Nonprofit Inside: US Postage Meet Sujin Pak, STH’s new dean PAID Boston MA Hospital and prison chaplains in 745 Commonwealth Avenue Permit No. 1839 the time of COVID Boston, Massachusetts 02215 Resilience in Black collegiate 2021 gospel choirs

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Ryan (from left), Faye, and Casey Darmody. My time at BU was life changing. STH challenged Breaking me to develop my social conscience and understanding of justice, both by working in my local community and THROUGH by traveling the world. Those experiences play a role in 2020 tested us again and again. Alumni adapted, shaping who I am every single persevered—and looked to the future. day. As an alumna, I consider myself part of BU’s legacy. And now, through our estate, I’m proud that STH will forever focus is made possible be a part of my family’s legacy. by donations from BU

Jack Darmody STH alumni and friends —Casey Darmody (’12) TABLEof Boston University CONTENTS School of Theology 2021 STH WELCOMES A NEW DEAN 2 JOURNAL: RESILIENCE Dean G. SUJIN PAK Assistant Dean of Development FEATURES The Pandemic of Racism 30 Make Sure You Give a Damn 42 and Alumni Relations One family navigates a year, amid a A calling for the next generation of students RAY JOYCE (Questrom’91) lifetime, of racist violence By LaTrelle Easterling (’04) Breaking Through 12 Assistant Director of Alumni By Ronald Angelo Johnson (’06) and Donor Relations Four alumni share their lessons from the ANDREW KIMBLE (’19) pandemic—and how they will apply them Singing with Purpose 34 to the future Communications Director and How historically Black collegiate gospel ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Journal Reviewer choirs build pride and resilience KIMBERLY MACDONALD From Seminary to Short Ribs 18 By Teddy Hickman-Maynard (’03,’15), (CFA’04) David With (’20) has a plan to reverse associate dean for students and community life STH News 6 Editor shrinking church budgets—and it starts and assistant professor of Black Church studies A creative approach to remote learning; MARC CHALUFOUR with mouthwatering BBQ lifelong learning opportunities; Invest in distinguished alumni; DMin program Contributing Writers Rethinking Resilience Within 38 RICH BARLOW Faith and Resilience in a 22 Global Charity recognition MARA SASSOON Difficult Time What international aid organizations ANDREW THURSTON Heidi Kugler (’97) and Ylisse Bess (’17) miss about the importance of family and Reflection 48 students Designer reflect on the challenges of prison and Blessed and Broken: Finding purpose and community BRUNO PEROSINO hospital chaplaincy during COVID-19 By Nicolette Manglos-Weber, assistant strength in trauma Produced by Boston University professor of religion and society By Zina Jacque (’97,’05) Marketing & Communications On the Margins 26 seeking focus is funded by donations from As a reporter, then a priest, Cristina alumni and friends to the Boston Rathbone (’09) has helped people University School of Theology excluded from society share their stories Will you give to the Annual Fund. Learn more at ecological bu.edu/sth/giving. Study of Indigenous Peoples Opinions expressed in focus do not necessarily reflect the views justice of Boston University. & Faith Traditions? STAY CONNECTED TO THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY Indigenous Studies Fellowships may be awarded to a limited The Faith and Ecological Justice Fund Keep up with STH, share your number of applicants who seek to study theology in relation latest news, and access free religious to indigenous cultures or to prepare themselves for leadership will support programs at STH seeking to articles at bu.edu/sth/focus. ground students in ecologically informed To contact the development within indigenous communities worldwide. spirituality and practices as they prepare and alumni relations team, email [email protected] or call for meaningful and effective work in 617-353-2349. faith-based environmental initiatives. Your gift will help students excel in their studies at STH. COVER IMAGE: Your gift will help students explore the AlessandraRC/iStock rich depth of religious resources for ecological justice work. Please recycle Email [email protected], call 617-353-2349, or visit bu.edu/sth/giving. In keeping with Boston University’s commitment to sustainability, this Email [email protected], call 617-353-2349, publication is printed on FSC-certified BU Photo Summit for Above or visit bu.edu/sth/giving. paper. 0421 STH WELCOMES A NEW DEAN

