UniteBoston

Bridging Divides Across Christians for the Flourishing of the City

In Illo Uno Unum: On a New Pope and Christian Unity

“As Bishop of Rome, I consider one of my priorities to be that of seeking the re-establishment of full and visible communion among all those who profess the same faith in God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” – Pope Leo XIV, in Papal letter released on Monday May 19

The recent election of Pope Leo XIV is a monumental moment in Christian history. Today, we’re honored to feature a reflection by Dr. Elizabeth M. Woodard, pastoral associate at Sacred Hearts Parish. Elizabeth is a Catholic theologian, musician, spiritual director, and author of Cruciform Ecumenism.

Below, she explores the power of the Holy Spirit to bind us together as one diverse Body in Christ, drawing from her experience in UB’s Christian unity cohort.

The selection of Pope Leo XIV this past week is an exciting event in the life of Christians worldwide. For many, it is a sign of Christian unity; for others, it is a stumbling block to unity. As a Roman Catholic theologian, I celebrate not just Pope Leo, but the office of bishop and the chair of Saint Peter in general, as a sign of unity among those who follow Christ. I believe that the office is the locus of the Church’s apostolicity, by which we claim not just any faith, but the faith Christ handed to the apostles. The succession of bishops and of popes demonstrates our continuity to the original, unchanged deposit of faith.

I know many of my brothers and sisters in Christ who belong to Protestant communions find the papacy divisive. The pope and the authority the Catholic Church attributes to him (as well as to all bishops), highlights the disparity between Christians who recognize that authority and those who do not. My Catholic ecclesiology is highly centralized. Christian communions who emphasize the role of the Holy Spirit more equally among all believers find the papacy to be a source of disunity among all Christ’s followers.

However, this isn’t the end of the story. I am filled with renewed hope for unity today than I have had in a long time. I was recently blessed to be part of a year-long unity cohort run by the Revs. Kelly Fassett and Devlin Scott of UniteBoston. It concluded with a retreat last weekend during which we finalized a “Beloved Community Lab” curriculum we had been working on throughout the year.

During the retreat, I was reminded of many of the reasons I am an ecumenist. I was reminded that the Church does not hold a monopoly on God; God is free to act in whatever ways he so chooses and through whichever people. I was reminded that God does, in fact, bless all the baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit to believe and to follow the Lord. This is a fact on which I believe both Catholics and Protestants agree. I was also reminded of the beautiful diversity among the body of Christ. During our weekend, we prayed on 1 Corinthians 12, that is Saint Paul’s metaphor of the Church (the Body of Christ) as a literal body.  How boring (and ineffective!) it would be if hands tried to be eyes, or ears, feet. 

I love my Church and I celebrate the newly begun pontificate of Pope Leo XIV. The first U.S. born Pope in the 2,000-year history of our Church, the 267th successor of Saint Peter is a Chicago Native who also later became a Peruvian citizen. He led the Augustians, a monastic order dedicated to the values of Saint Augustine, which includes “life in common.”

To this end, I recognize that even my own Catholic Church recognizes the unity among all the baptized. When someone already baptized becomes Catholic, the Catholic Church does not re-baptize them. They recognize the validity of all baptisms. Moreover, recent Popes such as Paul VI and John Paul II have emphasized the importance of ecumenism, writing, “Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature. But the Lord of Ages wisely and patiently follows out the plan of grace on our behalf, sinners that we are. In recent times more than ever before, He has been rousing divided Christians to remorse over their divisions and to a longing for unity…” (Unitatis Redintegratio, 1).

Furthermore, our newest Pope, Leo XIV, chose for his coat of arms a Latin phrase, In illo uno unum, or “In the One, we are one.” It beautifully calls to mind the holy enterprise of ecumenical unity, and John 17:21, in which Jesus prays, “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.”

I pray that Pope Leo’s pontificate is one during which all Christians can remember and celebrate our unity in baptism, through which Christ claims us as his own and bestows in us the power of the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is not one of division, but one of unity, in which we all together call God “Abba!” This translates as “father,” or, more intimately, “daddy.” As we look to the Holy Father as the vicar of Christ who taught us to call God our Father, I pray that this era may be one of greater and greater unity among Christians. Though we disagree on certain matters of ecclesiology and theology, do we not together cry to God, in the name of Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, “Abba?” 

