Alumni News
Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator, Part Time, St. John’s Episcopal Church: Jamaica Plain, MA
Job Description
St. John’s Episcopal Church, Jamaica Plain is hiring a part-time Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator to nurture and grow our faith formation offerings for our children and families. We are a small, vibrant, welcoming and inclusive parish. The Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator is a vital part of our staff, working as part of a team of fellow staff members and volunteers under the direct supervision of the rector. St. John’s is a creative congregation and this job is both an excellent place to learn about faith formation and to exercise your creativity in a supportive environment. The ideal candidate has a positive, can-do approach, communicates well both in written and oral forms, is a skilled organizer and planner, and is able both to collaborate with others and to work independently.
The Setting
St. John’s Church is a eucharistically-based faith community of neighbors and families
celebrating different understandings of the Christian faith within the Episcopal Church. As we live out our call to be the body of Christ in the world, we strive to be a beacon
of justice-seeking and creativity, and to honor St. Benedict’s teaching: “Let all who enter here be received as Christ.” Located in the vibrant Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, we are part of a diverse, welcoming and exciting neighborhood. Average Sunday worship at St. John’s attendance is 60 people in the program year, 30 in the summer months, with approximately 120 active members of all ages.
As a small parish experiencing growth, the Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator will be a part of a team developing and implementing faith formation opportunities to meet the shifting needs of families. It is exciting and challenging, providing the opportunity for personal growth alongside nurturing the growth of others.
Job Responsibilities
Plan and participate in leading Sunday School lessons for school age children
Participate in bi-monthly Youth Group meetings outside Sunday morning (time TBD)
Help coordinate and participate in First Friday Parish Family Nights, including promoting and inviting parishioners to the events and the planning and leading of activities
Recruit and equip team of Church School teachers; includes coordinating training of adults to teach.
Meet regularly meetings with Church School teachers and volunteers
Coordinate acquisition and maintenance of Church School curriculum, teaching materials and supplies.
In partnership with the rector, oversee the use of the Church School budget and funds.
Coordinate maintenance of activity boxes and children’s shelves in the narthex.
Communicate regularly with families about lessons, activities, schedules, etc.
Coordinate childcare providers for Sunday mornings and special events
Team with rector to develop and promote vision of intergenerational and lifelong faith formation in the parish.
Support parents and welcome new families to the parish.
Develop a Church School calendar and flyer for the start of the program year.
Be present on Sunday mornings of program year - time off to be negotiated.
Oversee registration and maintenance of church school records.
Manage and organize special events of the Sunday School program year, including.
Christmas Pageant, Easter Egg Hunt, and End-of-Year Picnic
Use social networking and electronic media to expand and enhance the program,
including Constant Contact, Squarespace, and Google Docs
Communicate regularly with Rector, Staff and Vestry
Package Details
Part-time position.
$20/hour for 10 hours/week. Except for Sunday mornings, hours are flexible.
Two weeks paid vacation.
The position is for mid-September to mid-June, with a start date of September 15. Position may be renewed each September.
No other benefits.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate will have:
An Associate’s degree or equivalent experience.
Experience with teaching, classroom management, and/or youth programs.
Excellent interpersonal skills and rapport with children, youth, and families.
Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize and delegate.
Strong communication and networking skills, especially with online and social media.
Working knowledge of computer applications: spreadsheets, documents, email, etc.
Commitment to Christian faith and teaching. If not an Episcopalian, the candidate will be willing to learn and support our tradition.
Candidates with experience teaching the Godly Play children’s formation program and/or the Journey to Adulthood youth ministry program will be given special consideration.
A CORI check and completion of Safe Church training will be required.
To Apply
Send cover letter and resume by September 1, 2025 to:
Children and Youth Ministry Coordinator Job Search via email (info@stjohns-jp.org)
or regular mail
St. John’s Episcopal Church
PO Box 300230
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 Rev. 07.10.25
Prof. Shelly Rambo quoted in CNN article on religious leadership in wake of Camp Mystic tragedy
The following is an excerpt from CNN article “How religious leaders are talking – and listening – about the losses at Camp Mystic” by Madeline Holcombe, featuring Professor of Theology Shelly Rambo, published on July 11, 2025.
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An important place to start is to assure each other that feelings that come out of tragedy are OK, said Dr. Shelly Rambo, professor of theology at Boston University. What many people need in the aftermath is someone to sit beside them and hear their pain without being afraid of it or trying to tie it up and send it away, Rambo said.
It isn’t always natural for people to know how to stay in those difficult moments and allow others to grieve, she said. It takes intention to learn how to say, “I am so sorry,” and then just sit there and say nothing else, Rambo added. You might hold the person if they want it, but you don’t always have to.
