Alumni News
Prof. Shelly Rambo quoted in CNN article after Minneapolis school shooting tragedy
The following is an excerpt from CNN article “What happens after 'thoughts and prayers'? These religious leaders have an answer” by Madeline Holcombe, featuring Professor of Theology Shelly Rambo, published on August 29, 2025.
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To say, “I am praying for you,” can also be like a promise to be present with another person in their struggle, said Dr. Shelly Rambo, professor of theology at Boston University.
One form of prayer could translate to meaning, “I promise to stay with you and hold you in all of the hope that faith claims,” Rambo said.
That promise can mean acknowledging a situation as terrible and important, and the person praying can serve as someone else standing by someone who is in a hard situation, she added.
Pledging to stay with another person in your thoughts and hold compassion and hope for them is even more powerful when it is followed by commitment, Rambo said.
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Rev. Dr. Yara Gonzalez Justiniano (’14,’19) is Barbara Wheeler Fellow 2024-25
The following is an excerpt of an article from Auburn Theological
Seminary, “Auburn Theological Seminary Announces Inaugral Class of Barbara Wheeler Fellows.” published in August, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
New York, NY – July 24, 2025 – Auburn Theological Seminary is proud to announce the launch of the Barbara Wheeler Fellowship program, honoring the legacy of Barbara G. Wheeler—Auburn’s first woman president (1979–2009), a pioneering leader in theological education, and founder of Auburn’s Center for the Study of Theological Education.
Established within Auburn’s Center for the Study of Theological Education—permanently endowed in 2007 with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.—the Barbara Wheeler Fellowship continues Auburn’s long-standing commitment to rigorous and relevant research in theological education Through this fellowship, emerging scholars will explore critical issues within the field across the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) accredited institutions.
Sunday School Teacher, Part Time, First Parish of Westwood: Westwood, MA
First Parish Church of Westwood, MA is seeking a paid Sunday school lead teacher for kindergarten to grade 5 youth for the 2025-2026 program year.
The position entails preparing and leading the weekly Sunday lessons during the program year. Parent volunteers will be responsible for curriculum development and sequencing, as well as serving as assistants during class (as needed for the 2-people minimum Church safety guidelines).
The position lasts throughout the program year, September to mid-June. The lead teacher will teach each Sunday with the exception of various holiday-type weekends. Sunday school takes place during the 10:00-11:30 service time, for 30-45 minutes, depending on the service. Preparing and leading is anticipated to be about 2 hours each week. The hourly rate is $37.50 an hour, around $2400 for the program year.
Qualifications
Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to connect with young children
Experience delivering lessons (for eg: in elementary school settings)
Classroom management skills
Interested? Please email jobs@firstparishwestwood.org with questions.
To apply, send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact details for three references (we will contact your references only with your permission) to this email.
Chaplains, Volunteer Position only, University of Massachusetts Boston: Boston, MA
Job Description: Chaplains ( Volunteer Position only )
Position Overview: Contracted by UMass Boston, the Chaplains are volunteers (unpaid) who dedicate 5-10 hours weekly to meeting the spiritual needs of the university and campus community. This role encompasses overseeing and leading religious services
and programs, offering guidance to faith-based student organizations, and actively participating in the Interfaith Chaplains Council to strategize upcoming programs and university initiatives.
Primary Responsibilities:
• Serve as Chaplain, providing spiritual care to students, particularly during times of crisis and campus-wide tragedies.
• Administer the use of the Interfaith Center, ensuring equitable access for individuals of varying spiritual traditions to
engage in reflection, prayer, and meditation aligned with their beliefs.
• Facilitate worship opportunities and provide space for students practicing diverse faith traditions within the Interfaith
Center, including Catholic mass, Protestant worship, or Muslim prayer.
• Collaborate with student organizations to develop and implement cultural and spiritual programming that fosters
community engagement and interfaith dialogue.
• Serve as a member of the Interfaith Chaplains Council, attending all meetings and events as necessary.
• Act as a resource to the University by participating in events requiring Chaplin support and engaging in educational
and awareness discussions.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Knowledge and ability to guide, advise, and support students in their spiritual journeys.
• License or ordained clergy in a faith tradition (chaplaincy training preferred).
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Effective communication skills with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise discretion, maintain confidentiality, and handle sensitive information.