SUJIN PAK BRINGS largest Protestant church in the EXPERIENCE AS AN United States. “Dr. Pak’s scholarly credentials, ADVOCATE OF MODERN The divisions are a source of her gift for building INCLUSIVENESS TO STH pain for Pak. “There is need today for community through consensus BY RICH BARLOW prophetic witness to support all persons of faith in their and collaboration, and her Methodism courses through calling to ministry and/or ability to provide vision Sujin Pak’s DNA—“I am the religious leadership,” she says. and steady, clearheaded granddaughter, daughter, and “I am proud of this legacy of niece of multiple United Methodist the United Methodist Church leadership through periods elders and deacons on both the and can only hope that it will of change have prepared her Korean and American sides of my be on the right side of history family,” she says. Yet the church in support of LGBTQIA+ well to lead the School of “was also my crisis of faith.” persons.” Lack of humility, Theology.” “I too often saw a gap between listening, and condemnation, she what I understood to be the says, “too often have been the —Jean Morrison, Provost Christian message of love, hope, stumbling blocks to churches’ peace, and justice and the actual abilities to bear faithful witness actions of various expressions of to the Christian message of the church across time,” says Pak. reconciliation and justice.” curriculum to remote teaching and As a vice dean at Duke Divinity At Duke Divinity School, operations amid the pandemic this School, her alma mater, she tried Pak oversaw all degree programs, past spring. Sujin Pak to address that gap by, for example, admissions, financial aid, student “It was clear early on that welcoming LGBTQIA+ students, affairs, field education, and Dr. Pak’s scholarly credentials, faculty, and staff. ministerial formation. her gift for building community I am honored to be dean of a school with a future as challenges in the academy, churches, religious Pak will continue that work as In an email sent to the BU through consensus and collab­ bright as its legacy. As a historian, I know the impor- communities, and the world. With its gifted faculty, the new dean of STH. She takes community announcing Pak’s oration, and her ability to provide tance of listening to multiple voices and perspectives. I dedicated staff, amazing alumni, remarkable student the helm just months before her appointment, Jean Morrison, BU vision and steady, clearheaded know the necessity of reading contexts well and care- body, and extraordinary centers for social transforma- beloved Methodist Church may provost, wrote: “She thoughtfully leadership through periods of fully. As a biracial person, I understand the challenges tion, practical theology, conflict transformation, and splinter over gay rights, an animat- led Duke Divinity School through change have prepared her well of conflicting identities, values, and priorities. Boston faith and ecological justice, the School of Theology ing focus of her career. significant transitions, advancing to lead the School of Theology.” University School of Theology uniquely merges cultivates transformative religious leaders who Late this summer, the church efforts to enhance diversity by STH is BU’s oldest school, powerful prophetic witness with compassionate and embody passionate prophetic witness and profound is scheduled to vote on a plan to providing greater flexibility to started in Vermont in 1839 as humble listening. It seeks to listen well to a diversity listening. In a world threatened by deepened divides split the denomination, creating students of limited means, and to Newbury Biblical Institute. It of voices, pursue deep contextual engagement, and and a shrinking ability to hold together conviction at least one traditionalist branch improve inclusiveness, particularly relocated to New Hampshire and practice noncompetitive advocacy, where we recognize with humility and prophecy with love, I am proud opposed to same-sex marriage for LGBTQIA+ students, faculty, then, in 1867, to Boston, two and honor intersectionality. to be a dean of a school that seeks to embody and and gay ordination. The vote, and staff.” Additionally, Morrison years before BU’s founding. Its It is an exciting moment in the school’s vocation! practice these together. following years of emotional noted, she had “a major role in history is one of the things that

This school is strongly positioned to meet today’s —Sujin Pak Jackie Ricciardi debate, would rend the second- successfully adapting the school’s attracted her to the deanship,

