Alumni News
Online Theological Education that Works
This article was originally published in the 2026 issue of focus magazine, the annual publication of the BU School of Theology. This article can be found on page 28. By Debbie Brubaker ('11), director of online and hybrid programs and lecturer.
Building digital communities that center justice and whole-person care for students
In my online course, Space, Place, and Change, students share media that document key aspects of their sacred spaces. Recording the exterior soundscapes of her church, one student’s audio poignantly captures the central role faith communities play in the work of justice today.
The audio begins with the ringing of church bells calling us to worship, then a voice cries out, “No justice, no peace. We’re here! We’re here!” Car horns overlap with the noises of a crowd shouting in approval. Then, a familiar call and response resounds and repeats insistently: “What do we want?” “Justice!” “When do we want it?” “Now!” The first voice returns, this time with a prayer: “Bring peace, God, in our country, and in our world…”
These digital assignments are designed to reorient and deepen students’ relationships to the places where they worship. By documenting the everyday happenings in our sacred places, we see how our commitments—to justice, peace, and hospitality— are lived out in our ministry contexts. These exercises also work as invitations for students to enter in and bear witness to the diverse worlds of ministry their colleagues inhabit. This theological classroom does not require students to leave their ministry fields, uproot their families, and relocate. Instead, remote students remain anchored in their home context, where they strengthen their formation as community leaders while engaging a wider, diverse expanse of Christian life.
Building equitable online programs means that we will continuously consider how historic and systemic barriers to wealth and technology impact our domestic international students.
Online theological education remains animated by questions that have long grounded residential seminary training: How do we prepare faithful leaders to serve God and others, to do good in a world shaped by systemic violence and injustice? Yet online theological education must also consider new questions: How do we cultivate digital learning communities in pursuit of justice when relational presence no longer requires being together physically?
These questions take on new depth in an era where social media functions as an instrument of misinformation, dissolving our bonds as public citizens, and when digital technologies are harnessed in service of the violent aims of profit and power. But these same tools can enable education, strengthen our communal ties, and empower our efforts to resist injustice and care well for one another.
I have trained and prepared to teach in the traditional, residential model of theological education, where formation requires learning in physical proximity, where students pray, eat, and study side by side. But seminary environments, even in their residential form, have radically changed. Students today juggle graduate studies alongside multiple jobs, caregiving, and ministry demands far beyond the walls of the school. And while once an exciting experiment, digital technology and online learning are now central to the preparation and practice of today’s faith leaders. These changes reflect the new realities of spiritual formation and faithful leadership, they reflect what life and ministry look like in a networked world, and this new reality requires us to prophetically imagine new futures for theological education and ministry.
Transformative theological education must include deep formation that engages the whole, embodied, and contextually situated student. Effective online learning can serve this goal and move us beyond transactional learning models if we consider how digital tools can aid collaborative and community- oriented theological training. How might we, for example, use asynchronous discussion to invite students to practice radical attention and presence with one another, to provide space for deep listening and the co-construction of knowledge? Can we design and record lectures with intentional breaks and guided assignments that require students to pause for contemplative reflection or test lecture insights within real-world ministry concerns? How will we use multimedia assignments and synchronous class sessions to provide opportunities for students to model and receive feedback on professional skills such as spiritual counseling techniques, preaching and liturgical leadership, or conflict mediation practices? Innovative online teaching must facilitate formation and engage students in these kinds of multimodal learning.
The rise of online theological education was accelerated by the pandemic, but its impact on the educational landscape stretches back much further. As the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) has reported, online enrollment at ATS schools grew by 195 percent between 2006 and 2016. Research emerging from this history affirms that online theological education is most successful when it intentionally designs and adapts curriculum, technology, and pedagogies for online learners and prioritizes accessibility and presence. These insights echo educational theories like the Community of Inquiry framework, which emphasizes cognitive, social, teaching, and learner presence in effective online education and the principles of Universal Design for Learning, which insists that multimodal and accessible learning designs benefit all students.
Building accessible, equitable, and sustainable models of online learning is our goal at the BU School of Theology. Centering accessibility will look like proactively ensuring course materials can be read by assistive technology and building enhanced options for online learners to choose and personalize assignments. Building equitable online programs means that we will continuously consider how historic and systemic barriers to wealth and technology impact our domestic and international students. We will ensure that program costs and scholarship opportunities are transparent, remain committed to reducing barriers to access, and work hard to increase financial support for students who need it most. We have learned from our peers that sustainable models of online learning are resilient, built to align and adapt to the capacities of the school and the changing demands of ministry. At STH this means we are committed to using scalable educational technology, will schedule courses to meet student needs and faculty resources, invest in our academic support staff, and build programs that reflect the core of our mission.