I pray that God might help me see all Christians more clearly in their diverse beauty as my brothers and sisters in Christ, celebrating our uniqueness, our unity-in-diversity, much as we celebrate the variety of gifts within our friend groups or our families. May we all grow in holiness, and together seek daily conversion of heart and mind in the Holy Spirit, that we might be “one in the one.”

More on Pope Leo: 

A Night to Remember: Celebrating Bridge-Building and Beloved Community

We are beyond grateful for everyone who joined us at the UniteBoston’s Fundraising Party & Community Gathering on April 11, 2025! Over 100 people gathered together for an incredible evening where we enjoyed a delicious Caribbean BBQ meal, gained wisdom from a keynote talk by Rev. Michelle Sanchez, and heard a live music performance by Rev. Devlin Scott.

A HUGE thank you to those who generously donated and pledged throughout the evening. Your support helped us raise an incredible $5,000 in just one night! This brings us to a total of $32,000 raised toward our $40,000 goal for the season – Praise God! Your generous gifts enable us to host all of our programs, including:

  • Our cohorts, which are building a “beloved community lab” for people to be formed as peacemakers and bridge-builders—agents of unity in a fractured world
  • Our newsletter, which connects hundreds of churches across historic divides and is read by ~2000 people weekly
  • Our united gospel choir tour, where 140+ college students are growing in leadership skills, cross-cultural discipleship, and leading the Church in worship of Jesus Christ

We are absolutely blown away by the outpouring of generosity – Every dollar raised, every conversation shared, and every connection made is a step forward to build our capacity of equipping Christians to be peacemakers, bridge-builders, and reconciling leaders.

It’s truly a joy to have you alongside us on this journey and are excited to keep the momentum going! We recognize that transformative movements don’t rest on individuals alone, but are sustained by many working together to do God’s work in Boston more fully, where every joint supplies (Eph 4:16). Thank you for believing in us – You make us stronger!

“Love is creative and redemptive. Love builds up and unites; hate tears down and destroys. The aftermath of the ‘fight with fire’ method … is bitterness and chaos, the aftermath of the love method is reconciliation and creation of the beloved community…. Yes, love — which means understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill, even for one’s enemies — is the solution.” — Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Towards beloved community,

– Rev. Kelly and Rev. Devlin

Photo Gallery and Video Highlights from the Evening

Photo Gallery

More Photos Here

Join Us for the Seven Last Words of Christ: An Ecumenical Good Friday Service

On Good Friday, April 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM, the Paulist Center invites you to a sacred and powerful ecumenical worship service reflecting on the Seven Last Words of Christ. Held at the Paulist Center (5 Park Street, Boston), this annual tradition brings together diverse voices from across Greater Boston’s Christian community to offer reflections, prayers, and music around the final words spoken by Jesus on the cross.

This year’s speakers include:

  • Rev. Edwin Johnson (Episcopal City Mission) – Luke 23:33–34

  • Maria Cataldo Cuniff (Paulist Center Member) – Luke 23:39–43

  • Very Rev. Amy McCreath (Cathedral Church of St. Paul) – John 19:25–27

  • Janine Carreiro (MCAN) – Mark 15:33–34

  • Terésa J. Carter, Minister Alicia Wells & Minister Kadesh Simms-Conroy – John 19:28–29

  • Rev. Devlin Scott (NewCity Church / UniteBoston) – John 19:30

  • Rev. Alicia Vélez Stewart (Weston UMC) – Luke 23:44–46

???? View the Order of Worship here
???? Can’t make it in person? Watch the Livestream here

To support the ongoing ministry of the Paulist Center, please visit tinyurl.com/DonatePaulistCenter or text your whole dollar donation amount to 844-899-7511.

All are welcome. We hope you will join us in prayer and reflection on this most holy day.

The Only Way We Make it is By Walking Together

“The only way we make it is by walking together. The only way we make it is by getting closer to one another as pastors, as priests, as guides, as leaders, shepherding one another for a time so we can move back into the vocation of shepherding others.”

– Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers

Today, we are featuring an incredible retreat coming to Boston on Monday April 28 called Pastors, Priests and Guides. Click below to watch a reflection from Aaron Niequist and Rev. Spellers on the Road to Emmaus and what becomes possible when we walk together and find Jesus Christ on the road again.

