Events

No One Left Alone: A Story of how Community helps us heal

Rev. Walker’s forthcoming book tells the story of “Can We Talk… Community Conversations on Trauma and Healing” a grassroots model for trauma-healing that draws on the power of compassionate neighbor-to-neighbor presence within a safe sacred space to build a new sense of meaning and trust. Hosted by Boston University School of Theology’s Trauma-Responsive Congregations program, led by Dr. Shelly Rambo.

Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground

Exhibition: Along the Road to Accessibility

Go back in time to explore Boston University’s positive influence on persons with disabilities. Come explore the disability history of Boston University and Boston, MA in this exhibition which spans from the late 19th century to today. 

Past Events

Spring 2025 Lowell Lecture

March 25, 2025: Dr. Marcia Riggs presented “Womanist Moral Imagination for Living in an Absolutist Culture.” Anger and fear are anchoring our political and religious life. This anger fear has warped our sense of how to be national and religious community that is moral community. Political discourse is uncivil; religious discourse is confrontational. Whether members of Congress are holding their party’s line or members of denominations are holding a doctrinal line, there is partisan polarization. At the heart of this polarization is absolutist morality. Womanist moral imagination helps us to answer this question: How do we generate and facilitate authentic moral community?

A Moderated Lecture on Indigenous Aspects of Latine Culture

February 25, 2025: In this talk, Dr. Jennie Luna will discuss Indigenous aspects of Latine culture/personhood and the importance of this for the Latine community, specifically through practices such as Danza Mexica/Azteca, the Nahuati language, indigenous herbs/healing, and midwifery. Please come and join us. Our very own Jacob Leal will also moderate this talk.

Spring 2024 Lowell Lecture featuring Dr. Keri Day

The Boston University School of Theology is proud to present the bi-annual Lowell Lecture, which features a renowned speaker in a field related to theological studies. The Spring 2024 lecture, titled “Testifying: Notes on the Futures of Theological Education,” will be delivered by Dr. Keri Day, Professor of Constructive Theology and African American Religion at Princeton Theological Seminary. RSVP here. 

Monthly Talking Circle

The Tom Porter Religion and Conflict Transformation Program will be co-hosting a talking circle with the Interfaith Club. Join us as we discuss the interfaith in conflict transformation.

Queer Bodies. Colliding, Expanding, Flourishing

February 14, 2024: A lecture and conversation with Rodolfo Nolasco, Rueben P. Job Professor of Spiritual Formation and Pastoral Theology at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, about Queer Spirituality

Harvest & Hospitality: An Interfaith Sukkot Celebration

October 2, 2023: The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium and the Miller Center of Hebrew College hosted “Harvest & Hospitality: An Interfaith Sukkot Celebration” at Hebrew College. Join as we celebrate the Jewish harvest festival of Sukkot with rituals & musical offerings from a variety of faith traditions, including a free kosher vegetarian meal. https://tinyurl.com/BTIharvest

Naming the Hidden Curriculum: A Panel of Faculty, Staff, and Students

September 1, 2023: This event is a panel discussion and Q & A during new student orientation with members of the STH Community. The discussion will focus on how the “hidden curriculum” within higher education affects the experiences of our diverse student body; and how to make the “hidden” aspects of academic culture more explicit, in the service of equity and inclusion.

God is a Woman? Stories about Inclusive Language

April 4, 12:30pm: Lunch included. Featuring panelists Rose Percy, Ezra Ercolini, Assistant Professor of Theology Rebecca Copeland, Assistant Professor of New Testament Luis Menéndez-Antuña, and Assistant Professor of Ethics Peng Yin.

Spring 2023 Lowell Lecture

March 23, 2023: This year, topics explore the spiritual dimension of artistic expression. The Spring 2023 lecture, titled “…when artists go to work…,” will feature Dr. Bill Banfield (STH’88) and the Imagine Orchestra, the ensemble-in-residence at Longy School of Music of Bard College.

Responding to Religious Trauma and Church Hurt

March 14, 2023: All congregations respond to trauma. Responding well can lead to thriving—in the life of our congregations, our neighborhoods, and our cities. Join Dr. Shelly Rambo, Rev. Dr. Kathryn House (BUSTH ‘20), and Indhira Udofia (BUSTH ‘17) for “Responding to Religious Trauma and Church Hurt.” Where we’ll consider what is religious trauma? How religious trauma manifests as church hurt? How faith and lay leaders can be thinking about and responding to it in their context. 

Q&A Panel with Dr. Willie Jennings

February 10, 2023: Visiting professor Dr. Willie Jennings appeared for a question and answer session with our DEI administrators about his book “After Whiteness: An Education in Belonging.”

Fall 2022 Lowell Lecture

November 2, 2022: The Lowell Lecturer was Rev. Dr. Emmett G. Price III, who presented his lecture, “The Sacred Sounds of Black Disinherited Creatives.”A panel of STH faculty, students, and community members responded to Rev. Dr. Price III’s lecture. 

Naming the Hidden Curriculum: A Panel of Faculty, Staff, and Students

September 27, 2022: This event is a panel discussion and Q & A with members of the STH Community. The discussion will focus on how the “hidden curriculum” within higher education affects the experiences of our diverse student body; and how to make the “hidden” aspects of academic culture more explicit, in the service of equity and inclusion.

Queer, BIPOC, International Students Get-Together

March 30, 2022: An event by and for queer BIPOC and international students at STH. We will start with a 30-minute activity to give us a chance to reflect on and, if comfortable, share about our intersecting identities and experiences. This event is sponsored by Sacred Worth.

Anna Howard Shaw Center: Women in the World Conference

March 30, 2022: “Toward a Theology of Cross-Racial Solidarity and Advocacy: Histories, Theologies, and Contributions of Female Leadership.” Dean G. Sujin Pak is the keynote speaker.

School of Theology Bi-Annual Lowell Lecture, Spring 2022

March 15, 2022: Our Spring 2022 speaker is Dr. Lee Butler, Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean William Tabbernee Professor of the History of Religions and Africana Pastoral Theology at Phillips Seminary. He is a past president of the Society for the Study of Black Religion. The title of the lecture is “Stop Listening with Your Eyes: Transcending Stereotypes Wrapped in Color Consciousness.”

School of Theology Bi-Annual Lowell Lecture, Fall 2021

October 26, 2021: “Political Theology in Asia Pacific”
This fall’s speaker is Dr. Kwok Pui Lan, Dean’s Professor of Systematic Theology at Candler School of Theology. Dr. Kwok Pui Lan’s research focuses on Asian feminist theology and postcolonial theology. 

School of Theology Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Series

Scripture and the Science of Gender: A New Curriculum for Better Conversations in Churches

Dr. DeFranza has produced a new six-part video curriculum for churches, “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Scripture and the New Science of Gender.” The aim of the new curriculum is to provide “a much needed place for Christians to begin talking about sex difference, gender, and sexuality.” 

Dr. DeFranza will speak on personal and professional experience that led them to this topic; experience with communities of faith who are intentional about addressing questions of sexuality and biblical literacy; thought and design process behind the creation of the curriculum; and, at least one or two examples about how the curriculum work.