• Strong interpersonal skills and dedication to customer and student service.
Application Process: Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter addressing qualifications and interest in
the position, and contact information to Chiquita.baylor@umb.edu.
Benefits:
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact in supporting students' spiritual development and fostering a diverse and
inclusive campus environment.
• Collaborative work environment within the Interfaith Chaplains Council and across university departments.
• Professional development opportunities in chaplaincy and interfaith engagement.
Join our team at UMass Boston and contribute to spiritual well-being.
Additional Information: Unpaid Volunteering
Interim Director of Music Ministry, Part Time, Eliot Church of Newton: Newton, MA
Interim Director of Music Ministry, The Eliot Church of Newton (UCC)
Overview:
The Eliot Church of Newton is a vibrant, progressive congregation of the United Church of Christ, rooted in a rich tradition of music, worship, justice, and community. We are an inclusive, open and affirming church committed to growing in faith, living love, and building community. We are seeking an Interim Director of Music Ministry following the departure of our Director of Music Ministry.
Overview:
The Interim Director of Music Ministry is a part-time position (approximately 20 hours per week, 10 months per year, September through June). The compensation is budgeted up to $33,000 annually. The Director provides musical leadership for worship and special services, working in close collaboration with the Senior Pastor and the Spiritual Life Commission to support a vibrant, inclusive, and spiritually rich worship life. Eliot Church of Newton has a rich musical program for a small congregation, including a George Bozeman & Co. pipe organ, and is host to outside organizations that use Eliot’s sanctuary instruments and other spaces to deliver their own musical missions.
Responsibilities:
• Play the organ and piano for one worship service each Sunday, plus additional services on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday.
• Direct and rehearse the choir weekly on Thursday evenings (approximately two hours) and Sunday mornings before worship (typically beginning at 9:00 a.m.).
• Plan Music Appreciation Sunday and hymn sing services, and educate and encourage congregation to participate in worship, choir, and other music at Eliot
• Select and prepare music (including hymns, solos, preludes, postludes, and other music for worship) in collaboration with the Senior Pastor and the Spiritual Life Commission, ensuring alignment with the liturgical calendar and sermon themes.
• Hire, supervise, and evaluate section leaders, soloists, and instrumentalists for regular and special church musical events, within the approved music ministry budget.
• Ensure organ/piano coverage and choir support during planned time off.
• Submit section leader payroll to the Treasurer once a month at the end of the month.
• Maintain the church music library and manage the purchase of music and supplies as needed.
• Oversee the tuning and maintenance of the organ and pianos, ensuring they are kept in excellent condition.
Collaboration and Communication:
• Collaborate with the Senior Pastor and Spiritual Life Commission on worship planning and evaluation.
• Meet with the Spiritual Life Commission twice per year (or more, if preferred) and attend Music Commission meetings periodically as an ex officio member.
• Participate in fellowship following worship as schedule allows, fostering relationship and presence in the life of the congregation.
Other Responsibilities:
• Coordinate and monitor use of the organ, including personal practice and teaching, in consultation with the Office Administrator.
• Serve as the primary contact for outside musicians or groups wishing to use the organ.
• Have first right of refusal to play for weddings and funerals held at the church, with compensation according to the current fee schedule.
• Time permitting, work with church staff and lay leadership to conduct outreach to prospective musical tenants, one-time or long-term.
Qualifications:
• BA required, MA preferred, in Music Performance, Music Direction, or similar
• Strong organist and pianist
• Familiar with general Protestant order of worship and hymnals
• Experience working with ordained and lay church leadership
Location: 474 Centre Street, Newton, MA 02458. Onsite parking and office space is available. Preferred start date is September 1, 2025.
To Apply:
Please send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to eliotchurchhiring2025@yahoo.com. More detailed inquiries regarding the role may also be sent to pastoreric@eliotchurch.org.
Reverend Donald H. Fado, (’58)
The following obituary was originally Published by Michelle Johnson on August 08, 2025, in Hoodline and can be found here.
Rev. Don Fado, the United Methodist minister who captivated national attention by blessing a lesbian couple's union with 95 fellow clergy at the Sacramento Convention Center in 1999, has died at age 91. The pioneering advocate for LGBTQ rights and homeless services passed away at his Sacramento home on July 17, just two weeks after delivering his final sermon.
