Hanna Dias, a Brazilian graduate student at Boston University School of Theology who served as a facilitator, said the program also affirms participants’ cultural identity.
As an Afro-Brazilian woman studying in the United States, Dias understands the challenges of adapting to a new culture while remaining true to one’s identity.
“I didn’t come to this country to stop being Brazilian,” she said. “I came to study and serve my community with the knowledge I gain here.”
Gary D. Bryant, 81, passed away on July 29, 2025 at his home in Rio Verde, AZ. He was born on October 30, 1943 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Wyle Devon “Dee” and LeIsle “Lee” Bryant, and grew up in Wabash, Indiana. A talented trumpet player, Gary spent his summers playing at Culver Academy—an early expression of his lifelong love for music.
He graduated from DePauw University in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He went on to earn a Master of Theology and Ministry from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1970 and a Master of Social Ethics from Boston University in 1975.
After his undergraduate work he and his ex-wife, Johannah Bryant, participated in the Vista Volunteer program working with underserved populations in the U.S.
Gary dedicated his life to ministry within the United Church of Christ (UCC). He began his pastoral career as Associate Pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church, in Lawrence, Kansas, where he worked closely with the youth, led groups, and delivered memorable children’s sermons each Sunday. He later served numerous UCC congregations in Onega, Topeka and Kansas City, Kansas, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Denver, Colorado, as an interim pastor, guiding them through times of transition with wisdom, compassion, and care. His conflict management skills, humor, and counseling background were ideal for work as an interim minister. He also served as Associate Conference Minister for the Southwest Conference of the UCC for about 9 years while living in Phoenix, AZ, supporting churches and clergy across the region.
He spent many years in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, and in the later part of his career, served a small and close-knit congregation in Collbran, Colorado, until his retirement.
Gary had a sharp mind, a thoughtful nature, and a remarkable sense of humor. He used jokes and light-heartedness to ease tension and bring comfort to others—both in his ministry and in everyday life. As an adult, he developed a love for tennis, enjoying the game as both a physical challenge and a social joy. Gary loved being outside hiking, photographing nature, taking on the challenge of a new creative outlet, watching KU basketball, and listening to music. Whether in a pulpit, on a tennis court, or around the dinner table, Gary had a gift for putting people at ease and making them feel seen and valued.
He is survived by his loving wife, Linda Carlson Shaw; his daughters Leticia Cole (Jason) and Sarah Maier (Andy); and his stepdaughters Christie Shaw Ulichny (Mike) and Krystal Shaw. He was a proud grandfather to eight grandchildren: Carson Cole, Cali Cole, Emery Cole, Ella Maier, Owen Maier, Mackenzie Maier, Jonah Ulichny, and Madelyn Ulichny. He is also survived by his brothers, Gregg Bryant (Sherry) and Gene Bryant.
Gary will be remembered for his deep faith, his generous spirit, his humor, and the countless lives he touched through his ministry, his presence, and his love.
There will be an informal memorial for Gary on November 15th, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Mayflower Room at Plymouth Congregational Church.
Children’s Ministry Nursery Staff Pay: $25 per hour 1-3 hours per week Trinitarian Congregational Church 54 Walden Street Concord, MA 01742
Job Overview: We are seeking a dedicated nursery staff member to join the Children’s Ministry team on Sunday mornings during the worship hour. The ideal candidate will have experience in educational settings with infants through Pre-Kindergarten age group and a passion for working with children. While most of the toys, crafts and books are faith-based, religious instruction is not expected.
Responsibilities: - Provide attentive care and supervision to infants and young children in Church nursery on Sunday mornings year round. - Support students with special needs or behavioral challenges. - Maintain a safe and nurturing learning environment. - Create simple activity projects to keep children entertained such as crafts, songs, games, that are age and developmentally appropriate. - Provide toddler care and support as needed. - Follow “Safe Church” policies.
Skills: - 2 years of experience working with students in childcare settings. - Must pass background and CORI check. - Ability to provide first aid as needed. - Must be available Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 and other times upon mutual agreement. - Background in early childhood education is a plus, but not required. - Must be at least 18 years old.
