A message from the Dean

To enter the School of Theology is to be in for major surprises. 

You might come with a sincere faith nurtured by years of spiritual formation, theology, biblical interpretation, and church life. Here you will find other fine people, quickly friends, whose equally sincere faith is nurtured by different approaches to spirituality, theology, the Bible, and church community. Your courses at the School of Theology will show you just how rich the Christian Tradition is. 

You might come to the School with curiosity about the Christian Tradition, trying out the prospects of ministry or other forms of leadership in the Christian movement to see whether they meet your interests. This is a good place to explore a possible calling. But prepare for the surprise of discovering that what you had thought was your testing of theological education turns out to be the Christian Gospel’s testing of you. We have the resources to support this growth of your identity. 

You might come with a deep desire to help people and to change society for the better. Here you may find out just how hard change can be. You will discover that change comes at a steep price, and you will learn to examine your own motives in life. Here you will find the Christian Gospel at work in peoples' lives, transforming them into new creations. You will be surprised just how much you will be changed as well. 

You might come with a mission to represent your people, to gain the education needed to serve them. This is a truly devoted calling. Don't be surprised to find that your spiritual growth soon outpaces that of some of your friends, and that the world is far richer than you ever dreamed. At the School of Theology, you will find ways to enrich your own spiritual growth while preparing to give yourself back to your people without losing your extended vision. 

At the turn of the millennium the Christian Church needs learned leadership more than ever before, and the Boston University School of Theology has a long tradition of providing education for that leadership. Come to the School to make the Christian tradition your own in thorough, sophisticated ways. We are not content with what is known, however, or with a mere commitment to learning. We strive to inquire afresh into the most pertinent and difficult questions, mastering and handing on the best that can be known. Moreover, we are aware that the life of faith and service has many sudden reversals and new starts, for faculty as well as students. Come to the School to join our journey of surprises through the Mind of Christ at work in this world of surprises. We can offer you access to the deep wells of Christian truth and abilities critically to engage many dimensions of contemporary cultures. You can become a beacon for your people, a servant and a prophet, a person with a mission, a disciple whose faith is reborn every day. We welcome your company on this journey.