3 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 4 Pak says: “The School of says, “the School of Theology CAREER Theology at Boston University is positioned as a trailblazer in BOOKS HIGHLIGHTS has an incredible legacy of cultivating Latinx theology and advancing women and minorities fostering Latinx church and in leadership, academia, and community leaders.” The Reformation Previously served as the vice ministry—from the first woman Morrison’s email said Pak, who of Prophecy: dean of academic affairs and to earn a doctorate in the nation was also appointed to the STH Early Modern associate professor of the to such key faculty, is Interpretations of history of Christianity at leaders in “recognized the Prophet & Duke University, where she its history among the Old Testament had worked since 2008. as Howard world’s leading Prophecy “There is need today for Thurman scholars of (Hon.’67), prophetic witness to support Christianity in dean of Marsh late medieval (New York: Oxford University all persons of faith in their Published in peer-reviewed Chapel from and early Press, 2018) publications: Church 1953 to calling to ministry and/or modern History, Church History and 1965—the first Europe,” religious leadership. Religious Culture, Dutch Black dean at a with research Review of Church History, predominantly I am proud of this legacy of focused on The Judaizing Reformation & Renaissance white the United Methodist Church the Protestant Calvin: Sixteenth- Review, Religions, and American Reformation’s Century Debates Calvin Theological Journal university— and can only hope that it will theology, its over the Messianic and Martin be on the right side of history relationship Psalms Luther King, to Jews and Jr. (GRS’55, in support of LGBTQIA+ women, and Hon.’59).” persons.” —Sujin Pak the history Member of the editorial Pak says of biblical board for Encyclopedia her to-do list interpretation. (New York: Oxford University of Martin Luther and the as she begins She has Press, 2010) Reformation, American her deanship published two Historical Association, includes reviewing the rollout last books (see page 5). Pak led Duke Divinity School’s efforts to enhance diversity. Sixteenth Century Studies, year of remote learning. “I will seek In 2018, Pak won the United American Society of to explore with faculty, staff, and Methodist Church General As for nonacademic interests, Pak says that in her “much Church History, Calvin students opportunities, discoveries, Board of Higher Education younger years,” she was an athlete, particularly in basketball The Minor Prophets: Reformation Studies Society and silver linings that have emerged and Ministry Exemplary and volleyball. “Sports taught me invaluable life skills, such as Commentary on Scripture, Vol. 13 from their experiences,” she says. Teacher Award and recognition self-discipline, perseverance, stamina, and teamwork,” she says. (Westmont, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, She also hopes to enhance as an “Emerging Woman in “I carry these gifts into my daily work and continue to look under contract) the faculty’s visibility in its Leadership” by the Association to athletic activities for leisure—plus, they are a great way to academic and social justice work. of Theological Schools. She is a manage stress.” In particular, “With a notable lay preacher and teacher in the Pak succeeds Mary Elizabeth Moore as dean. Moore, the first

number of Latinx scholars,” she United Methodist Church. Jackie Ricciardi woman to serve as STH dean, led the school for 12 years. q