Interested candidates should see our website, triconchurch.org, for more information about who we are and our mission. If you are passionate about working with young children in an affirming faith environment and have the necessary skills, we encourage you to email your resume to the Hiring Manager/Supervisor for this role, Addison Saviers, Director of Children and Families, to addison@triconchurch.org.
Tides Hospice is seeking a compassionate, experienced Hospice Chaplain / Spiritual Counselor to provide spiritual care, emotional support, and bereavement services to hospice patients and their families throughout Southeastern Massachusetts.
This is a part-time position (20 hours per week) offering $35–$40 per hour, depending on experience.
If you have a passion for serving others during life’s most meaningful moments and enjoy working as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team, we encourage you to apply.
Position: Hospice Chaplain / Spiritual Counselor
Company: Tides Hospice
Job Type: Part-Time
Schedule: Approximately 20 hours per week
Pay: $35.00–$40.00 per hour
Service Area: Southeastern Massachusetts
Travel: Local travel to patients’ homes, assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, and other care settings throughout Southeastern Massachusetts
Job Responsibilities Provide compassionate spiritual care and emotional support to hospice patients and their families throughout the Tides Hospice service area in Southeastern Massachusetts. Assess patients’ spiritual needs and incorporate those needs into the hospice plan of care. Participate in Interdisciplinary Group (IDG) meetings and collaborate with nurses, social workers, physicians, aides, and other hospice team members. Provide grief and bereavement support to families before and after the loss of a loved one. Coordinate spiritual services with community clergy and faith leaders according to each patient’s beliefs and preferences. Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant clinical documentation. Conduct or assist with memorial services, funeral services, and other spiritual ceremonies when requested. Build relationships with clergy, faith communities, and community organizations throughout Southeastern Massachusetts to support patient care. Educate staff and community partners regarding spiritual care and end-of-life issues. Participate in on-call spiritual care coverage as needed. Requirements Required
Graduate of an accredited seminary or school of theology, or equivalent training in pastoral or hospital ministry. Certificate or degree in Pastoral Ministry, Divinity, Theology, or a related field. Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and current auto insurance. Ability to pass a criminal background check. Excellent communication, active listening, and interpersonal skills. Ability to work independently and manage a flexible schedule. Respect for diverse religious, spiritual, and cultural beliefs. Preferred Two or more years of experience as a Hospice Chaplain, Hospital Chaplain, Spiritual Counselor, Pastoral Counselor, or similar role. Experience providing direct patient care within the past three years. Experience working in hospice, home health, palliative care, hospital, or healthcare settings. Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
Physical Requirements Ability to travel throughout the Tides Hospice service area in Southeastern Massachusetts. Ability to walk, bend, kneel and reach. Ability to work in home healthcare and facility environments. Must meet all required health screenings, including annual TB testing and other state-required requirements.
Why Join Tides Hospice? At Tides Hospice, we believe compassionate care includes supporting the emotional and spiritual well-being of every patient and family we serve throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. We value teamwork, integrity, respect, and personalized care, creating an environment where employees can make a meaningful difference every day.
Benefits Competitive hourly pay: $35–$40 per hour Flexible part-time schedule (20 hours per week) Supportive interdisciplinary team Meaningful work serving patients and families throughout Southeastern Massachusetts Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel Opportunities for professional growth and community engagement
Apply today to join Tides Hospice and help provide comfort, hope, and compassionate spiritual care to patients and families across Southeastern Massachusetts.
1-3 hours per week during the school year Trinitarian Congregational Church 54 Walden Street Concord, MA 01742
Job Overview: We are seeking a dedicated Children’s Ministry Assistant to join the Children’s Ministry team on Sunday mornings during the worship hour, and during other church events. The ideal candidate will have experience in educational settings with Kindergarten through 5th graders and a passion for working with children. While most of the toys, crafts and books are faith-based, religious instruction is not expected.
Responsibilities: - Assisting the Director of Children and Families in all activities. - Providing secondary supervision to Kindergarteners through 5th graders during September to mid-June. - Support students with exceptionalities, disabilities, or behavioral challenges. - Maintain a safe and nurturing learning environment. - Assist the Director of Children and Families with activities, projects, and curriculum for instruction during Sunday morning “Children’s Church.” - Follow “Safe Church” policies.