Our commitment to online theological education at the School of Theology is a commitment to building digital learning environments where we can practice faithful presence with one another. The media and reflections my students share, like the one included here, invite us all to bear witness to the labor and love required of ministry in an unjust world. Online learning and digital technologies open new opportunities that can enable us to be present, bear witness, and learn together across great geographic difference, to participate in one another’s formation as faithful leaders who “seek peace with justice in a diverse and interconnected world¹.”
1 BUSTH's mission statement, found at bu.edu/about/diversity-statement/#mission
Religious Education Youth Leader, Part Time, First Parish of Norwell, Unitarian Universalist: Norwell, MA
Position: Religious Education Youth Leader (5-8 hours/week – September-June)
We seek a Religious Education Youth Leader that shares in our mission and wants to support the Religious Education program at First Parish of Norwell. The primary responsibility will be to work with the Director of Community Engagement to deliver programming for the young people and youth of the church.
This is a part time position with in-person responsibilities on Sundays (September through June) 9am – 12pm weekly and 4pm - 7pm twice a month for youth group. There is also approximately 2 hours of preparation required each week which can be done at-home.
Supervision: This position is supervised by the Director of Community Engagement
Qualifications:
1. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent level of knowledge and experience in religion, education, or related field;
2. Successful experience teaching young people;
3. Self-starter and ability to work collaboratively with a team;
4. Effective written and oral communication skills, including public speaking; and
5. Familiarity and appreciation for liberal religion, preferably knowledge of Unitarian Universalist traditions.
Responsibilities:
1. Work with the Director of Community Engagement to lead Sunday morning religious education classes for young people, including serving as lead instructor for one class;
2. Serve as Youth Group advisor and attend Youth Group gatherings at least two times per month;
3. Work with the Director of Community Engagement to oversee/teach Our Whole Lives (comprehensive sex education classes) for teenagers (training for Our Whole Lives would be paid by the church);
4. Work under the guidance of the Director of Community Engagement to oversee the youth Coming of Age program;
5. Develop and present a story for the Time for All Ages during Sunday morning services once a month or at the discretion of the Director of Community Engagement.
Compensation: $ 30/ hour; for 3 hours each Sunday morning, 3 hours Sunday evening twice a month, and 1-2 hours of preparation each week, totaling up to 25 hours per month. Funding and time for professional development and collegial support with other UU personnel is available.
Candidates may submit a cover letter, resume and references no later than July 1 to:
Amanda Adams
community@firstparishnorwell.org
Please include “Youth Leader” in the subject heading of your email. Our preference is to have someone in the role beginning September 1st.
Associate Pastor of Worship and Music, Full Time, Second Baptist Church: Liberty, MO
Job Description
Second Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri, seeks to hire a full-time Associate Pastor of Worship and Music. Our music ministry includes adult and youth choirs, a handbell choir, contemporary worship teams, and one of the finest church organs in the Kansas City area. We offer traditional and contemporary worship settings and observances of the liturgical seasons and holidays.
The Associate Pastor of Worship and Music is responsible for the overall leadership of the church’s worship experience and music ministries, which also includes a variety of arts and other mediums. We seek a spiritually mature, emotionally healthy leader who will partner with volunteers and staff to create meaningful worship experiences.
Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to the search committee at 2bcsearch@gmail.com. Application deadline: October 1. Find more information here: 2bcliberty.org/jobs-at-2bc
Additional Information
Youth Ministry Intern, First-Calvary Baptist Church: North Andover, MA
Job Summary
First-Calvary Baptist Church seeks to shape and support the spiritual growth and overall well-being of our young members and attendees by engaging a Youth Ministry Intern to serve as a mentor, guide and teacher, fostering an environment where young people can explore their faith, develop leadership skills, and strengthen their relationships with God and each other. The incumbent will be instrumental in organizing and leading various activities, designed to engage and inspire our youth.