5 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 6 STH NEWS STH NEWS

LEARNING FROM Instead of only sitting through NEW LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAM ANYWHERE lectures in classrooms, Hebrew Bible PROVIDES PRACTICAL ADVICE students now watch chunks of them HOW REMOTE LEARNING HAS and other instructional videos, like BY MARA SASSOON with Howard Thurman, students anti-Black violence reminded us SPARKED TEACHING IDEAS THAT ghost writers, online—then use more talk about themes in Thurman’s that the future is in our hands.” MIGHT OUTLAST THE PANDEMIC of their class time, virtual or other- As STH was getting ready to book The Living Wisdom of Howard The Online Lifelong Learning BY ANDREW THURSTON wise, for discussion. Simonson and launch its new Online Lifelong Thurman and reflect upon audio Program is funded by a grant from Darr, the Harrell F. Beck Professor Learning Program in March 2020, recordings of Thurman’s speeches BU’s Digital Education Incubator, As surprise class guests go, Louise of Hebrew Scripture, have also COVID-19 cases started to rise, and sermons from the Howard part of BU Digital Learning & Pettibone Smith was a pretty filmed a biweekly question-and- forcing schools and places of Gotlieb Archival Research Center. Innovation. Daily says there are astonishing one. The renowned bib- answer session. worship to close—or shift online. Last summer, Andrew Kimble, plenty of new course offerings lical scholar and activist, who joined Simonson, an instructor of biblical Eileen Daily, director of the STH assistant director of alumni scheduled for 2021, including STH’s Hebrew Bible class in fall studies, talked with focus about which program, saw an opportunity to and donor relations, led a minicourses on building inclusion 2020, died in 1981. Learn from Anywhere innovations tailor the courses to help people spirituality group titled Embodying and equity and developing meaning- Smith’s appearance owed noth- might outlast the coronavirus. in a pivotal time. She pushed the the Spirit of Afrofuturism. making activities and rituals. ing to miracles—and everything to program’s launch to April and Students discussed films such as “Alumni and the entire STH video editing software. focus: Which elements of Brandon Simonson revamped the course topics. Black Panther and the animated team have come together and Every week, the course’s this approach do you think The program offers an array of documentary Liyana, music by been really supportive of this coteachers, Katheryn Pfisterer are here to stay? my door open, to allow students to minicourses, which meet weekly Parliament, Erykah Badu, and program, and have made it great,” Darr and Brandon Simonson, film Simonson: I love the prologue just walk in and stop by and have for three or four sessions. The first Weldon Irvine, and readings like Daily says. “And I’m extremely an online series where they take lecture component, the fact that that sort of small talk is something two courses, Leading Community science fiction novelist Octavia grateful for that.” q turns playing—and interviewing— students are engaging with the we all miss. That’s so often where Lament and Church Mission Butler’s Parable of the Sower. “The ghostly apparitions of biblical material outside of class and that the theology happens, in those in Uncertainty and Adversity, goal was to use this mixed media To find out more about the Online scholars about their research. In we can spend that time in class impromptu moments. helped participants, many of them experience to imagine possible Lifelong Learning Program, visit episode one of ghost writers, Darr talking about it. The videos we’ve working in ministry, brainstorm futures through a Black cultural bu.edu/sth/academics/lifelong- played Smith—complete with created—a small series where I Do you think there’s anything ways to address the pandemic and lens without centering racism and learning. Courses are taught by spectral video effect. answer questions from that week that pastors or churches could its effects with congregants. “We marginalization,” says Kimble (’19). faculty, staff, alumni, and visiting Darr and Simonson (GRS’19) and ghost writers—there’s merit in take from what you’re doing? hope these minicourses provide “Reflecting in this way amid the scholars and cost $40 for alumni and weren’t the only ones forced to keeping them as well, but really, Definitely. If you put yourself people with practical takeaways or twin pandemics of COVID-19 and $50 for nonalumni. experiment with new ways of they’ve functioned to keep us and your material out there in even a plan to implement in their teaching in 2020—though playing together as a community. It’s the as many ways as possible, it will church, college, or hospital,” says The first round of minicourses in STH’s Lifelong Learning Program were tailored to ghosts was admittedly one of the one thing that’s lacking: something resound with different people Daily, who is also an STH lecturer the needs of people isolated at home during more out-there innovations. Last to keep everybody together to study differently. What I’ve tried to and director of the doctor of the pandemic. spring, STH went fully remote the material as a group and to expe- bring to my teaching, both ministry program. Another recent as the pandemic began surging; rience it as a group—adding humor before and during the pandemic, course offering, Remote Ministry by fall, it was offering Learnfrom has done that for us. is to approach the biblical texts to Elders during Advent, provided Anywhere, BU’s hybrid plan that through multiple media—whether timely advice leading into the allows students to attend classes on Are there things you really that’s song, literature, pop holiday season. campus, from home, or a mix of miss from having that culture—to find as many ways to Spirituality groups, which bring both. With long-established teaching classroom experience? approach the subject as possible participants together to discuss routines thrown out, many professors I think incorporating Zoom into and not just catering to one way, a special theme or topic once a embraced the opportunity to engage my office hours is something I’d not finding our own comfort week over five to seven weeks, Britt Simonson students in new ways. like to do in the future, but to have zone and sticking within it. q MStudioImages iStock/ are also available. In Reflecting

7 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 8 STH NEWS

CAREER HONORS Allen Ewing- Katie Cole Merrill (’00) (STH’12) serves many roles received STH’s Leaders. Advocates. Organizers. in the Maine Emerging The four recipients of STH’s 2020 faith community. Leader Award Distinguished Alumni Awards As executive for her work check all of those boxes. director of the as director of “They have crafted new paths BTS Center, the children and of ministry with migrants and successor to the Bangor Theological youth ministries at Boston’s people living on the streets, local Seminary, Ewing-Merrill oversees Fourth Presbyterian Church and churches, neighborhoods, children, a range of programs and resources, as an organizer with the Greater denominational bodies, people including conferences, publications, Boston Interfaith Organization. living in crisis and postcrisis and project funding, for the In 2018, Cole established Peace trauma, and contexts crying for professional development of leaders by Piece, a free monthly trauma justice and ecological well-being,” in ministry settings. He’s also the support program for adults said Mary Elizabeth Moore, then founder of Moral Movement Maine, experiencing stress, grief, or loss. STH dean, at a virtual event in an interfaith group of clergy and —Marc Chalufour q September. “We are honored that faith leaders that advocates for social they left their marks on STH and justice in the state, and serves on now serve as daring witnesses to the board of the Maine Council for the ‘Kin-dom of God.’” Churches. DMin DISTINCTION Help us support students

