UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

UniteBoston’s Top Twelve Photos of 2024

From launching the United Gospel Experience Tour and convening the Boston Flourish conference, to hosting two cohorts with emerging leaders, and hiring our first full time staff person, this was an incredible year for UniteBoston! Check out our year in review for 2024 – Glory to God!

#12: UniteBoston Fundraising Party at PKL – In January, the UniteBoston community raised $12,010 to support the mission of UniteBoston and also had some fun playing shuffleball and cornhole!

#11: Boston Unity Walk – 80 faith leaders, community members, the Boston Police Department, and city officials came together for a prayer walk in Dorchester hosted by the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. The goal was to foster meaningful relationships between faith communities, law enforcement, and city leadership and UniteBoston served as a key convener for the gathering.

#10: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – During this week, UB hosted seven opportunities to pray for the unity of all Christians and put “love thy neighbor” into practice in a variety of ways. The above photo is from a prayer gathering at the Paulist Center with clergy representing Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, and Episcopal traditions where we enjoyed beautiful music, heard the call to care for creation by Dean Amy McCreath, and prayed for the needs of one another.

#9: UniteBoston Board and Staff Retreat – In August, the UB Board of Directors and staff met for our annual retreat! We gained insights into the unique role that UB is playing in the city and talked through some of our initiatives for the coming program year.

#8: UB’s Sankofa Cohort – This cohort is experiencing history firsthand by seeing the sights in Boston pointing towards the legacy of slavery, the black freedom movement, and where racial healing and repair is taking place with a special focus on Christian churches and congregations. We recognize that we must understand and confess the mistakes of our past – of the sin of racism and its impacts – in order to pave the way forward towards racial healing and shalom. Here we are visiting the Embrace Memorial, remembering the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, and many other leaders who contributed to the Civil Rights Movement in Boston.

#7 – Collaborative Migrant Care Efforts – This year, UniteBoston catalyzed congregations and leaders to care for and accompany our new immigrant and refugee neighbors through launching a “Sanctuary for Strangers” campaign with Migrant Sunday resources in four languages. We also hosted a breakout session at Boston Flourish where 32 people committed to taking a variety of tangible action steps to support and accompany our new immigrant and refugee neighbors. UB Board Member and local pastor Melinda Priest (on right) is now leading a team to create a Boston Immigrant Dashboard to better connect the needs of our new neighbors and service providers.

#6: Legacy of Slavery at Harvard University Tour. In November, 35 church leaders and community members engaged in a walking tour on the Landscape of Slavery at Harvard University. While Boston is known for its world-class colleges and universities, not many are aware how these institutions have deep historical ties to the exploitation of enslaved people. This photo shows the burial ground that holds the oldest known gravestone of a Black person in the Americas, serving as a tangible reminder that slavery was not just an abstract concept at Harvard—it was a reality woven into daily life. Louis Agassiz also founded the theory of polygenesis at Harvard, seeking to prove genetically that Black people were inferior to White people. Christianity was grievously often used to justify the enslavement and exploitation of African people, many whose legacies are still unknown.

#5: UniteBoston Island Retreat – In July, we hosted our third annual “Circle of Restoration” Island Retreat for BIPOC leaders to get away for self-care and connection in community. Individuals enjoyed a boat ride out to the island, beach games, music, massages, and a catered lunch.

#5: Christian Unity Cohorts: Above – our original Christian unity cohort who is “building bridges and breaking walls” (pictured with hammers) has transitioned to a curriculum development cohort that we launched in May. This new cohort of leaders is meeting monthly to learn about nurturing “Christian unity” in their own contexts by being ambassadors of reconciliation and repair (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). We are building the components of our curriculum of the knowledge, skills, habits, motivation/attitude, and environment for walking in the way of Jesus towards Christian unity. We look forward to piloting this curriculum in 2025!