What You’ll Focus On
- Lead and organize effective youth programs focusing on middle and high school ages
- Participate in Sunday morning worship services
- Contribute to church newsletter and social media accounts
- Design and deliver youth activities
- Build authentic, caring relationships with youth and their families
- Collaborate with local church youth leaders to explore offering wider group experiences
What Makes You a Great Candidate
- Current college or seminary student
- Enthusiasm for sharing your faith to help others grow in theirs
- Knowledge of American Baptist beliefs and traditions
- Creative ideas for youth outreach
- Excellent leadership, time management and organizational skills
- Your Working Environment
- Part-time independent contractor role, 30 hours/month, $25/hour
- Sunday mornings expected
- Collaborative, with other church members and staff
- 12-month internship, with the possibility of extension
How to Apply
Submit your CV and cover letter through one of the following:
Email Preferred: officefcbc4@gmail.com
Mail: 586 Massachusetts Ave., North Andover, MA 01845
The church is hoping to launch this role in Fall 2026.
We welcome applications from all qualified individuals.
Campus Minister, Full Time, NOLA Wesley United Methodist Campus Center: New Orleans, LA
Job Description
About NOLA Wesley
NOLA Wesley is the Progressive Christian Ministry serving Tulane and Loyola’s student communities, located in Uptown New Orleans, supported by the United Methodist and Presbyterian Church. We are open to people of all faiths who want to spend time in Christ-centered communities. Our mission is to accept, become, and share Christ’s love by building an inclusive community rooted in faith and justice. We are a proud member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, which advocates for the full inclusion of people of all sexual orientations and gender identities in the United Methodist Church.
Our Core Values
Open Table: We believe in grounding our lives in community, so we start our week centered around dinner and worship on Sunday nights.
Safe Space: We believe in creating safe spaces for students with a diversity of spiritual journeys where no questions are taboo. We have a variety of offerings which may include book studies, scripture, and prayer services.
Changed Lives: We accept everyone the way they are, and we also expect that our lives will be changed by Jesus, so we challenge each other to grow spiritually.
Transformed World: We believe that God wants to transform the world through us. To this end, we seek ways to be of service and fight for justice in the New Orleans community.
In addition to scheduled weekly programming, Wesley’s building is available for studying, hanging out, movie/game nights, and prayer/meditation. We have a student lounge, study room, a back patio, and 2 dorm-style rooms that can accommodate up to 4 residents.
NOLA Wesley also contains a daytime café, The Labyrinth, a designated 1001 New Worshiping Community with the Presbyterian Church. Staffed by work-study students, The Labyrinth offers coffee, teas, paninis, bagels, and snacks. The Labyrinth also serves as an event venue for college bands, theater, craft nights, and a variety of other community events and meetings.
Responsibilities
The primary responsibility of the NOLA Wesley Foundation’s Campus Minister is to create a vibrant, engaged student faith community by planning and executing Wesley programming & worship, providing pastoral care, and encouraging student leadership. Secondary responsibilities include coordinating with local church volunteers, developing relationships with & nurturing the engagement of local churches and universities, working with the board on fundraising, and coordinating with the cafe manager/ Labyrinth co-director.
Desired Skills and Qualifications
• Master of Divinity from an accredited seminary preferred, Ordination, or demonstrated relevant leadership experience
• Harmony with NOLA Wesley’s core values and ministry context
• Highly interpersonally skilled: able to relate to college students, create a welcoming environment, and articulate a compelling vision for NOLA Wesley, the university community, and students’ personal lives
• Creativity in planning and competence in execution of worship and programming
• Teaching/preaching/presentation skills. Calendar/time management/organizational/tidiness skills.
• Pastoral care: ability to provide counseling on spiritual and life issues
• Ability to encourage and develop student leadership
• Competency with information and communications systems, including MS office, email newsletters, and social media
• Ability to operate with minimal day-to-day supervision, be a self-starter and planner, initiative taker
Worship & Programming Duties
• Plan and lead weekly worship service, including coordination of meals provided by local churches
• Lead small groups, equip student leadership for student-led groups
• Plan and participate in fellowship events, retreats, and local mission events
• Develop strategies for outreach to student participants which reflect the diversity of the university campus
• Liaison with Tulane & Loyola Administrations and other student organizations (i.e. offices of multicultural/gender diversity/religious life, other campus religious/service organizations)
• Specific hours and schedule will fluctuate in-semester vs. summer and will include some evening and weekend hours
Pastoral Care Duties
• Welcome students into the Wesley community, regardless of race, class, creed, gender, or sexual orientation
• Be available for conversations and short-term counseling, make appropriate referrals
Labyrinth Café Duties
• Planning and executing Wesley-sponsored Labyrinth events such as open-mic nights
• Coordination with café manager for Labyrinth “venue” events such as band shows, yoga classes, group meetings, etc.
