RCT History

Timeline of the Tom Porter Religion & Conflict Transformation Program

2003

 

 
  • Growing out of a long collaboration between the Boston Theological Institute (BTI, now called the Boston Theological Interreligious Institute)­­­ and the JustPeace Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation in the United Methodist Church, the Certificate program in Religion and Conflict Transformation was formally established by the BTI.  
  • Dean Ray Hart agreed to provide an anchor for the certificate program at Boston University School of Theology
2004

 

 

 

 
  • Alumni, faculty, students and religious leaders we assembled with the help of the Luce Foundation, affirming the need to prepare religious leaders in the theology, theory, and practice of conflict transformation as a central mission of the seminary
  • Tom Porter becomes first Program Director
  • Tom along with Rodney Petersen, the executive director of the BTI, taught a course entitled Engaging Conflict Well, which has been taught every year since in the fall and now is called The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation: Creating a Culture of JustPeace.
2005

 

 
  • Tom and Rodney teach Religion and the Ministry of Reconciliation.
  • After a year’s work by a design team of faculty, staff and students, the RCT Program’s first design is unanimously approved by faculty.
  • The Faculty Leadership Team is created, composed of members who teach qualifying courses for the Certificate.
2006
  • RCT Program is officially launched with 15 students.
2007

 
  • The program grows to 29 students
  • First Annual Fall Retreat is held.
2008

 

 

 

 
  • An Integrative Seminar for graduating students was created in the spring. Over time this became the Spring Capstone, an opportunity for the RCT community to hear each graduating participant in the program share learnings from their study in the RCT Program as well as how these learnings will guide them in their work in the future. 
  • With a generous grant from the Luce Foundation in 2008, the program was able to expand its work on many fronts, including with practicums, scholarships, a lecture series and the employment of a student Program Administrator.
2010

 

 

 

 
  • In the Spring, the first course in Restorative Justice was taught with students from the Law school, School of Social Work and the School of Theology.
  • Held a Consultation of Theological Educators in Conflict Transformation 
  • Began to support contextual education through travel courses to places such as Columbia, Jamaica, Israel/Palestine, South India, and Indonesia. Such travel seminars have continued to the present and have expanded to include new regions.
  • Tom Porter’s book Spirit & the Art of Conflict Transformation is published based on the core RCT course.
2012

 

 
  • A second generous grant was received from the Luce Foundation to develop our Clinic program of practicums, workshops, and partnerships.
  • Convened a Consultation on the Formation of Interfaith Just Peacemakers.
2014

 
  • Hired first co-director of the Clinic, Salma Kazmi.
2016

 

 

 
  • Dr. Judith Oleson joined the RCT program as a Co-Director, bringing a wealth of experience teaching conflict studies, nonprofit leadership, social work, and transitional justice, working in Croatia and Canada. Among many responsibilities, she leads our work with Hebrew College, our other partnerships, and our research. Tom Porter and Judith served as Co-Directors for three years. 
  • Clinic closes.
2019

 

 

 

 

 
  • Tom Porter retires in June. As part of this celebration, significant funds were raised for the RCT endowment.
  • Judith became the sole director and initiated a student leadership team for assistance.
  • Launched a team of diverse Visiting Researchers to create intercultural and interfaith dialogues on key issues in the field of religion and conflict transformation.  
  • Judith expanded the RCT internship options and built collaborative programming relationships with CURA (Pardee School for Global Studies), the Jewish Cultural Endowment Program, Essential Partners, The Community Dispute Resolution Center, and Hebrew College.
2020

 

 
2022

 

 
  • Judith retired as the RCT Director in June.
  • Dr. James W. McCarty becomes the third Director of the Tom Porter Religion and Conflict Transformation Program.
2023

 
  • Began second Comprehensive Program Design (updated mission statement & learning outcomes, launched Community Advisory Board, creation of new courses, launch of Contextual Education Sites)
2025