#4: Hiring Our First Full-Time Employee – This year, UniteBoston was able to hire our first full time employee, Rev. Devlin Scott, who is doing an incredible job as UniteBoston’s managing director. He is leading UniteBoston’s communications, social media, strategic planning, and various programs, and has really taken UniteBoston’s mission and ministry to a new level!

#3: Launch of the United Gospel Experience Tour – Dozens of college students from six campuses across the region have united this year for a United Gospel Experience Tour, beginning with Morning Star Baptist Church and Providence College. There is something about being led in worship by 70+ young adults from diverse backgrounds, all part of a mass gospel choir that has strengthened each individual campus as well. Save the date for the next concert at March 1 at UMass Lowell or April 12 in Wenham!

#2: Boston Flourish. In November, UniteBoston worked with other organizations to convene a conference where 266 leaders gathered across sectors to collaborate around essential issues facing our city: housing justice, migrant care and solidarity, youth and family trauma, and innovative church building use. By uniting our efforts and sharing ideas, we’re creating pathways for real change, so all who call Boston home can truly flourish ????

#1: Church & Civic Engagement gathering – UniteBoston and ten other organizations convened 75 diverse Christian leaders to share their hopes and concerns as Christian leaders in this election year. While conversations on politics can often lead to an entrenchment of positions, the structured dialogue enabled many to grow in understanding in the stories and values behind our differing perspectives, allowing God to spiritually form us through actively practicing the fruit of the Spirit. We celebrate the relationships among pastoral leaders that were inspired or birthed, as we seek to be a public witness to our churches and our city that the way of Jesus is to love all our neighbors through intentional, curious, respectful conversation. This gathering was even featured on Religion News Service! ????

It’s been a great year! Thanks for joining with us – your prayers, participation, and finances have made this ministry happen! We look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in 2025!

Following Jesus as the Prince of Peace: Removing Walls of Hostility

 For [Jesus] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14-18 NIV

In this Advent season, we are called to follow Jesus as the Prince of Peace by actively removing walls of hostility in our lives. These barriers—whether political, cultural, or personal—perpetuate division and conflict, preventing us from upholding the ‘ministry of reconciliation’ (2 Cor 5:18). Through Jesus’ work on the cross, walls of hostility can be broken down, creating a new humanity of reconciliation, peace, and love, so together we can bear witness to the Way of Jesus.

On December 8, UniteBoston’s Executive Director Rev. Kelly was honored to be invited by UB Board Member Pastor Kat Hampson to preach at Riverwalk Church! Click below to watch the sermon or read some of the notes!

The Problem of Hostility

The polarization in our society today mirrors the animosity between Jews and Gentiles in Ephesians 2:11-22, with divisions physically, relationally, and attitudinally. Research shows that Americans increasingly view those with opposing views as threats, with 80% of people believing that the other party “poses a threat that if not stopped will destroy America as we know it” (NBC News). Unfortunately, we see this hostility present even among Christians called to the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). This divisive posture contradicts our calling as peacemakers (Mt 5:9) and repairers of the breach (Is 58:12).

Jesus: Transforming Hostility into Enemy-Embracing Love

As Prince of Peace (Is 9:6), Jesus inaugurated a new way; he redefined who and how we associate with others. Ephesians 2 reveals that Jesus broke down the dividing walls of hostility, reconciling people both to God (vertical peace) and to one another (horizontal peace). His purpose was to create one new humanity, transforming enmity into fellowship. This is exemplified in His life: dining with outcasts, forgiving enemies, and welcoming diversity among His disciples.

The type of peace we have in Christ breaks down societal barriers rather than building them, a peace where love banishes all fear, and a peace that breaks down walls of hate and hostility by upholding belovedness as all made in God’s image. This posture is summed up in Jesus’ statement that we are not just to love those who are most like us but to love our enemies (Mt 5:43).

Early Christians embodied this boundary-crossing nature of the faith, and people took note. Historians believe that it was in Antioch that they were called Christians because they saw early Christ followers crossing ethnic walls to worship with one another. Historian Harvey Conn writes that, “Into a world where class, power and ancestry divided rich from poor, free from slave, men from women, came a society that welcomed all who bore the name Jesus.”