The 1999 ceremony that thrust Fado into the spotlight marked one of the most significant acts of religious civil disobedience in modern American Methodist history. According to Legacy, The Sacramento Bee, Don convened 95 active and retired United Methodist Church pastors to bless the holy union of two lesbian parishioners before 1,500 people. According to PBS Frontline, Fado called the service an "act of ecclesiastical disobedience," directly challenging the denomination's 1996 ban on same-sex union ceremonies.
Born in 1933 and raised in Redding, California, Don earned his bachelor's degree at College of the Pacific, where he served as student body president and met Jean, a college opera star who would become his wife of 69 years. According to The Sacramento Bee, he followed a call into ministry, earning a master's degree in divinity at Boston University School of Theology, known for its focus on social activism.
Don began his service with the California-Nevada Conference in 1956, pastoring churches in Fresno, Hanford, Burlingame, and Sacramento until his retirement in 2001. But retirement marked the beginning of his deepest community activism. He helped establish Family Promise of Sacramento, aimed at keeping unhoused families together, and served as a board member at Sacramento Loaves and Fishes.
Family Promise of Sacramento continues Fado's mission of family preservation, partnering with area churches to provide housing while families work toward independence. In 2023, twenty-two families completed their program while thousands received assistance with referrals and rental support.
Don was considered one of the finest preachers in the United Methodist Church, often speaking without notes and with what The Sacramento Bee described as "an expansive view of God's love that came alive in his sermons." Even in retirement, he remained a frequent guest preacher, delivering his final sermon less than two weeks before his death.
He is survived by Jean and four children, Sue Addington of Sacramento, Donna Fado Ivery of Richmond, Patty Fado of Sacramento, and David Fado of Arlington, Virginia, along with 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, two sisters, and countless friends and congregants. Rev. Don Fado's legacy lives on in the institutions he helped create and the thousands of lives he touched through his radical vision of inclusive faith.
Dr. John A. Jones (’64)
The following obituary was originally Published by WMC in Legacy on Aug. 7, 2025, and can be found here.
John Jones Obituary
John Allen Jones was born October 22, 1938, in Mt. Olivet, OH. He was the fifth child of Henry Williamson and Olive D. Sullivan Jones and was born 14 years after the next oldest brother. He was raised and lived in the Barnesville, OH area until his high school graduation. John was active in community projects and church. He worked during high school at the Green Cottage Restaurant. At the age of 16, he was invited to be Sunday School Superintendent at the Mount Olivet Methodist Church. Following tradition, John volunteered to preach at several rural local churches substituting for those who were either ill or on vacation. John graduated from Barnesville High School in 1957 was Salutatorian of his class.
He was awarded a full scholarship to Union College in Kentucky where he was in the Oxford Club and was on the National Methodist Scholarship Dean's List throughout his college career. He also participated in the Student Senate, was a Student Pastor on the Williamsburg Circuit and was chosen as Mr. Union College in 1961. He was appointed student pastor of Faber Methodist Church which was awarded by the Kentucky Conference as "The Church of the Year" 1960-1961. He was the first student to receive this honor. His post graduate work was completed at Boston University School of Theology where he was chosen to be the personal assistant to Dr. Howard Thurman, Dean of March Chapel at Boston College. In addition, he received his Doctor of Theology degree from Vanderbilt University. His Doctoral Thesis was "Itinerant System of the United Methodist Church". He began his ministry work with Center Methodist Church in Ohio in 1964 and then with the Paris Tennessee District in Kirksey, Kentucky. From there, he went to the Bemis United Methodist church in Jackson, Tennessee.
During his time at Bemis, country singer Carl Lee Perkins, a member of the congregation, wrote a song to honor John, "Preach on Brother John". Carl also wrote about John in his book, "Disciple in Blue Swede Shoes". John was the presiding clergy at Carl Lee Perkins' funeral at Lambuth University in Jackson, TN. There were many famous entertainers in attendance including, Paul McCartney, Elton John and Eric Clapton whom each shared memories of Mr. Perkins. Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, Johnny Rivers and Wynonna Judd all sang vocals during the service. Dr. Jones provided the message, the benediction and led the congregation in singing the closing song, "Love Sweet Love" to honor Carl Lee Perkins. While serving at St. Steven's United Methodist Church in East Memphis, the former Police Chief of Memphis asked John to interact with the Chief Detective assigned to the leadership role in the Dr. Martin Luther King assassination case.
