About the Shaw Center
The Anna Howard Shaw Center at Boston University School of Theology promotes structures and practices that empower women and honor diversity. The Center is named after the Reverend Doctor Anna Howard Shaw, a Methodist minister
, medical doctor, and suffragist. Ten years after its founding in 1978, the Shaw Center was designated as the women’s center for the Northeastern Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church.
Ecumenical in its activities, the Center’s primary goals are in the four following areas:
Research – to facilitate and initiate research on the historical roles of women in the church and on women’s past and present contributions to religious/theological studies and to the Christian ministry. Recently completed research:
Education – to provide educational opportunities on issues and practices relating to women in ministry, mission, and religious/theological studies.
Support – to support and encourage both women and men striving for equality of opportunity in ministry, mission, and religious/theological studies.
Advocacy – to advocate for full inclusion of women in ministry, mission, and religious studies based on ethical and theological principles as they interact with analyses of personal collective experiences.
Our most recent edition of our newsletter is now available online! Please click here to see the newsletter titled “I Know Your Story Because I Know Mine” as well as past editions.
Check out our online informational video and like us on Facebook! 
Shaw Center Highlights
Student Testimonials |
| “The Anna Howard Shaw Center is one of the more concrete spaces that fosters a sense of community. Anyone can come here and know that they can get a cup of tea and a couch to sleep on. I also like that it is a space within the School of Theology that provides solitude for persons of gendered minorities and free lunch.” —Nathan Bakken, (MDiv, 2017) |
| “Without the Shaw Center, I would probably not survive. The place, coffee, food, people, and conversation–everything the Shaw Center sustains and nourishes me.”–Hyebin Hong, (MTS, 2012/PhD, 2019) |
| “Anna Howard Shaw has been a great resource for students; outside of their weekly events, they are supportive of student lead initiatives. Ideas come to fruition with the support of the institution, and AHSC will be one of the change agents in the process of making ideas into reality.”– Ylisse Bess-Washington, (MDiv, 2017) |