaithInAction

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