School of Theology Announces Two New Denominational Learning Communities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Kimberly Macdonald
Marketing & Communications Manager, School of Theology
617-358-1858
kmacd@bu.edu
BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY ANNOUNCES
TWO NEW DENOMINATIONAL LEARNING COMMUNITIES
BOSTON, MA | November 9, 2017 – Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH) is pleased to announce that it has formed two new denominational learning communities, in collaboration with the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ (UCC). The mission of each learning community is to form a community of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to nurturing and preparing Episcopal and UCC students for future leadership and service in and through the church. The Anglican Episcopal Community of Learning (AECL) and the United Church of Christ Community of Learning (UCCCL) are specialized programs that aim to provide the best possible education in an ecumenical community that values the unique gifts, histories, and ministerial legacies of these denominations.
The mission of these two Communities of Learning is to form a community of students, faculty, and staff dedicated to nurturing and preparing global Anglican, Episcopal, and United Church of Christ students for future leadership and service in and through their distinctive traditions. Communities of Learning seek to nurture the next generation of leaders for ministries in the churches and in service to the larger world. The intention is to equip students in their own distinctive denominational traditions and in ecumenical traditions of Christianity, providing them with curricular and co-curricular opportunities to ground their academic, spiritual, ecclesial, professional, and social-global growth. At the same time, BUSTH seeks to enrich the ecumenical and global life for all students at the School.
The two Communities of Learning share common features that respond to unique denominational traditions and needs, such as courses, co-curricular opportunities, contextual education, spiritual life offerings, mentors and consultants, and opportunities to connect with programs and projects of the denominations and the School of Theology. These projects may focus on theological traditions, social justice, worship, sacred music, mission, and other important concerns. The rich collaborations and shared courses with other schools of the Boston Theological Institute will also be a part of the BUSTH Communities of Learning experience. Students in these two denominations will be eligible, as all of our students are, for generous scholarships to further their studies. More details are available at https://www.bu.edu/sth/community/ecl/ and https://www.bu.edu/sth/community/ucccl/.
“We have long had a significant number of global Anglican, Episcopal, and United Church of Christ students,” says Dean Mary Elizabeth Moore, who expresses enthusiasm for these Communities of Learning. “We value what these students and their churches have contributed to an STH education for at least five decades. Now we are able to offer more comprehensive support of the Episcopal and UCC students and to enhance ecumenical learning and global-ecumenical community for the entire community. This is the beginning of a new era in theological education at Boston University.”
BUSTH is grateful for the wise and generous leaders of the Episcopal and UCC churches, as well as its alumni/ae and students. Many have offered direction and ideas for the Communities of Learning. These collaborations will be ongoing and will not be limited geographically, though the consultations to date have been largely within the ecclesial bodies of Massachusetts and New England. These established Communities of Learning will continue to grow and change over time, with the addition of certificates and adaptations that are required by an ever-changing church.
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Since 1839, Boston University School of Theology has been preparing leaders to do good. A seminary of the United Methodist Church, Boston University School of Theology is a robustly ecumenical institution that welcomes students from diverse faith traditions who are pursuing a wide range of vocations – parish ministry, conflict transformation, chaplaincy, campus ministry, administration, non-profit management, social work, teaching, justice advocacy, peacemaking, interfaith dialogue, and more. Our world-renowned faculty and strong heritage help students nurture their academic goals and realize any ministry imaginable. For more information, please visit bu.edu/sth.
AECL and UCCCL Announcement 11-9-17 FINAL