P.S. UniteBoston is one of the key hosts and conveners of the gathering – and we are pleased to offer you a special promo code for the UniteBoston community! Use code UniteBoston20 to get 20% off the ticket price! Click here to register – Hope to see you on April 28!

Finding Christ on the Road Again: An Invitation to the “Pastors, Priests & Guides” Retreat in Boston

The road to Emmaus begins in heartbreak.

In Luke 24, two disciples walk away from Jerusalem with slumped shoulders and shattered hopes. They had trusted Jesus. They had believed a new world was dawning. But now, Jesus was dead—and so was the future they had imagined. They walked away feeling disillusioned, confused, and deeply weary.

If we’re honest, many of us in ministry are walking a similar path. We’ve poured ourselves out in an era that feels chaotic, divided, and spiritually dry. We’ve tried to guide others into unforced rhythms of grace, only to find ourselves caught in forced rhythms of stress. The world has changed, the Church is changing, and we aren’t always sure where—or how—we fit.

That’s why UniteBoston is honored to co-sponsor a gathering in Boston on Monday April 28 for the Pastors, Priests & Guides One-Day Retreat.

This retreat is for those of us who are tired and searching. It’s for spiritual leaders hungry for a new imagination for ministry. It’s for anyone asking: Where is Jesus now? How do we move forward when the old maps don’t work anymore?

Just as Jesus came alongside the weary disciples on the Emmaus road—listening, teaching, and ultimately revealing himself in the breaking of bread—we believe Christ will meet us too. And maybe, just maybe, our hearts will burn again.

Click above to watch Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers reflect on why this moment matters, why Boston is sacred ground, and why Jesus is still worth following. For Stephanie, Boston is personal—it’s where she found Christ, where she was baptized, and where she saw people take Jesus seriously in ways that shaped her life and ministry.

At the retreat, Rev. Stephanie will guide us through the Emmaus story with the depth, wisdom, and vulnerability she’s known for. Alongside her, Aaron Niequist will help us embody the Way of Jesus through spiritual practices that ground and renew. This isn’t a lecture—it’s a co-creation of something holy, communal, and vibrant.

As Aaron often reminds us, we don’t have to choose between our ministries and our souls. This is a retreat to bring your whole self—your leadership, your longing, your weariness, your wisdom.

What’s Possible Together?

This is a disorienting time, yes—but it’s also a holy one. What becomes possible when we remember that, “the only way we make it is by walking together?”

We come to exhale.
We come to learn spiritual practices that re-center our souls in the unforced rhythms of Grace.
We come to meet fellow Christian leaders and remember that we are not alone.
We come to worship and learn at the intersection of multiple Christian traditions—
and we come, open to God igniting our imagination for what could be.

You’re invited to come as you are—humble, hopeful, hurting, curious. Whether you’re looking to rest, reimagine, or reconnect, this retreat is for you.

Join us on April 28 in Boston.
 Let’s walk the road to Emmaus together—and watch for Jesus along the way.

???? Learn more & register at pastorspriestsandguides.com

????‍♂️ Need a taste of rest now? Try this simple 10-minute Opening Hands Practice to release burdens and re-center in grace.

 Hosted in partnership with Anchor Church and UniteBoston. All are welcome.

​​The Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers is one of the Episcopal Church’s leading thinkers and speakers around 21st-century ministry and mission. The author of The Church Cracked Open and the upcoming book Church Tomorrow?, she recently finished nearly a decade serving as Canon to the Presiding Bishop and guiding the entire denomination’s work on evangelism, reconciliation and care for creation. Spellers lives in New York but called Boston home for 20 years – it’s where she was baptized, trained for ministry, and founded The Crossing congregation at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Want to get to know Rev. Stephanie a little more? Listen to her interview on The Eternal Current Podcast.

Aaron Niequist is a liturgist, writer, and pastor. Aaron recently graduated from General Theological Seminary in NYC and currently serves at St Peter’s Episcopal Church Chelsea. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy – a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. He then curated a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community called “The Practice”. Aaron released a book called The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Keep Us From Drowning and currently leads the Pastors, Priests and Guides ministry.  But that’s just job stuff.  The best part of his life is his wife Shauna, and their sons Henry and William.