The Chief Detective was obviously under immense criticism and pressure and John provided important support and assistance to the Chief Detective as we walked through this national crisis. Thus, the city, state and nation were affected, either directly or indirectly, by his acts of Ministry. John Jones served at Longstreet United Methodist Church, which was founded by Judge Longstreet, former President of The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss). The congregation reached a membership of over fourteen hundred while Dr. Jones was there. Dr. Jones was pastor for twenty years there and while there was very successful in building the Jones Family Life Center. Most recently, Dr. Jones has served the Clopton United Methodist Church in Tipton County, TN. While there for eight years, the congregation doubled in membership, and the congregation has been successful in building and paying for a new fellowship hall. In 2017, Dr. Jones was awarded the title of Pastor Emeritus for over 60 years of continual pastoral service.
As a church pastor, as an educator and as an individual, he has influenced many through his positive, "can do" attitude. His leadership skills and his guidance have provided influence to help others improve their lives, both through worship and faith. In addition, many others, because of Dr. Jones' support, have followed his path to Ministry and Church Leadership. Dr. Jones has indeed been a positive influence in the Tennessee, Kentucky, and Ohio areas. His leadership has been acknowledged and rewarded in many wonderful ways throughout his career. He has been, and continues to be, highly successful at influencing and expanding congregations, building fellowships through spiritual and manmade structures, with bricks and faith for over 60 years.
John is survived by his daughter, Diana (James) Eller; three grandchildren, Jonathan (Jenny) Van Eaton, Timothy (Ashley) Van Eaton and Emily Rose Van Eaton and two great grandchildren, Rylee James Van Eaton and Jonathan William Van Eaton, Jr. and one great grandchild on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry "Buck" and Olive Jones; his wife, Nadine Jones; one son, Gregory Mark Jones and his siblings, Ruth Johnson, Bobby Jones, Jimmy Jones and Viola Jones. Funeral services will be private. The family requests that any memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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Boston University awarded $5.2 million grant from Templeton Foundation to integrate virtue and flourishing within mental healthcare
Boston University has been awarded a $5.2 million grant from the John Templeton Foundation for a three-year research project to support the Training and Treatment Integration Research for Virtue and Flourishing in Mental Healthcare: A Team Science Project. Growing to $10.7 million including matching funds over the three years, this project aims to develop evidence-based training tools that integrate treatment research on relational virtues and human flourishing in psychotherapy, using a collaborative team science approach across eight clinical sites that span the United States and Ireland.
Led by co-principal investigators Steven J. Sandage of Boston University and Jesse J. Owen of University of Denver, this project will address a growing need among therapists for training on how to integrate relational virtues and human flourishing into clinical practice. New research reveals that therapists value these concepts but often lack guidance on how to implement them effectively. To meet this need, the project team plans to develop an innovative training module supported by contextualized treatment research, combining clinical instruction with ongoing psychotherapy studies. The project will also support a cohort of early-career clinical researchers, helping to build a sustainable network for advancing virtue and flourishing in psychotherapy, and will conclude with the development of clinical protocols and broad field distribution through publications, presentations, and training seminars.
The collaborative sites and the respective researchers for this project include:
- Albert & Jessie Danielsen Institute at Boston University; Steven J. Sandage: Relational Formation of Virtue and Flourishing in Clinical Training and Practice
- University of Denver; Jesse J. Owen: Deliberate Practice Model for Therapist Consultations: Leveraging Relational Virtues to Promote Flourishing & Reduce Burnout
- McLean Hospital; Mary Zanarini and Brandon Unruh: Therapist Training and Treatment of Patients with Borderline Personality Disorder Using Mentalization-based Treatment Plus Flourishing
- Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders in collaboration with Trinity College Dublin; Todd Farchione: Centering Virtues and Positive Emotion Regulation in Digital Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy: An Effectiveness-Implementation Study
- George Washington University; Cheri Marmarosh: Psychodynamic Professional Psychology Training: Cultivating Student Virtues and Flourishing in Professional Psychology Training: A Culture-Centered Model
- Adelphi University; Catherine Eubanks & Chris Muran: Relational Virtues and Flourishing in Alliance-Focused Training
- University of Iowa; Martin Kivlighan & Stacey McElroy-Heltzel: Virtue-Based Pre-Group Preparation to Promote Humility and Flourishing in Group Therapy
- Indiana University and University of Utah; Joel Wong and Jeremy Coleman: Training in Gratitude Interventions for Individual and Group Psychotherapy.
