Alumni News
Dr. Milton Lorimer Boyle, Jr. (GRS ’69, STH ’69)
Obituary coming...
Director/Associate Pastor of Family Ministries, Full-Time, UMC: Macon, GA
Mulberry Street UMC, a vibrant and engaged downtown church in the heart of Macon, Georgia, announces a search for its next Director/Associate Pastor of Family Ministries. This position reports to the Senior Pastor and serves as a vital member of the ministry staff of the church.
The Director/Associate Pastor will value collaboration and innovation, bringing with her or him a willingness to try new ideas and learn from experience. This person should value working on a team, including seeking and receiving input from others. She or he should also bring new ideas and a passion for working with children, youth, and their families. The position offers the chance to be inventive as she/he works with the new Senior Pastor and other staff members to build up the ministry of the church.
Mulberry values its families as active participants in the life of the church, including worship. This position will lead existing programs, such as the acolyte program, weekly youth group meeting, and children’s church, while also developing new opportunities to nurture our youth and attract new families. It will also create ministry opportunities that engage families as a unit, providing a nurturing and encouraging environment for children of all ages and their parents. This is an emerging and evolving position, valuing comfortability with ambiguity and initiative- taking.
This position is full-time, offering a salary commensurate with experience and the option to participate in benefits. Candidates eligible for or currently pursuing ordination in The United Methodist Church will be eligible for South Georgia Annual Conference benefits and minimum salary requirements. This includes a healthcare plan paid in full by the church and participation in CRSP and UMPIP.
Previous experience working with children, youth, and/or in a ministry setting are required, as is understanding and background in The United Methodist Church. Seminary students approaching graduation are encouraged to apply.
To express interest, please send your resume and cover letter to Dr. Ted Goshorn: tgoshorn@mulberrymethodist.org.
3 Positions, Full-Time/Part-Time, Baptist: Jamaica Plain, MA
Click on the positions to read full job descriptions.
The Centre for Faith, Art & Justice and the First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain are seeking to hire a full-time coordinator for our Food Justice Program. We are looking for someone passionate about food justice and who is willing to develop this program along with us.
Community Liaison & Social Worker
First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain/The Centre for Faith, Art & Justice are seeking a committed and dynamic individual to fill the critical role of Social Work & Community Liaison. The goals of this position is to assist food insecure individuals and families with a wide range of resources, to support volunteers in making the program run smoothly and provide needed data for evaluation and funding.
Minister of Music
Part-Time
The First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, a multi-cultural, theologically progressive, welcoming and affirming congregation, grounded in the principles of the Gospel of Love and service to humanity, is seeking an Minister of Music to foster and engage congregational worship through a wide musical repertoire (gospel, jazz, folk, world, hymnody/classical, pop/rock etc.) We believe that vibrant, meaningful, inspirational music contributes both to the theological formation and pastoral care of our community. To this end the Minister of Music must have an understanding of Christian worship and experience leading corporate worship and congregational singing.
What My Faith Means to Me: STH Community Members Featured in BU Today’s Photo Essay
On March 23, 2022, BU Today released a photo essay titled “What My Faith Means to Me.” The series, centered around photos taken by photographer Cydney Scott, followed Boston University community members who submitted their faith stories to the publication, and showcased how each person incorporated their religious and spiritual faiths into their daily lives on campus. Many STH community members were featured, including Martha Schick (‘22), Chloe McLaughlin (‘22), Assistant Dean for Development and Alumni Relations Ray Joyce (Questrom’91), Kristen Hydinger (‘15), and Kristian Kohler (‘25).
David Lee Forry, D.Min. (STH’89)
This obituary was originally posted on the Melvin Funeral Home and can be found here.
Reverend Doctor David Lee Forry of Magnolia, Delaware, formerly of Jaffrey, New Hampshire, died on February 14, 2022 at the Cadia Capitol Nursing Home in Dover, Delaware. David was 88 years old.