“It Ain’t Over”: A New Song Release by Rev. Devlin 

In this Sunday’s newsletter, we’re excited to announce Rev. Devlin’s new single, entitled “It Ain’t Over!” 

You didn’t know that Rev. Devlin was a songwriter? Neither did we! But Rev. Devlin is a man of many talents. Read below to discover the powerful story behind the song It Ain’t Over. Rooted in faith, resilience, and personal tragedy, Devlin’s journey—from Chicago gospel choirs to Boston’s music scene—reveals the deep impact of his artistry. Read on to learn how his song serves as both a personal tribute and a battle cry of victory in Christ.

P.S. You can listen to “It Ain’t Over” which is available on all music platforms!

By Bill Ivanov, UniteBoston Journalist

“Hold on, play that again!” Rev. Devlin Scott said to his wife (then fiancée), Katie, as she played through a riff on the guitar while hanging out at her house. Then, he started to sing, “It ain’t over till God says it’s over…”

After this, the song sat dormant for more than fifteen years… until Rev. Devlin was introduced to the Christian music industry through the concerts that UniteBoston hosts. Through them, he saw the grassroots music careers of singers like Caleb McCoy (Remember), Jalen Williams (Alright, Flex, and Praise God) and Jen Aldana (Trust in You) take shape. From the connections UniteBoston made for Rev. Devlin and the courage and confidence he gained from serving with UB, he began tapping into the artistic part of himself.

When he released his single on Friday, April 4th at his single release party, “It Ain’t Over,” Rev. Devlin began the next stage of his professional musical journey. This journey has already travelled quite a distance; from the Gospel choirs of the southside of Chicago…to the streets of London as part of the “It Ain’t Over” tour in 2009…to its midnight release in Boston in front of an intimate group of people along with five other original songs.

During these challenging times, “It Ain’t Over” is destined to bring hope to people who may be experiencing trials in life. On this, Rev. Devlin remarked, “I think God’s timing is better than mine… I know that this is the right time for this music to come out. God is very intentional about the timing to release the music when the world is most needing to hear it. So, I completely give God credit for that.”

The hope-filled message Rev. Devlin shares through this song reflects his resilience and deep faith. Rev. Devlin credits his mother for sharing her belief in God for everything – “No matter how bad things got, she gave me the confidence that God is always faithful…He is going to work things out for your good…and He’s going to see you through it,” Rev. Devlin shared.

It was this strength that carried Rev. Devlin through personal tragedy. About a year and a half ago, Rev. Devlin’s cousin, struggling with mental illness, turned a gun on his sister and niece before ending his own life. Losing three family members in one incident left the Scott family reeling. Knowing the love his sister had for music, the boldness by which his niece lived and understanding the shortness in life, Rev. Devlin knew he had to honor them with this song. He also knew that others needed to hear it. A fire had been lit.

“A sense of urgency came from that moment,” Rev. Devlin remarked, “I speak the language of music. If you flip to the back of the Bible, we win. And so, I hope through this song, someone doesn’t forget that God is fighting for them. There’s a bit of a war cry in the song; we win.”

Amongst Rev. Devlin’s early music memories, he recalls being drawn to great church music radiating from the South Suburban Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago’s southside. He began singing as a choir member with the “Little Angels” of this church. By 11 years-old, he learned to play his first song on the piano, “Lean on Me.” After being taught just a few basic chords, he recalls starting to string them together, trying to write his own music.

“At a young age, I felt honored, and a little nervous, to direct the combined choir made up of all the choirs of our church. But I courageously stepped into that moment.” Rev. Devlin later went on to sing with the “Young Saints” – his community choir for teenagers that traveled and even  recorded an album. He joined his college gospel choir at Trinity International University, where he eventually became the choir’s director.

In his autobiography, Hans Christian Anderson is known to have said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” As good music transcends and unites, it is easy to see how Rev. Devlin, now serving as Managing Director of UniteBoston, uses his gifts to push beyond differences and find oneness in Christ. Truly, “It ain’t over. God’s not through with us yet.” 

To see a list of Devlin Scott’s upcoming events, please visit his website at www.devlinscott.com.


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