Skills: - 2 years of experience working with students in childcare settings. - Must pass background and CORI check. - Ability to provide first aid as needed. - Must be available Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 11:30 and other times upon mutual agreement. - Background in early childhood education is a plus, but not required. - Must be at least 18 years old.
Interested candidates should see our website, triconchurch.org, for more information about who we are and our mission. If you are passionate about working with young children in an affirming faith environment and have the necessary skills, we encourage you to email your resume to the Hiring Manager/Supervisor for this role, Addison Saviers, Director of Children and Families, to addison@triconchurch.org.
This obituary was originally published by Echovita and can be found here
Robert E. Reber of Gahanna, Ohio passed away on July 14, 2026. Robert, born on November 17, 1937, shared life alongside family, friends, and others. Leave a sympathy message to the family in the guestbook on this memorial page of Robert E. Reber to show support.
Robert will be remembered for the impact he had on the lives of those around him. Friends, family, and colleagues will cherish their memories and the time shared. Those who knew Robert will remember moments of kindness, warmth, and presence. Though words cannot fully capture his life, the legacy of connections and experiences remains. Robert’s absence will be deeply felt by those who valued his companionship.
He was predeceased by: his brother Bill Reber. He is survived by: his wife Wendy; his daughter Shelah (Michael); his stepgranddaughter Madison; his son Aaron (Debbie); his grandchildren, Kaylii and Robert Jackson; his sister Jeannie Durkin (Michael); and his sister-in-law Judy. He is also survived by extended family, dear friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Auburn Theological Seminary (NYC) and Bread for the World.
Restoration Church is seeking a full-time Director of NOW Generation Ministry to lead an outward-facing ministry with children, youth, students, and families in Reston.
This role is part of Restoration’s NOW Generation Initiative, a three-year investment to reach young people, strengthen children’s and student ministries, deepen relationships with local schools, and build a church for every generation.
This is not simply a traditional youth director role. The Director of NOW Generation
Ministry will focus significantly on community connection, outreach, and evangelism — developing relationships with students, families, schools, and youth-serving organizations throughout the Reston community.
About Restoration Church
Restoration Church is a United Methodist congregation in Reston, Virginia, committed
to restoring the wonder of Christ, the beauty of the Church, and the wholeness of
our communities.
We worship on Sundays at South Lakes High School and seek to be deeply rooted in our community through worship, discipleship, Fresh Expressions, community partnerships, and missional engagement.
Position Summary
The Director of NOW Generation Ministry will lead Restoration’s ministry with children, youth, students, and families, with a primary focus on outreach, evangelism, school partnerships, and community connection.
This position reports directly to the Lead Pastor and works collaboratively with staff, volunteers, parents, students, schools, and community partners.
Primary Responsibilities
Community Connection, Outreach, and Evangelism — 50%
The primary focus of this role is to build relationships and create meaningful pathways for students and families to connect with Restoration Church and the love of Christ.Responsibilities include developing relationships with South Lakes High School, Hughes
Middle School, Terraset Elementary School, and other local schools and youth-serving organizations; networking with administrators, teachers, counselors, coaches, parents, and community leaders; identifying ways Restoration can serve local schools; and helping create pathways from community connection into worship, discipleship, service, leadership, and belonging.
Sunday Ministry — 25%
The Director will prepare and lead Sunday Student Ministries programming for students ages 12–18 and resource Kids Life teachers and volunteers serving children ages 3–11.
Responsibilities include preparing curriculum, supplies, and volunteer support; recruiting, training, and encouraging volunteers; communicating with parents and caregivers; and helping children, youth, and families experience Sunday worship as part of an intergenerational church community.