David, son of the late Mignon and Carlton Forry, grew up in Marysville and Columbus, Ohio. As a youth, David was active in scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. David graduated from Columbus High School in 1951 and enlisted in the United States Army. David trained with the 1st Infantry Division in Kansas and had orders to the war in Korea. At the last minute, the Army learned that David had learned Morse Code in the Boy Scouts, and diverted him to the communication school at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts. There David became an instructor, teaching coded communication and radio direction finding to other soldiers. David mustered out of the Army after the war and enrolled in college on the G.I. Bill. He earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1958, a Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1964, and was ordained a minister of the United Methodist Church. Reverend Forry went on to attain a Master of Sacred Theology degree from Wesley Theological Seminary in 1967 and completed his Doctor of Ministry at Boston University in 1989.
David married Kathryn Christensen, of Redford, Michigan, in 1964 and they remained married until Kathryn’s death in 2018. In 1969, David took a position as Chaplain at the Hampshire Country School in Rindge, New Hampshire and he and Kathryn moved to New Hampshire. For nearly 50 years Rev. Forry was a frequent substitute minister at churches in Southwest New Hampshire and Northern Massachusetts. David was an associate minister for the Cathedral of the Pines, officiating numerous weddings, baptisms, and veterans’ and fraternal organizations’ events at the Cathedral. Though he loved preaching in churches, David’s primary ministry was as a Licensed Pastoral Counselor and being a therapist. Dr. Forry was a founding member, and eventually Director, of the Monadnock Area Pastoral Counseling Service. One of his proudest accomplishments was implementing on-site counseling services for employees of large
companies in the Monadnock Region, such as New Hampshire Ball Bearings and Millipore. Dr. Forry worked in private practice as a Pastoral Counselor, as well as serving as the Staff Chaplain at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, New Hampshire until his retirement in 2009.
David was pre-deceased by his wife Kathryn; his brothers, Dudley and Kingsley Forry; and his sister, Deborah Best.
David is survived by his son Erik Forry (Anne) of Magnolia, Delaware; by his son (and best buddy) Karl Forry of Dover, Delaware; and his grandsons Daniel Forry of Omaha, Nebraska and Kevin Forry of Felton, Delaware.
There will be an indoor memorial service at the Cathedral of the Pines, in Rindge, New Hampshire at 1:00 O’clock P.M. on Saturday, March 12, 2022. Interment will be at a later date at the Cathedral of the Pines Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Alzheimer’s Association: 225 N. Michigan Ave., Fl. 17, Chicago, IL 60601. www.alz.org
Arrangements are by the Thomas E. Melvin & Son Funeral Home Inc, Harrington. Visit us at www.melvinfuneralhome.com to sign the condolence book.
Rev. David W. Briddell (STH’55)
This obituary was originally posted on the Lewis N. Watson Funeral Home and can be found here.
Reverend David Wesley Briddell, of Berlin, Maryland, passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, February 20, 2022, with his family present. He was 90 years old. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Jane Brice Briddell, his daughter, Jocelyn Briddell, his younger brother, John C. Briddell (Emma), his granddaughter, Syeeda Thomas Briddell, and several nieces and nephews. His son, Mark Briddell, predeceased him in 1988, as well as siblings, William D. Briddell (Elsie), Carlton Smack (Sarah), and Helen P. Briddell Emerson (John).
Born and raised by his parents, William T. and Elsie C. Briddell, in Berlin, he finished high school and he attended Morgan State College (now Morgan State University) in Baltimore, Maryland. He went on to study and graduate from Boston University Theological Seminary. While there, he was friends with classmate and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity brother, Martin Luther King, Jr. Ordained as a Methodist minister in 1955, David served two congregations including Shiloh United Methodist Church in Crisfield, Maryland and Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1965, David accepted a position with the General Board of Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church, in New York City, where he was responsible for the production of audio visuals interpreting the mission work of the Board. In 1978, he took the position of Director of Intermedia with the National Council of Churches in New York City. He worked overseas with churches and agencies to develop communication and educational programs for adults and children.