Supervisory and Administrative Duties
• Selection of Student Ministry Team and any part-time staff hires
• Equipping/empowering café manager to ensure the café has supplies and adequate staffing
• Hold regular staff meetings with student leadership for accomplishing weekly support tasks
• Recruiting, screening and coordination of volunteers for ministry needs
• Work with the board on creating a yearly budget, remain conscious of budget when spending throughout the year
• Maintaining an orderly and welcoming space, i.e. organization and decluttering the space when needed
(Weekly cleaning of bathrooms and kitchen is contracted to a cleaning service. Café-related cleaning is by café staff.)
• Maintaining building and resident care (i.e. tracking HVAC filter replacement, corresponding with the Board regarding major building issues, resident/ tenant relationships).
Reporting and Personal Growth
• The Campus Minister reports to the Board of Directors of the NOLA Wesley Foundation; the New Orleans District Superintendent; and the Louisiana Conference Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry.
• The Campus Minister is encouraged to attend continuing education opportunities, with emphasis on campus ministry.
Fundraising
NOLA Wesley is jointly funded by the Louisiana Conference, Presbytery of South Louisiana, 1001 NWC, and donations from supporters and local churches. Wesley raises a portion of its budget every year through local church outreach and online platforms such as Facebook, Patreon, and Donorbox. Additional funding from grants, one-time gifts, and fundraising drives enables a variety of programs. Though the board tries to spearhead these efforts, the campus minister serves as the “face” of Wesley. Being able to articulate a compelling vision to potential donors and being comfortable asking for money to make that vision reality are key.
Compensation
Salary is commensurate with credentials and experience (~52,000 starting range). Insurance and pension through the Louisiana Annual Conference is provided for qualified clergy. A health insurance stipend is offered otherwise. Paid time off equivalent to 20 days per calendar year is included in compensation.
Candidates from outside Louisiana, from other denominations, and non-clergy are also encouraged to apply.
Interested persons should email a resume, cover letter, and two references
To nolawesleyboardchair@gmail.com by August 31, 2026.
Further applications may be accepted past the due date at the discretion of the board of directors.
Additional Information
Website: https://wesley.tulane.edu/
Instagram: labyrinthnola
Youth & Young Adult Engagement Specialist, United Methodist Communications
The Denominational Content Strategy team at UMCom has an exciting opportunity to join their team! We are offering this as a remote opportunity form someone currently located in the United States. Please share with your constituents whom you feel may be interested in this position.
The role of Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist will lead strategic efforts to engage youth and young adults across The UMC while expanding our reach to new and diverse young audiences. This role will develop and implement innovative engagement strategies through compelling content, communications, social media, events, and relationship-building initiatives.
This role requires someone who is passionate about connecting with youth and young adults, to help shape how The UMC engages young people around the world through storytelling and a variety of social and digital platforms.
Other key functions:
- Leads/Develops youth and young adult focused content initiatives across UMC.org, ResourceUMC.org and other platforms
- Represents the church at youth and young adult driven events to capture their voices for storytelling and engagement opportunities
- Monitors analytics and engagement to identify trends and effectiveness
- Collaborates with content creators, contractors, and social media teams
This role requires:
- Bachelor’s degree in communications, ministry, marketing, or a related field
- Theological education, ministry experience, or demonstrated understanding of the life of the church (preferred)
- Sexual Ethics and Safe Sanctuaries training
- 2 years of relevant experience in youth ministry, content strategy, digital engagement, or a related field
- Strong knowledge of social media platforms and emerging trends
- Ability to navigate ministry contexts and communicate effectively across the connection
- Experience building relationships across organizations, conferences, or networks
- Experience with web content, storytelling or multimedia production is preferred
- Familiarity with content strategy, web content management systems, analytics platforms, and basic content production tools (video, audio, or design) preferred
A full list of job functions, accountabilities, and requirements is noted on the attached Job Posting document.Youth and Young Adult Engagement Specialist (External Posting) 07.28.26 (1)
To be considered for this position, complete the attached UMCom Job Application and send it to merlandsson@umcom.org Any questions may be directed to the same email.