Ministry Beyond Sundays — 25%
The Director will develop ministry opportunities beyond Sunday mornings, including student gatherings, small groups, mentoring opportunities, service projects, retreats, mission experiences, seasonal events, and leadership development pathways.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have:
• A mature and growing Christian faith
• A passion for reaching children, youth, students, and families with the love of Christ
• Strong relational, networking, and community-building skills
• Experience in youth ministry, children’s ministry, family ministry, campus ministry, church planting, Fresh Expressions, community engagement, or a related field
• Ability to connect with students, parents, volunteers, school leaders, and community partners
• Strong communication and organizational skills
• Ability to recruit, equip, and empower volunteers
• Commitment to safe, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate ministry with children and youth
• Alignment with the mission and values of Restoration Church and the United Methodist tradition
Bachelor’s degree preferred, though equivalent ministry experience will be considered.Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range: $60,000–$65,000
Benefits: Pension and PTO benefits included according to Restoration Church personnel policies.
Start Date
Preferred start date is August 1, 2026, or sooner.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Restoration Church at: employment@restorationreston.org
In the cover letter, candidates are encouraged to share their sense of call to ministry with young people, their experience in outreach or community connection, and why this role at Restoration Church is of interest.
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
Debbie Brubaker ('11), director of online and hybrid programs and lecturer
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
The Agency Partnerships team at UMCom has an exciting opportunity to join their team as an Agency Partnership Lead. With your help, we believe we will find a great fit for this position.
This position requires 5 or more years experience in strategic communications with a strong understanding of The United Methodist Church and its infrastructure.
The Agency Partnerships Lead will serve a primary communications partner for assigned general agencies of The UMC, providing strategic support for partners’ content, initiatives, and communications priorities. This individual will support and promote key initiatives from UMC general agencies through UMCom platforms and services.
Job Functions:
Serve as communications liaison and strategist for assigned general agencies
Develop and implement communications plan to support partner initiatives
Work with internal teams to coordinate communications support and identify opportunities to promote partner work across UMCom channels
Manage/execute partner communications projects, timelines, and priorities
Position Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or a related field
Knowledge of The United Methodist Church and the general agency structure
Strong writing, editing, and messaging development skills
Experience developing communications strategies and coordinating campaigns
Ability to interpret analytics and engagement data to inform communications strategy
Strong organizational and project management skills
A solution-driven mindset and ability to collaborate effectively with diverse teams and stakeholders
Experience building relationships across organizations, conferences, or networks
Elizabeth J. A. Siwo-Okundi, Ph.D., ('05,'18) has been appointed as Assistant Professor of Congregational Studies and Leadership, "effective July 1, 2026" by Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS).
Dr. Siwo-Okundi joins Louisville Seminary through a collaborative initiative supported by a$10 million Lilly Endowment Inc. grantawarded jointly to Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, and Eastern Mennonite Seminary in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The grant supports the development and implementation of aDoctor of Ministry in Adaptive Leadershipprogram designed to equip ministry leaders to navigate the complex challenges facing congregations and communities today.
While Dr. Siwo-Okundi will teach acrossLouisville Seminary's degree programs, her primary teaching responsibilities will be within the Doctor of Ministry in Adaptive Leadership program, where she will help prepare leaders to cultivate innovation, resilience, and faithful transformation in changing ministry contexts.
Dr. Siwo-Okundi earned a PhD in Practical Theology (Homiletics), Master of Divinity, and Graduate Certificate in African Studies from Boston University. She earned the Master of Theology from Harvard University, completed Clinical Pastoral Education at Dartmouth Health, and earned a BA in Black Studies from Denison University. Dr. Siwo-Okundi is currently a Visiting Researcher at Boston University African Studies Center. She is a member of several academic guilds including the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. She also serves on the Harvard Divinity School Alumni/Alumnae Council. In a rare distinction, Dr. Siwo-Okundi stands among the youngest alumni ever to receive an Alumni Citation–the highest award–at Denison University, her achievements etched early into the institution's enduring legacy.
He graduated from DePauw University in 1965 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. He went on to earn a Master of Theology and Ministry from Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1970 and a Master of Social Ethics from Boston University in 1975.
Robert will be remembered for the impact he had on the lives of those around him. Friends, family, and colleagues will cherish their memories and the time shared. Those who knew Robert will remember moments of kindness, warmth, and presence. Though words cannot fully capture his life, the legacy of connections and experiences remains. Robert’s absence will be deeply felt by those who valued his companionship.
Dr. Siwo-Okundi joins Louisville Seminary through a collaborative initiative supported by a