Thomas W. Porter, Jr.

Lecturer

Thomas W. Porter, Jr. is a trial lawyer, mediator, teacher, and minister. He teaches at Boston University School of Theology, where he directs a concentration in religion and  conflict transformation. He is the co-executive director of JustPeace Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation in The United Methodist Church. He recently edited the book Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table. He has produced the first draft of a book entitled Engaging Conflict Well: The Soul and Art of Conflict Transformation, which will be a course textbook. After graduating from Yale University, he received a MDiv degree from Union Theological Seminary and a JD degree from Boston University School of Law. He studied mediation at Harvard Law School and Eastern Mennonite University.

He was a founding partner of the trial firm of Melick & Porter LLP in 1983 and has been a trial lawyer since 1974, representing religious institutions, universities, hospitals, professionals, nonprofit organizations, and others. He is a member of the board of the Journal of Law and Religion and was chair of the board from 1989 to 2001. He was a founder and the president of the Council of Religion and Law, a society of law professors, theologians, lawyers, and ministers, from 1978 to 1985. He was a member of the board of Union Theological Seminary, chairing its educational policy committee, from 1992 to 2001.