Reverend Edwin King (’61, ’63)
The following obituary was originally published by United Methodist News and can be found here.
Rev. Ralph Edwin "Ed" King Jr., beloved father, United Methodist minister, educator, and lifelong champion for justice, passed away on July 4, 2026, the 250th birthday of the USA. An iconic figure in the civil rights movement of the 1960's, Ed King was born on September 20, 1936, in Vicksburg, Mississippi, a state deeply divided by segregation and injustice.
As a young man, his Christian faith and an unwavering belief in the dignity of all people led him to reject the injustices of racism and become one of the most prominent white activists of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi. As Chaplain of Students at Tougaloo College during the pivotal years of the 1960s, he stood shoulder to shoulder with students, clergy, and activists. leaders who risked everything to transform the South.
Ed King worked closely with iconic black leaders that included Medgar Evers, Bob Moses, Fannie Lou Hamer, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., as well as John Salter and others who put their lives on the line to deliver on the promises made by the authors of the Constitution. He was also one of the organizers of the historic sit-in at Woolworth's counter in downtown Jackson and a co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party that played a vital role in the Freedom Summer of 1964.
Ed’s convictions came at great personal cost. Through years of arrests, beatings, threats, and even assault by automobile, Rev. King never wavered in his commitment to justice, reconciliation, and non-violence. A much beloved figure in Jackson, Ed was a devoted father, an insightful teacher, and a man of generosity and wit. In the classroom, or at the dinner table, he challenged you to think critically and act with compassion.
Following the Civil Rights Movement, he continued a life of service through ministry, education, public speaking, and writing. Ed King was a natural story teller. And the one story he never tired of sharing was the story of Mississippi's struggle for justice. He believed that even the darkest days of history must be disclosed truthfully, without sugar coating. Future generations would demand nothing less.
Rev. King’s memoir, Ed King's Mississippi: Behind the Scenes of Freedom Summer, and Opening of the Closed Society (to be published in 2027) provide a valuable history of the people who fought the system and won. Ed leaves behind a family who loved him dearly and cherished his wisdom, wit, and unwavering moral compass.
His legacy is woven into the history of the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi and lives on in the lives of his family, friends, students, and the many others he has inspired over the years. Ed's faith reminds us that justice and love must travel hand in hand. He will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever honored.
Prophetic Witnesses
This article was originally published in the 2026 issue of focus magazine, the annual publication of the BU School of Theology. This article can be found on page 18. By Steve Holt. Illustrations by Stephanie Singleton.
Hope for Self-Injury through Scar Revision
Kate Leavey’s mission in life found her, and it was born from a crisis in her own home.
In 2020, Leavey (’99) discovered that her youngest daughter, who’d survived an assault in 2019 at age 13, was self-injuring as a way to cope with debilitating depression. Leavey began listen - ing to podcasts and reading everything she could to learn about the behavior. She discovered that reports of self-injury, which is classified as a social contagion, had skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the International Society for the Study of Self-Injury, as many as 35 percent of young people ages 12–22 harm their own bodies. And she found that social media algorithms “fed a lonely kid what they were searching for” and are “almost a how-to guide in self-injury.”
Leavey’s daughter was in counseling for her mental health, but she still had the physical reminders of what she was going through in the form of “angry” scars on the inside of her arms. Leavey reached out to an aesthetician friend to learn about scars, and the friend offered to try to make the marks less noticeable. Using laser technology, Newton, Mass.-based clinician Lizabeth Glynn was able to drain all of the color from them.
“Something came back to life in my kid—hope,” Leavey says of the period after her daughter’s scar revision. “She’s a gifted athlete, and that revision was enough for my kid to put her track uniform back on. She had not competed in a year, and three months later she was at a national track meet and became a nationally ranked athlete.”
Filled with gratitude for her daughter’s progress, Leavey realized she could bring that same hope to others who’d experienced self-injury. She says scar revision, which can cost thousands of dollars for each treatment, is siloed from mental health treatment. “The more I investigated, the more I realized nobody had connected these dots,” Leavey says.