LaTrelle Cristina STH’s Doctor of Ministry program called to serve Easterling Rathbone (’09) has been recognized as one of (’04) was dean spent years the top online doctoral programs Latinx communities of the cabinet advocating in the US by TheBestSchools.org. of the New for vulnerable In its 2020 ranking, the higher England Annual populations education resource service ranked Conference and as a writer, STH number two, between Duke The Raíces Latinas Program at the School of Theology builds on the strong foundation and commitment superintendent publishing University and Emory University, to Latinx initiatives found among faculty and curriculum. Available to all interested students at the of the Metro Boston Hope District books about women in prison (A citing the program’s focus on school, this important program offers students the unique opportunity to pursue Latin American and before being named the first World Apart: Women, Prison, and transformational leadership for those Latinx studies, leadership formation, and research, as well as the opportunity to build collaborative woman bishop of the Baltimore- Life Behind Bars) and New York working in both traditional and partnerships within Boston University, the church, and the wider community. Washington Conference in 2016. City teenagers (On the Outside nontraditional settings. Raíces Latinas Fellowships are designed to recruit and support students who are interested in Latinx She founded Seeds of Security, a Looking In: A Year in an Inner-City The DMin program combines studies. The fellowship may be awarded to one or more applicants who display commitment and network dedicated to helping victims High School) before becoming an online learning with intensive dedicated service to the Latinx community. of domestic and intimate partner Episcopal priest. She has worked on-campus classes and culminates violence, and is also a member of extensively with people who with a thesis about transforming a the board of the Anna Howard are homeless and is currently practical problem. Read how David Shaw Center at STH and the STH focusing her efforts on helping With (’20) has put his thesis project Your gift will help the growing population Dean’s Advisory Board. You can read asylum seekers. You can read into practice, operating a BBQ food of underserved students excel at STH. Easterling’s sermon from STH’s 2020 more about Rathbone’s work on truck to support a Raleigh, N.C., matriculation ceremony on page 42. page 26. church, on page 18. —M.C. q Tony Richards (Easterling), Will Wohler (Ewing-Merrill), (Ewing-Merrill), Wohler Will (Easterling), Richards Tony of Katie Cole of Cristina Rathbone, Courtesy Courtesy Email [email protected], call 617-353-2349, or visit bu.edu/sth/giving.

9 boston university STH DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS STH DEVELOPMENT & ALUMNI RELATIONS