In his retirement, David and Dr. Clara Small, a now retired professor of history at Salisbury University in Salisbury, Maryland, wrote the book "Men of Color, to Arms!" detailing the historical contribution by African American soldiers to the Civil War (1861-1865). David and his wife wrote a book outlining the history of the Waters, Briddell and Fassett families. David was also elected an honorary life member of the World Association for Christian Communication and to the Hall of Fame of the United Methodist Association of Communicators.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 26, 2022, at 11 AM at Lewis N. Watson Funeral Home, P.A., 1618 West Road, Salisbury. Family visitation will be held from 10 to 11 AM. An Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Omega Ceremony will begin at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow the funeral service at Saint Paul's Cemetery, 10543 Assateague Road, Berlin. If you wish to sign the guestbook, please do so online.
Rev. Dr. Samuel S. Bombara (STH’76, ’82)
This obituary was originally published in The Lexington Minuteman, The Somerville Journal, and can be found online here.
Dr. Samuel S. Bombara, of Lexington, formerly of Somerville, passed away peacefully on February 18th, 2022.
Beloved husband of Genevieve C. (Manganello) Bombara. Loving father of Marie Carvalho and husband Arthur of Belmont and cherished grandfather of Philip, Kristina and Stephen Carvalho. Brother of his sister Dr. Rosemarie Manganello and husband Dr. James Manganello, his sister Mildred Detert and husband Rev. Douglas Detert, his brother Dr. Paul Bombara and wife Concetta Bombara and the late Joseph Bombara, John Bombara and sister Catherine Lorusso. Samuel is also survived by two sisters-in-law, Lena Bombara and Maria Bombara. He was blessed with many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends whom he loved so dearly.
Dr. Bombara was founder and pastor of St. Paul Evangelical Church which first opened in Somerville on 45 College Ave. in May of 1956. In September of 1999, the congregation built and moved into a new facility at 451 Lowell St. in Lexington. In addition to pastoring St. Paul's Church, Dr. Bombara taught an array of courses at Zion Bible Institute in Providence, RI, now known as Northpoint Bible College in Haverhill. His life and education molded him into a man with a missionary's heart with a particular burden for Eastern Europe. He has been a professor at the Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia for over forty years where he also served as Chairman of the Board. He also had the opportunity to lecture and teach in other countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania, Russia and the Ukraine.
Relatives and friends are invited to visiting hours in the Christ Revolution Church, 451 Lowell St., Lexington on February 28th from 3 - 7 p.m. and to his funeral service on March 1st at 10 a.m. in Christ Revolution Church. Burial to follow in Westview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to New Europe Vision, P.O. Box 9000, Peabody, MA. 01961. Arrangements are under the care of DeVito Funeral Home of Arlington. To view an online guestbook, please visit: www.devitofuneralhome.com
Pastor, Full-Time, Presbyterian, Londonderry, NH
Londonderry Presbyterian Church is a cornerstone of the southern New Hampshire town of Londonderry and has existed for the past 300 years. We are seeking pastoral leadership to continue the growth of this Biblically grounded congregation and its outreach programs, both live and online, within the community, nation, and world.
LPC is seeking a full-time pastor to lead us into a progressive future. Our congregation consists of approximately 41 active members who are familial in nature. They worship, play, and work together in all activities of the church. The members support several missions throughout the area with both monetary and physical efforts. We require applicants who are a Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) or willing to work towards this status. This person must be capable of providing worthy worship, compassionate pastoral care, competent administration, sound leadership, and effective computer literacy to and for the congregation.