“This project fits with the vision of the John Templeton Foundation to explore holistic, evidence-based connections between human strengths, flourishing, and the alleviation of suffering in 'real world' settings of professional practice,” says co-principal investigator Steven J. Sandage.
Rooted in the values of formation, innovation, and interdisciplinary research, the Training and Treatment Integration Research for Virtue and Flourishing in Mental Healthcare project is designed to activate meaningful change for mental healthcare providers, therefore advancing the Templeton Foundation’s mission to generate new perspectives and ideas in underexplored fields.
Boston University School of Theology announces the Inaugural Fr. Vincent Machozi (’15) Colloquium
Ecologies of Peacemaking: Climate Change, Environmental Justice, and Conflict Transformation in Africa
The Boston University School of Theology is honored to announce the inaugural Fr. Vincent Machozi Colloquium, a new academic gathering dedicated to advancing dialogue and scholarship at the critical intersection of climate change, environmental justice, and conflict transformation on the African continent.
This landmark event honors the life and witness of Fr. Vincent Machozi, A.A. (’15), who was a Catholic priest, humanitarian, and fearless advocate for human rights. Fr. Machozi’s tireless documentation of atrocities related to coltan mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), his leadership through the Beni Lubero platform, and his ultimate martyrdom in 2016 inspire the work of this colloquium and its commitment to truth, justice, and healing.
2026 Conference Theme: Ecologies of Peacemaking
Around the globe, but especially in Africa, environmental degradation, violent conflict, and systemic inequality are deeply interconnected. From the extractive industries that exploit land and people, to the accelerating effects of climate change, these challenges demand a holistic response.
Ecologies of Peacemaking will convene scholars, practitioners, and faith leaders engaged in diverse African contexts to explore how communities—particularly religious communities—are cultivating justice, peace, and ecological resilience. Through interdisciplinary panels, theological reflection, and collaborative learning, participants will consider both the lived realities and the theological frameworks shaping peacebuilding across the continent.
“Fr. Machozi’s activism tackled some of the most significant ‘wicked problems’ of our time,” says Nicolette Manglos-Weber, Associate Dean of Students & Community Life and Machozi Colloquium planning committee member. “This colloquium event will uphold his legacy by promoting interdisciplinary, community-engaged scholarship on those same issues; and by highlighting theologically sound and actionable models of peacemaking, ecological care, and social transformation.”
Keynote Speakers, Proposals, and Schedule
The colloquium will feature two distinguished keynote speakers: Dr. Ambaye Ogato, Commissioner of the National Dialogue Commission of Ethiopia, who is a renowned scholar and peacebuilder whose work offers deep insight into the intersections of ethnicity, religion, and national reconciliation, and Rev. Professor Emmanuel Katongole, Professor of Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame, who is a leading voice in African theology. A Catholic priest from Uganda, Fr. Katongole brings a prophetic and pastoral perspective on reconciliation, ecological justice, and the church’s role in addressing violence.
The colloquium invites paper proposals from scholars, clergy, activists, and community leaders whose work engages with the conference theme or related topics. The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2025.
Hosted by the Boston University School of Theology in Boston, Massachusetts, this historic gathering will honor Fr. Machozi’s legacy while fostering dialogue and action at the critical intersections of faith, environment, and peacebuilding.
Please visit the inaugural colloquium website for registration information, submission guidelines, and updates.
Together we continue Fr. Vincent Machozi’s courageous legacy working for justice, peace, and transformation across Africa and beyond.
Pastor Milka Gonzalez (’24) appointed as Pastor for First United Methodist Church
The following is an excerpt of an article from Ink Link News Group, “First United Methodist Church welcomes new pastor,” published on July 29, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
MANCHESTER, NH – The congregations of First United Methodist Church, Manchester and Londonderry United Methodist Church are pleased to announce the appointment of Pastor Milka Gonzalez as their pastor as of July 1, 2025.
Pastor Gonzalez recently served as pastor of East Parish United Methodist Church in Salisbury, Mass, Pastor Gonzalez has passion and experience in starting new churches and ministries and in building inclusive communities.