In 2023, she set out to do just that. She founded Spark Hope Scar Revision Project, a nonprofit that provides free scar revision treatment and works to reduce the stigma around self-injury. Her friend Cathy Carswell runs operations, and Richard “Rox” Anderson, a Massachusetts General Hospital dermatologist who developed the patented scar revision technologies that make Spark Hope possible, provides medical consulting. Glynn came on as a clinical adviser and board member. Participants work with their mental health therapist to determine their emotional readiness for scar revision and then apply for treatment. In its initial proof-of-concept pilot, Spark Hope served 21 individuals and has just launched Hope in Action, a new pilot in Massachusetts and New Hampshire designed for scalability and to engage donors so the program can expand wherever the need exists. By integrating scar revision with mental health treatment, the program addresses both the physical scars and the hidden emotional wounds they represent—advancing prevention while improv - ing quality of life.
“In addition to the direct impact on participants, this initiative offers a significant opportunity to contribute to the field of knowledge by studying how scar revision linked to mental health influences mental health outcomes and overall well-being,” Leavey says.
Leavey, who has a master’s degree in sacred music from the BU School of Theology, served as director of Liturgical Arts at Boston College, and now directs Sound & Spirit, an intergenerational choir. Leavey has a story not unlike those of STH alumni bringing hope into their corners of the world in a variety of disciplines—including law, social work, and food and environmental justice.
“I stumbled upon a mission that is really beautiful, deeply hopeful, and uniquely of this time,” Leavey says. “It addresses an unmet need of the world, and what an honor to get to do the work of sparking hope.”
Environmentalist, Social Entrepreneur, and Community Builder
The town of Klamath Falls, in south central Oregon, sits on the shores of the massive Upper Klamath Lake, the 700-mile Cascade Mountain range standing sentinel in the distance. The area around the town, with millions of acres of evergreens, spring-fed rivers, and wetlands, is a destination for hikers and paddlers and those passing through from Northern California to Crater Lake National Park and picturesque Bend to the north. Klamath County, which is roughly the area of Connecticut, also embodies many of the challenges facing America’s West: a history of white colonization and marginalization of Indigenous populations, the decline of timber and agricultural industries, and water scarcity. This complicated tapestry is precisely what drew Alex Froom and his family to the area in 2020 after years working in the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona, near the New Mexico border.
“The ecology of the Klamath Basin and the myriad challenges and opportunities for human life here matched our lifestyle and desire for a smalltown quality of life,” Froom ('12, SSW'12) says. “We knew we wanted to start a business of some kind that connected food and land and people.”
Froom and his wife, Malu, are renovating and reimagining a landmark building in downtown Klamath Falls that will bring people together around food, art, and recreation, and will celebrate the ecological beauty—and fragility—of the region. The largely vacant, nearly century-old building, which the Frooms purchased in 2021, is being rebuilt using energy-efficient principles. It will house an artisan bakery (run by the Frooms), a climbing gym, an art gallery, an event space, its own greywater treatment facility, and walkable outdoor spaces. They’re calling it Watershed Row and expect to open it in 2026.
Froom, who earned master’s degrees in divinity and social work while at BU, worked with Navajo youth and built local food systems in Arizona before moving to Oregon. In addition to his work launching Watershed Row, Froom serves on the board of Klamath Grown, a food hub that connects local farmers and ranchers directly with retail and wholesale buyers.
“Behind a lot of our work with food, the built environment, salvaged material, and water is the belief that we can collaborate with matter toward a place of diversity and resilience,” Froom says. “If we’re faithful to that partnership with the creation, new things will come.”
Spirit-Led Social Worker and Counselor
Bridget Kinahan was a relatively new Christian when she enrolled in the School of Theology to learn more about her faith.
“I’d always thought of myself as social justice–oriented,” says Kinahan ('24, SSW'24), who completed a Master of Divinity alongside a Master of Social Work at BU. “At that time, I didn’t know that theology could also be social justice–oriented. I thought I would only be getting it [in the School of Social Work], but I ended up getting it in both.”
Kinahan draws on lessons from both programs in her work in community- based and inpatient mental health care. Most recently, she was a clinical social worker with the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health before taking a position running a substance use day program on Cape Cod in late 2025. Each day as a social worker is different, she says, whether she’s de-escalating someone experiencing psychosis, connecting a patient to a community resource, or leading a recovery meeting. Whatever she is doing, Kinahan says, she tries to do it in love—“as Jesus loved us.”
One of the lessons Kinahan applies most frequently came in an evangelism class at STH, of all places.
“I’d always thought of evangelism as going out with the scary signs and preaching to people, ‘You’re going to burn in hell,’” she says. “But evangelism is about hospitality, radical welcome, and treating others with kindness and decency. I try to think of my social work practice as evangelism, in a way, because I do think I’m preaching through my actions.”