Our Call as Followers of the Prince of Peace

Following Jesus as Prince of Peace is counter-cultural and vitally important. To embody Jesus’ boundary-breaking love, Rev. Kelly offers four steps:

  1. Find Your Wall of Hostility
    Reflect on the groups or individuals you feel animosity toward. Here are some questions we can ask to help us identify who this may be:
    • Which groups do you avoid or feel threatened by? Who makes you uncomfortable?
    • Is there a particular group that you cringe at the thought of praising them; that you don’t even want to be exposed to the ideas or ways, much less earnestly listen to them? Who do you believe that the world would be better off if there were less of “those people” around?
    • Howard Thurman said – “Often the degree to which we oppose a thing marks the degree to which we do not understand it. Sometimes we use our opposition to an idea to cover up our own ignorance.” Have you met the person on the ‘other side,’ and heard their story?
  2. Remember the Belovedness of the ‘Other’
    Every person is made in God’s image and is beloved by Him (Gen 1:27). Commit to seeing this inherent worth in everyone you meet, especially those on the ‘other side’ of a particular background or ideology.
  3. Go with Curiosity
    “You can’t hate someone whose story you know.” Our assumptions and conclusions are often built on what have heard, rather than face-to-face conversations. With the rise of siloed media and social media platforms, we have become so accustomed today to talking about one another rather than with them. One of the biggest tools we have as peacemakers is curiosity: when someone shares a strong or ‘loaded’ statement, we can ask, “Is there a story behind that?” Engage others’ stories with humility, seeking to understand their longings, hopes and fears.
  4. Reflect and Discern
    Opening yourself up to new experiences and ideas is often uncomfortable. Yet, it is also a sign of maturing in our faith (Eph 4:15). Prayerfully reflect on what you have heard using frameworks like the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (Scripture, Reason, Tradition, Experience) to evaluate your theological conclusions. Growth requires embracing discomfort and balancing openness with a firm foundation in Jesus Christ.

One caveat: When we talk about getting beyond a wall of hostility, a situation of abuse or trauma does not apply. There are some ‘walls’ that are necessary for self-protection, health, and safety. We must differentiate between a wall of hostility and a wall of protection as there are times when you need to be with “your people” to say the things you need to say, for healing and restoration.

Why This Matters

Our unity is both the fruit and the witness of the gospel. As we remove hostility, we demonstrate the reconciling power of Christ and live into His mission. The early church modeled this radical love by breaking barriers in a divided world, and we are called to do the same today.

Invitation

Will you follow Jesus, the Prince of Peace, by removing your walls of hostility? As John Howard Yoder said, “This new Christian community in which the walls are broken down not by human idealism or democratic legalism but by the work of Christ, is not only a vehicle of the gospel or only a fruit of the gospel; it is the good news. It is not merely the agent of mission or the constituency of a mission agency. This is the mission.“

Reflection Questions:

  • 1. What walls of hostility exist in your heart? Consider which groups do you avoid or feel threatened by? Who makes you uncomfortable?
    • With this group in mind, what assumptions do you hold? What conclusions are you making? What do you fear? Be on the lookout for these biases
  • 2. How can you actively uphold the belovedness of all of God’s children, even those who believe differently than you?
  • 3. Who can you listen to with curiosity this week or month? Holiday gatherings are opportune spaces where we can listen, learn, and have tough conversations with people of differing perspectives and convictions.
  • 4. How might God be calling you to grow in your understanding on a particular divisive issue? Consider how your perspective is informed by Scripture, Reason, Tradition, and Experience.

We’d love to hear from you if you take some of these steps to follow Jesus as the Prince of Peace! Rev. Kelly can be reached at kelly@uniteboston.com Be blessed friends!