Qualities for which we are searching include, but are not limited to, hiring a person who will:
• Lead a welcoming worship life for our church and articulate with passion, weekly sermons that connect with the Word of God and life lessons that are applicable to parishioners’ everyday lives;
• Administer the Sacraments and highlight the celebrations of sacred holidays;
• Officiate at baptisms, weddings, and funerals;
• Energize and help LPC to grow and to attract new members;
• Support and motivate the numerous volunteers and groups that provide outreach through assistance in developing the LPC Web page, keeping the church’s online presence current and up-to-date, learning and leading in the applications of digital tools, and participating in all other methods of communication that can be utilized to promote our missions and message throughout the church, community, nation, and world;
• Continue our traditions with active presence in Bible study, the Londonderry Clergy Association, the Walking Together Group, SALT, Parkland Hospital’s Chaplains’ Group, Lamplighters, LPC’s monthly newsletter, and several local shelters, including a shelter for homeless veterans and a halfway home for women recovering from addiction;
• Coordinate all necessary aspects of the worship team’s efforts to support the best ministerial services possible;
• Provide conflict resolution, when needed, to assist congregants, and others, to discover common ground across various age groups and philosophies;
• Tend to the emergency care of members of our church, and others, in times of crisis by exhibiting compassion and empathy, whether it be in a hospital, nursing home, and/or hospice;
• Serve as moderator for church session meetings and the Annual Meeting (only if and/or when he/she obtains the status of a Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP);
• Act as a support system and provide resources for committee meetings and other congregational groups;
• Represent LPC and actively engage with the Presbytery of Northern New England by attending regularly scheduled Presbytery meetings, either live or via an online format;
• Maintain and follow all guidelines as set forth in the safe-church policy at LPC.
Londonderry Presbyterian Church was founded in Londonderry, New Hampshire, by Reverend James McGregor in 1735, although it actually had its start in 1719, when the congregation that had emigrated from Northern Ireland listened to Rev. McGregor’s first sermon under a large tree. Our congregation is one of the oldest ongoing congregations in America. We are proud of our history and carry it with us as we look forward to the bright future that God has planned.
We are a vibrant, multi-generational congregation located on the corner of Mammoth and Pillsbury Roads in Londonderry, NH, which is a fast-growing, southern New Hampshire community minutes from the border of Massachusetts. The 2019 Census estimate for Londonderry was 26,490 residents, which ranked eighth among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns. The Population Density and Land Area, 2019 (US Census Bureau) indicates 630.3 persons per square mile of land area. The Town of Londonderry is known for its lush apple orchards, welcoming and safe community walking trails, and close proximity to vibrant theaters, eclectic musical venues, and world-class art museums.
Applicants may review our Web site and/or our Facebook presence at: https://lpcnh.net/ or https://www.facebook.com/lpcnh/ Please email a cover letter, a resume or a PIF to: Dr. David E. Walker at pc@lpcnh.net
Rev. Lee B. Hirt (STH’67)
This obituary was originally posted on The Daily Independent and can be found here.
Rev. Lee Hirt graduated to glory on March 1, 2022. He faithfully served his Lord and the Methodist church for fifty plus years. He leaves behind his wife, Mary and his children. Stephen, Kimberly, Julie, Brian, and Dawn; thirteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial will be held on April 2, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church in Sun City West.
Ylisse Bess (STH’17) Announced New Program Director for Trauma-Responsive Congregations Project
The Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to announce that Ylisse Bess (STH'17), staff chaplain at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, will become the Program Director for BUSTH’s Trauma-Responsive Congregations grant, funded by Lilly Endowment.
Currently serving as an advisor for the grant, Bess is stepping into a new role focused on providing direction and support to the Boston and San Diego congregations participating in the grant. Bess will advise congregational leaders in implementing their projects, lead educational initiatives that will foster new learning across the congregations, and partner with BUSTH Associate Professor of Theology Shelly Rambo in grant-related research.
Bess brings a combination of skills and experience as a chaplain, is a thought-leader in the areas of Black wellness and spiritual care, and is an educator in theological settings. Bess recently co-taught the course “Spiritual Care for the Non-Religious,” at BUSTH with chaplaincy colleague Rev. Mary Martha Theil, Director of Clinical Pastoral Education at Hebrew Senior Life.
“Bess is creative, grounded, inspired, and inspiring,” says Shelly Rambo, principal investigator for the Trauma-Responsive Congregations grant. “Their ability to interpret and respond to complex situations while empowering individuals is unparalleled.”
The Trauma-Responsive Congregations program is supporting six congregations – three in Boston and three in San Diego – as they implement projects in their communities. For more information about the grant, please visit https://www.traumaresponsivecongregations.org/.