Compassionate Arbiter of Justice
That Herman Griffin IV, the son of a Baptist preacher with a heart for pastoral ministry himself, would be given the title “Reverend” was almost a guarantee. The title of judge, though? That came as more of a surprise. On August 27, 2025, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed Griffin ('25), an attorney who’d been overseeing the district’s 115 public defenders, to Detroit’s 36th District Court, where he presides over a range of cases, from traffic misdemeanors to nonviolent felonies.
Griffin pastored throughout Detroit, preaching in churches (including his father’s) and officiating funerals and weddings. After his mother suffered a massive stroke at Griffin’s graduation from Howard Divinity School, he spent the next three years as her primary caregiver before her death in 2009. He entered law school at the University of Michigan in honor of his late mother, who had enrolled years earlier in Boston College Law School but didn’t finish her degree. For 10 years, Griffin worked as a criminal defense attorney in the 36th District Court, arguing cases before all 30 judges there—including the one who would recommend him for the bench upon his retirement.
A few months before he was sworn in, Griffin completed STH’s hybrid Doctor of Ministry program, with an emphasis in transformational leadership—this time honoring his father, who always aspired to pursue a DMin. Griffin, who won STH’s Edith P. and Augustus G. Hare Preaching Prize for best text-based sermon, sees both ministry and the law as restorative in nature—“helping people in their most vulnerable moments.
“I say a prayer every time I zip up my robe,” he says. “I say, ‘Thank you for this opportunity. Let me lead today with integrity, humility, and compassion.’”
Reverend Desiree Ann Lindsay (’87)
The following obituary was originally published by Legacy Obituaries and can be found here.
THE OBITUARY HONORING REVEREND DESIREE LINDSAY Reverend Desiree A. Lindsay was born on March 25, 1955, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to the late Matthew and Edna Lindsay, formerly of Newberry, South Carolina. On June 26, 2026, Reverend Desiree A. Lindsay answered the Master's call and entered eternal rest. She was preceded in death by her beloved brother, Matthew Lindsay, Jr., of Bridgeport, Connecticut. She leaves to cherish her memory two devoted sisters, Deacon Cynthia Seabrook and Jacqueline Sutton, both of Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Reverend Lindsay received her early education in the Bridgeport Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance, a Master of Science degree in Secondary Education, and a Sixth-Year Professional Diploma in Educational Administration from the University of Bridgeport. In 1987, she received a Master of Divinity degree, with concentrations in Pastoral Psychology and New Testament, from Boston University School of Theology. Answering God's call to ministry, Reverend Lindsay entered the ministry in January 1984 at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
She was ordained an Itinerant Deacon during the African Methodist Episcopal Church Bicentennial Celebration in June 1987 and was ordained an Itinerant Elder in 1989 at Emmanuel AME Church in New York City.Known for her thoughtful preaching, deep knowledge of Scripture, and compassionate spirit, Reverend Lindsay ministered with wisdom, humility, and a heart wholly devoted to Christ. Throughout the next four decades, she faithfully served as an Associate Minister at Bethel AME Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut; Charles Street AME Church in Boston, Massachusetts; Bethel AME Church in Buffalo, New York; and Bethel AME Church in Greenwich, Connecticut.
After more than thirty years of faithful service as an associate minister, Reverend Desiree A. Lindsay was appointed Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, during the 173rd Session of the New England Annual Conference in April 2024. Her appointment to the pastorate was the culmination of decades of dedicated ministry, steadfast faith, and unwavering commitment to the call of God. Those who worshiped alongside her knew her as a faithful servant whose greatest desire was to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and shepherd God's people with grace and compassion.
Her ministry extended beyond the local church. She served as a Connecticut State STEM Consultant and later answered the call to chaplaincy, providing compassionate spiritual care as a trauma chaplain in Camden, New Jersey, and as a hospice chaplain in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Through these ministries, she faithfully walked alongside individuals and families during some of life's most difficult moments, offering hope, comfort, and the assurance of God's abiding presence.Education was one of Reverend Lindsay's great passions. She devoted more than thirty years to teaching business education, adult education, and Spanish in Bridgeport and Stratford, Connecticut; Seabrook, New Jersey; and Brookline, Massachusetts.