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Christian Education Director, Part Time, Holy Trinity United Methodist Church: Danvers, MA
Holy Trinity United Methodist Church – 16 Sylvan St Danvers, MA
Job Title: Christian Education Director
Reports To: Staff Parish Relations Committee and Administration
Supported By: Pastor, Christian Education Committee and Administration
Position Type: Part-Time
Job Summary:
The Christian Education Director is responsible for overseeing the planning, coordination, and implementation
of the church’s Sunday School program. This role includes recruiting and training teachers, selecting curriculum,
organizing events, and ensuring a safe and spiritually enriching environment for children and youth.
Key Responsibilities:
● Lead and manage all aspects of the Sunday School ministry.
● Recruit, train, and support Sunday School teachers and volunteers.
● Select Biblically sound curriculum in line with the beliefs of the United Methodist Church
● Coordinate class schedules, room assignments, and age group divisions.
● Oversee attendance tracking and maintain student records.
● Plan and organize special events (e.g., Christmas programs, Easter Programs, Children’s Sunday,
Community Events for Families).
● Communicate regularly with parents, teachers, and church leadership.
● Ensure all volunteers comply with church safety and background check policies.
● Attend staff meetings and report on Christian Education Program progress and needs.
● Create a welcoming, inclusive, and Christ-centered environment for Sunday School youth.
Qualifications:
● Committed Christian with a passion for children’s ministry.
● Prior experience in teaching or leading children’s programs (preferred).
● Strong organizational and leadership skills.
● Good communication, interpersonal abilities and Building Relationships.
● Ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and families.
Time Commitment:
● Weekly preparation and Sunday morning hours from 9am - 11am for the church’s education program
season from September - June
● Additional time for meetings, training, and special events as needed.
Additional Information We are looking to hire a Christian Education Director. Please see the attached job description. If you are interested or know someone who may be interested, please fill out the attached application. All applications can be emailed to HTUMChurch@gmail.com.
Administrative/Accounting Assistant, Part Time, Carter Textile Inc: Boston, MA
| Job Description | |
| Position Title: Administrative/Accounting Assistant Pay: $23/hourly Location: Boston, MA Part Time Contact: Dennis Carter Email: dc2432366@gmail.com Application Deadline: 9/10/2025 Seeking Administrative / Accounting Assistant. Successful candidates will exude great pride in their work, welcome challenging assignments, viewing them as opportunities for continued learning and personal growth, be extremely detail oriented, have excellent communication skills. Must be reliable. It's a flexible position. Requirements If you're looking for a challenging, fast-paced and rewarding opportunity and this position sounds interesting, please submit your resume for consideration to dc2432366@gmail.com for more details. for more details. |
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Bri Taylor (’25) featured in UMNews article about 2025 Young Adults Pilgrimage of Peace
The following is an excerpt from the article “Young adults walk paths of peace” featuring Bri Taylor ('25), published by UMNews. Photo and article by the Rev. Thomas E. Kim, UM News.
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A video presentation at the memorial vividly recounted the brutal suppression of the Democratic Uprising and the citizens’ resilient, ethical resistance. On May 18, 1980, the South Korean military violently suppressed nonviolent student demonstrations against the military dictatorship that seized power the previous year.
Briana N. Taylor, from United Methodist-related Boston University School of Theology, shared her reflections following the visit.
“I saw this history of Gwangju as alive and still present,” she told UM News. “It invited me theologically to sit with death in mourning in an attitude of Holy Saturday, instead of rushing through to find new life on Resurrection Sunday.”
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MDiv/MSW student Maria Gorret Nampiima (’26) featured for her sustainability work
The following is an excerpt from the article “Turning Move-out Donations into Community Impact” featuring current Master of Divinity student Maria Gorret Nampiima (STH'26, SSW'26), published by Boston University Sustainability.
Sustainability and helping the poor can go hand in hand. In partnership with the Faith & Ecological Justice Program at the School of Theology, BU Sustainability has collected over 2,000 pounds of textiles that will go to local homeless shelters and community organizations in Greater Boston.
This program is the brainchild of a Master of Theology and Social Work student, Maria Gorret Nampiima. Last year, Maria worked as a GOAT (Goodwill, Not Landfill Operations Assistance Team), and as part of her support during move-out, she recognized the vast amount of textiles, including bedding, pillows, towels, and blankets, that were discarded by her fellow students.
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Profs. Rebecca Copeland and Luis Menéndez-Antuña both promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure
The following is an excerpt from the BU Today article “25 Charles River Campus Faculty Receive Promotions” featuring Associate Professor of Theology Rebecca Copeland and Associate Professor of New Testament Luis Menéndez- Antuña, published on July 1, 2025.
Twenty-five faculty on Boston University’s Charles River Campus have just received promotions, 17 to the rank of associate professor with tenure, 5 to the rank of non-tenure associate professor, and 3 to the rank of professor with tenure. They come from eight colleges and schools and represent a breadth of academic interests and fields of research.
The news comes following the recent promotion of 23 additional Charles River Campus faculty to the rank of full professor.
