Thomas Porter

Thomas W. Porter, Jr. is a trial lawyer, mediator, teacher and minister. At Boston University School of Theology, where he has taught since 2005, he is a lecturer and co-director of the Religion and Conflict Transformation Program. He helped create and directed from 2000-2012 the JUSTPEACE Center for Mediation and Conflict Transformation in The United Methodist Church. He is the editor of the book, Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table, the author of The Spirit and Art of Conflict Transformation: Creating a Culture of JustPeace and co-author of The Journey: Forgiveness, Restorative Justice and Reconciliation. After graduating from Yale University, he received a M. Div. degree from Union Theological Seminary and a J.D. degree from Boston University Law School. He studied mediation at Harvard Law School and Eastern Mennonite University.

Tom is an elder in the United Methodist Church and a member of the New England Annual Conference, where he was the chancellor for 23 years. He was a founding partner of the trial firm of Melick & Porter LLP in 1983 and has been a trial lawyer since 1974, representing religious institutions, universities, hospitals, professionals, nonprofit organizations and others.  He was one of founders of the Journal of Law and Religion and was chair of the board from 1989 through 2001. He was a founder and the president of the Council of Religion and Law, a society of law professors and theologians as well as lawyers and ministers, from 1978 to 1985. He was a member of the board of Union Theological Seminary, chairing its educational policy committee, from 1992 to 2001.