She also shared her expertise as a grant proposal writer, helping organizations secure resources to strengthen their ministries and programs. A lifelong scholar, she could read the New Testament in its original Greek and possessed a working knowledge of the Spanish language. An avid reader and lifelong learner, Reverend Lindsay delighted in sharing knowledge with others. She especially enjoyed tutoring children, encouraging them to believe in themselves and strive for excellence. Years ago, she combined her love of Scripture and learning by creating religious puzzles that inspired others to grow in their faith while enjoying God's Word.
Reverend Lindsay's heart for ministry extended far beyond the walls of the church. She was truly a missionary at heart, always ready to serve, encourage, and help anyone in need. Her family lovingly recalls that she was the kind of person who would "give you the shirt off her back." Whether through acts of kindness, words of encouragement, or practical assistance, she quietly demonstrated Christ's love to everyone she met. Her commitment to serving others also included her involvement at Russell Temple CME Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut, where she was an active member of the Gospel Choir and founded an After-School Head Start Program for children in the community.
She concluded her professional career in public service as an employee of the City of New Haven. Above all, Reverend Lindsay loved the Lord with her whole heart and unwavering faith. She often declared, "He can do what no other Holy Ghost power can do!" Her life reflected that conviction through her ministry, teaching, service, and steadfast witness. Her personal motto, Stay Blessed, became both her greeting and her prayer for everyone she encountered.
Reverend Desiree A. Lindsay leaves to cherish her precious memory her sisters, Deacon Cynthia Seabrook and Jacqueline Sutton; her sister-in-law, Tammy N. Lindsay of Bridgeport, Connecticut; her nieces and nephews: Leonard L. Lindsay (Devona), LaShanda C. Sutton, Ernest C. Seabrook (Christina), Brandon J. Seabrook, and Tianna S. Daniels-Lindsay; her great-nieces and great-nephews: DaShaun Lindsay, Tavon Lindsay, LaShaya C. Sutton, Elaijah Seabrook, Steven J. Bradford, Jr., Eyleyah Seabrook, Saniya J. Bradford, Kayden Daniels Martinez, Elayna Seabrook, Brandon J. Seabrook, Jr., Aiden Seabrook, Eva Seabrook, and Skylar Brown; eight great-great-nieces and nephews; her special cousin, Gloria Lindsay; her cherished friends, Reverend Ellis B. Louden, Debra Dean, and Vendette Thomas; her beloved church families of Bethel AME Church, Greenwich, Connecticut; Bethel AME Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut; and Russell Temple CME Church, Bridgeport, Connecticut; together with a host of cousins, extended family members, colleagues, and dear friends whose lives were enriched by her faith, wisdom, generosity, and love.
Though her earthly labor has ended, Reverend Desiree A. Lindsay's legacy of faithful service, compassionate ministry, intellectual curiosity, generous spirit, and unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ will continue to inspire all who were privileged to know and love her.
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." -2 Timothy 4:7 (NKJV)
Stay Blessed.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Faithful Minister, Part Time, Westmoreland United Church: Westmoreland, NH
Westmoreland United Church
Westmoreland
Seeking a Faithful Minister
The Westmoreland United Church of Christ in Westmoreland, NH is prayerfully seeking a part-time dedicated minister with strong preaching skills, a faithful heart, and a vision for equipping believers to live out their faith.
God is calling our church to grow and continue to act as a central pillar of our community.
We aspire to be a positive beacon of hope and faith for everyone
About Our Congregation:
We cherish the deep sense of community that defines life here — neighbors who know one another by name and show up when it matters. There is a genuine commitment to looking
after one another and investing in the places we share. Our corner of New Hampshire feels like a Currier and Ives painting come to life: rolling fields, wooded hillsides, and open land stretching in every direction. Wildlife is a familiar presence, and when winter arrives, snow transforms the landscape into something quietly spectacular. It is a place where the rhythm of the seasons still shapes daily life, and where people choose to stay — or choose to come — because the land and the community feel like home.
Salary and benefits are negotiable and based on experience.
If you feel called to serve with us, please send your resume, references and any available sermon recordings to:
Westmoreland United Church of Christ
c/o Jo Ann LaBarre
PO Box 214
Westmoreland, NH 03467
Phone: 603 399-9028
Email: joann8@myfairpoint.net
Detailed information can be found at: https://www.nhcucc.org/search-and-call
The Westmoreland United Church is "Small - But Mighty"