Choosing Unity Over Division in this Post-Election Season

Today, we are featuring a guest blogger, Bil Mooney-McCoy, who shares the importance of holding firm convictions while still embodying Christ’s love toward those who see things differently, especially across the political aisle. Bil is a member of Neighborhood Church of Dorchester and Director of Worship and Lecturer at Gordon College. Read below to hear his wise, practical advice in how we might choose unity over division and treat one another well in this post-election season, along with some thoughts from our colleague Rev. Dr. Gregg Detwiler.

Last Sunday, in church, we sang a song that summarized what is known as the Apostles’ Creed. When it got to the line “I believe…in Your holy church”, I began to cry. Looking at all the rhetoric and vitriol that has been part of this election cycle, I have been distressed by how divided we’ve become as a nation.

But specifically, my sorrow, my grief was prompted by how we Christians have handled the political landscape. We have villainized each other, questioned the validity of each others’ faith journeys. I’ve seen misinformation knowingly promoted by Christians, insults hurled at fellow believers, and in some cases heard of relationships within the body of Christ severed. I am sure that there have been times when my words and actions have contributed to this division. That’s not OK. This is not Christ’s vision for His church.

We are called to unity. But not to uniformity. We have different experiences, priorities, values, and perspectives; therefore, our opinions and beliefs on issues like abortion, gay rights, immigration, and gun ownership will vary. And it is appropriate for one to hold firm stances on these issues and to strongly disagree with those who hold contrary viewpoints. But these convictions should never lead to opportunities to tear each other down.


As I cried out to God today, I felt a prompting. I asked my God what I should do to promote unity amidst the political discord. Could I stay engaged and firm in my beliefs and convictions while working to diffuse the hostility and intolerance that is so rampant? How do I act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before my God in a time like this? Particularly now, in the election’s aftermath. And how do I channel God’s compassion and peace, knowing that last Tuesday’s outcome filled many with joy and hope but others with deep disappointment and dread?

The answers came quickly. Here’s what I believe God would have me commit to:

• I will cry with our Lord over the disunity and even hatred within our faith community.
• I will not speak ill of those who disagree with my political views, publicly or privately.
• I will pray for courage to engage in respectful, honest connection with those who disagree with me. I confess that I’m not there yet.
• I will recognize that in the outcome of every major political contest or legislative action, there will be many who will grieve; knowing that, I will not gloat nor condone others’ gloating.
• I will do all I can to comfort those who mourn, who are afraid, who feel ignored. I will listen to those who are angry.
• I will remind myself that being loving is more important than being right.
• I will do due diligence to confirm the veracity of any story I wish to repeat, verbally or online, refusing to spread incorrect or unconfirmable narratives, regardless of which agenda they promote.
• I will stand firm in my beliefs, taking strong positions based on my understanding of scripture and the character of Christ. But I will do so knowing that I don’t have all the answers. I will strive to discover my blind spots and accept new information and insights that may challenge my perspectives.
• I will (when appropriate) call out fellow believers whose words and actions are divisive, hurtful, and insulting even when their position aligns with my own.
• I will stand in the truth that my well-being and the well-being of those I love is not contingent on the election or defeat of a presidential candidate, the Senate and House majority, the make-up of the Supreme Court, or any earthly construct. My hope is in the loving care of my Father in Heaven.
• I will be grateful that, despite the flaws in our electoral system, I get to vote.
• I will pray for this nation and for its leaders.

I acknowledge that I do not have the character and morality to walk in these principles; I must rely on the work of the Holy Spirit within me to carry this out and will need to quickly acknowledge when I fall short.

The church’s one foundation is not a set of party platforms, a stance on societal issues, or adherence to a deeply-held political ideology. Her one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord.

Father, forgive me when I forget this.

Our friend and colleague Rev. Dr. Gregg Detwiler, consultant in the Intercultural Ministries and Leadership Development at the Emmanuel Gospel Center also shared the following sentiment as this week came to a close:

“While we all continue to sort out the results of the election and attempt to make meaning and find faithful responses to it, curious things can happen. Many of my friends are grieving and concerned; others are happy with the outcome (a subset of those are gloating); others are conflicted, filled with a mixture of emotions and thoughts (find me here). This election has taxed all the various muscle groups of my being – my intercultural ministry skills within the Church and society, my emotional intelligence, my mental health, and my spiritual foundation.