“Each in their unique way demonstrates daily the caliber of education and accomplishment possible through innovation, creativity, leadership, and commitment to student success,” BU Provost Gloria Waters wrote in an email to faculty and staff announcing the most recent promotions. “We see great things ahead for them and are pleased they have chosen BU as the institution at which to advance their careers.”
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Rebecca Copeland, School of Theology associate professor of theology, explores how classical Christian texts and doctrine can be reconstructed through the lens of environmental studies, engaging diverse fields, such as hydrogeology, biology, archaeozoology, and botany. She has published two monographs, Created Being: Expanding Creedal Christology (2020) and Entangled Being: Unoriginal Sin and Wicked Problems (2024), along with five peer-reviewed articles in top journals. A new book, Replanting the Uprooted: A Social-Ecological Approach to the Agricultural Parables, is in development. She is a past recipient of the Canadian-American Theological Association’s Jack and Phyllis Middleton Award for Excellence in Bible and Theology and a recent Louisville Project Grant for Researchers. She was named the 2023–2024 Exemplary Teacher of the Year Award by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and received the 2024 Teaching Excellence Award from the STH student body.
Luis Menéndez-Antuña, STH associate professor of New Testament, is a New Testament scholar whose work draws from Latin American liberation theologies, critical carceral studies, trauma studies, Afro-pessimism, and feminist, queer, and postcolonial theories. He has published two monographs—Bridging the Interpretive Abyss: Reading the New Testament After the Cultural Studies Turn (2024) and Thinking Sex with the Great Whore: Deviant Sexualities and Empire in the Book of Revelation (2018)—in addition to 12 peer-reviewed articles and 10 essays in top journals, and has edited volumes in his guild. A frequent speaker at national and international conferences, he has been supported by 6 research grants and 10 teaching grants, and is a past recipient of the Society of Biblical Literature’s A. R. Pete Diamond Award for Integrative Scholarship.
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Prof. Rebecca Copeland featured in BU Brink story on Bible’s Agricultural Connections
The following is an excerpt from The Brink article “Brink Bites: Prescribing Cheaper Energy Bills and the Bible's Agricultural Connections” by Andrew Thurston, featuring Associate Professor of Theology Rebecca Copeland, published on July 2, 2025.
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What can ancient farming techniques teach us about the Bible? How did Gospel writers’ relationships with the land and environment shape their parables? These are questions Rebecca Copeland, a BU School of Theology associate professor of theology, will explore in a forthcoming book, tentatively titled, Replanting the Uprooted: A Social-Ecological Approach to the Agricultural Parables. An expert on the connections between theology and ecology, Copeland has been awarded a Louisville Institute Grant for Researchers to support her work on the book.
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STM Student Greta Gaffin (’23, ’26) published in latest Anglican & Episcopal History Journal
The following is an excerpt from the article “History, theology, and ecumenism of the episcopate are focus of atest Episcopal history journal” featuring STM student Greta Gaffin ('23,'26), published on June 30, 2025.
Historians explore Anglican theologies and anxieties related to the episcopacy in the latest issue of Anglican & Episcopal History (AEH). The summer issue of AEH publishes 5 of the 18 papers presented during the Apostolic Ministry Conference. The conference was held at Berkeley Divinity School at Yale University in October 2023.
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Greta Gaffin turns readers’ attention to movements within the United States in an article titled “Black Nationalist Anglicanism: George Alexander McGuire and the African Orthodox Church.” This study recounts the life and ministry of black Episcopal priest George Alexander McGuire (1866-1934) and his attempt to create the African Orthodox Church as an Episcopalian version of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She examines the denomination’s initial successes then considers reasons it did not become a long-term player in the African American religious landscape. In line with the volume’s theme, important factors relate to legitimacy and apostolic succession. Gaffin is a master’s student at Boston University. Her research focuses on clergy at the margins of their traditions.
Cornell W. Brooks (’87) claims Trump is ‘threat to democracy’
The following is an excerpt from the Campus Reform article by Emma Arns, “Harvard prof says Trump seeks to 'divide and conquer' the U.S.,” published on June 19, 2025. Click here to read the full article.
A Harvard professor claims President Trump's directives on anti-Semitism and DEI constitute a 'threat to democracy'
Cornell William Brooks ('87), a Harvard University professor and former NAACP president, accused President Donald Trump of using federal policy to “divide and conquer” Americans by targeting Ivy League schools, including Harvard. 
The social justice professor criticized Trump’s push to defund institutions that fail to comply with federal directives on campus anti-Semitism, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) reporting, and visa transparency. Brooks claimed these actions are not about public safety or anti-Semitism, but instead part of what he called an “anti-American” effort to “limit the participation of black and brown students” from around the world.
“Here’s what happens,” Brooks said. “You divide the country, you make it less competitive, you pit people against one another.”