I made a decision this week to not push against the tide of the political upheaval but to try to flow with it. That meant spending probably 90% of my time engaging in reflective journaling, prayer, reading, posting a few transparent but measured comments on FB, and doing my level-best to have grace-filled truth-seeking conversations. I was amazed that at how many fruitful conversations I was able to have across the political spectrum after the election. Not all of them went well but a lot of them did, many more than I ever would have expected. And I have a docket of follow-up conversations scheduled over the next few weeks. So while this is painful and perplexing I find myself in this odd space filled with some unexpected turns along the way.  

One those unexpected turns came when one of my Facebook posts – My 3a.m. Election Day Confession – was anonymously quoted in a UK-based org article that seeks to promote political renewal through thoughtful Christian civic engagement. Here is the link to the article if you are interested in taking a look. I totally get it if things are still too raw for you to go there.

May the Lord help us all as we decompress from this week, find our moorings, and continue the work of seeking shalom in our communities, nation, and world.

P.S. BTW, if you are curious why I voted the way I did I go deeper into that in my FB post – Answering Two Questions of my Political Critics.

P.S. In case you missed it, UniteBoston also hosted an influential “Church and Civic Engagement” gathering of 75 leaders with ten other sponsoring organizations. Many of these leaders made a public commitment to Keep in Step with the Holy Spirit. We invite you also to consider upholding this same commitment in the days preceding and following the election.

Learn More

A Commitment to Peace: Embodying the Fruit of the Spirit in an Election Year

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.

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.

UniteBoston Planning Team: Rev. Devlin Scott, Rev. Kelly Fassett, Julene Tegerstrand, and Shelton Oakley Hersey

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

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

United Gospel Experience Tour Finale Concert on April 12

UniteBoston is thrilled to announce the launch of the United Gospel Experience Tour, building on the incredible success of our past partnerships with Dr. Craig Ramsey and the God’s Chosen Gospel Choir from Gordon College in the past UniteBoston outdoor worship concerts. This tour will bring together college students from across New England for a transformative experience of worship, discipleship, and cultural exchange. This traveling gospel choir will tour four locations—Boston, North of Boston, Hartford, and Providence—uniting students from Gordon College, UMass Lowell, Trinity College, University of Hartford, and University of Providence. With over 150 students expected to participate, UGCI will foster deep spiritual growth and cross-cultural friendships, while showcasing the rich history and liberating power of gospel music. Through this initiative, students will not only develop lifelong leadership skills but also become part of a movement that transcends college by creating a lasting impact on their faith and communities.

Join us for the concluding concert within the United Gospel Experience Tour, taking place at Gordon College on Saturday April 12 from 3:00 to 5:00pm! This concert will feature a united gospel choir from students across four campuses, building on the incredible success of our past partnerships with Dr. Craig Ramsey and the God’s Chosen Gospel Choir from Gordon College.

The concert will take place at A.J. Gordon Memorial Chapel, 255 Grapevine Road, Wenham, Massachusetts 01984

Parking is available in the lot in front of the chapel. If that fills up, then the Woodland Lot is available as well, down the road, which is a five minute walk away.

Join us!

1. We appreciate your help getting the word out about this great concert taking place – you can share any of our social posts on FB or IG.

2. Join the community choir – information here

3. Listen to the playlist and get ready for the night of worship! ????

All Concert Dates for the United Gospel Experience Tour

Saturday November 2nd, 4:00 to 6:00pm at Morningstar Baptist Church, Boston, MA

Saturday December 7, 4:00-6:00pm at Providence College, Providence RI

Saturday March 1, 5:00 to 7:00pm at UMass Lowell, Lowell, MA

Saturday April 12: 3:00 to 5:00pm at Gordon College, Wenham, MA


Give to Further Christian Unity

DONATE!