RISING TO THE OCCASION to leading thought-provoking faith communities. The endowment dealing with xenophobia and racism conversations on creative ALUMNI VIRTUAL ensures that the last part of STH’s without finding enough community SCHOOL OF ALUMNI AND FRIENDS approaches to Advent and the ENGAGEMENT mission, “to seek peace with jus- support. My husband and I wanted THEOLOGY FUND STRENGTHEN DEDICATION TO intersection of justice movements tice in a diverse and interconnected to help establish the Korean Student STH, DESPITE TURBULENCE Contributions to the STH Fund are and the arts, your commitment to world,” is a priority in the curricu- Scholarship Fund to provide ongoing vital, especially for unendowed pro- Midway into the spring 2020 excellence in theological education lum and student formation oppor- support for the Korean students in grams, which support the following: semester, the Boston University has been remarkable. tunities. The fund brings leading the STH community. community joined the rest of Although we were physically EVENTS: 41 theologians and practitioners in the the nation and world in an effort distant, we’ve remained close, as field of conflict transformation to Kevin Vetiac (’18) 1. Contextual opportunities, to limit the spread of the novel evidenced by the success of our campus each fall and provides oppor- Music Director which provide support coronavirus by working remotely, denominational social gatherings, tunities for interfaith partnerships for at The Crossing to students engaged in hosting virtual classes, meetings, Class of 1970 50th Reunion, ALUMNI peace and justice. The endowment and Senior projects to learn from and events, and practicing humility, Distinguished Alumni Awards, VOLUNTEERS: 70 also provides an important match Administrator at St. people in other cultures compassion, and courage. Over the and retirement celebrations for when applying for research grants Paul’s Cathedral or to immerse themselves past year, the School of Theology’s Professor Emeritus Walter Fluker and funding for new program initia- in their diverse ministries alumni and friends have played an (GRS’88) and Dean Emerita tives. As a result, STH graduates are I give to STH because STH has through Springboard integral role in sustaining STH’s Mary Elizabeth Moore. Your more equipped to address, facilitate, already given so much to me. Fellowships. well-being. From supporting time, advocacy, and philanthropy and mediate conflicts in their rela- The generous funding provided the STH Student Aid Fund that continue to support STH’s ability ATTENDEES: 950 tionships, religious institutions, and to me through the Dean’s Fellow served students’ emergency needs to pursue its mission. communities, whether here in the Scholarship made my theologi- US or around the globe. cal education at STH possible. I 2. Spiritual life, supporting want to do my part, in the words our vital program of WHY I GIVE TO STH: ALUM of Mary Church Terrell, to lift as Saturday reading retreats, IMPACT OF “ON A MISSION” Building Support what does your fundamental PERSPECTIVES I climb and give back to students. meditation groups, and CAMPAIGN GIFTS for Centers and identity emerge? From life, or Specifically, I am excited to help other special activities Programs: A Enriching from the state? From the lips of Yoo-Yun Cho- students through a scholarship in that nourish the spiritual Testimony the Student religious leaders, Samaritans, and Chang (’94,’00, my mother’s name. My mother vibrancy of the STH Experience: local leaders in el barrio, or from Judith Oleson GRS’13) worked tirelessly to put me and community. A Flashback to border agents and judges passing Director, Tom Licensed my siblings through private school Arizona/Mexico sentences on teenagers? Through Porter Program on Religion & Psychologist because she valued our education. Travel Seminar their own stories and displays of Conflict Transformation All of my academic achievements Chris Greene (’19) artifacts, we catch glimpses of life have been attained while standing 3. Outreach to alums, Administrative Coordinator, BU and death, hope and salvation, the The Tom Porter Program on It’s my way of paying back and giving on her shoulders. And so I feel hon- which includes livestream- Center for Teaching & Learning local, embodied realities of polit- Religion & Conflict Transformation forward. I was a beneficiary of the ored to give to STH to establish the ing of worship services, ical warfare in the desert, and the Endowment Fund has reached the United Methodist Church Women Claire Edouard Scholarship Fund, lectures, seminars, “To whom do you serve, God, stories of real bodies who suffered endowed level, thanks to many new of Color Scholarship and had which will provide financial assis- webinars, oral histories, or Caesar?” asked our Tohono from Caesar while thirsting for life. contributions at the time of Tom learned the importance of supporting tance to African American students regular e-newsletters, and O’odham Nation speaker, as he Without the financial aid of the Porter’s retirement celebration in May students of color who often face pursuing theological education. I our annual issue of focus. reflected on a question he posed Global & Contextual Engagement 2019. This fund provides important cultural biases and a lack of support feel blessed to be able to publicly to Samaritan volunteers afraid Fellowship Fund, I wouldn’t have stability for the program’s future at in an academic setting. I was aware honor the sacrifices of my mother to cross legal boundaries mak- had the opportunity for such an a time when conflicts across theo- that many Korean students juggle and in some small way help nur- If you would like to make a gift, ing water drop-offs for migrants enlightening experience of con- logical and ideological differences academic work, financial burden, and ture the next generation of African please visit bu.edu/sth/giving.

in La Frontera. From whom or nectedness to self and other. are expanding and challenging our (Oleson) Green Dave (Greene); Lozano Paula page: Facing Vetiac of Kevin Courtesy (Cho-Chang); Joel Benjamin Photography page: This taking care of their families while American scholars at STH. q

11 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 12 FEATURE

FOUR ALUMNI SHARE Tragedy, trauma, and loss shaped THEIR LESSONS FROM 2020. But through those hardships, Breaking THE PANDEMIC—AND most work continued—sometimes in HOW THEY WILL APPLY dramatically altered forms—to meet THEM TO THE FUTURE the needs of a society navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools and BY MARC CHALUFOUR offices went remote—and churches THROUGH did too. A study published by the Pew Research Center in August 2020 showed that one-third of American adults had either attended an online religious ser- vice or watched one on television in the previous month—half of them having done so for the first time since the pan- demic began. But while that migration online has brought convenience for many people, it has translated into extra barriers for oth- ers. And for anyone whose work relies on personal interactions, especially with members of vulnerable communities— those often disproportionately affected by COVID-19—the transition hasn’t always been as simple as scheduling a Zoom session. Community and religious leaders have had to reinvent organiza- tions and ministries in order to continue delivering support to those who need it. In some cases, that has meant accel- erating changes that had already begun and that will shape their careers and lives well beyond the pandemic. Four STH alumni spoke with focus about their experiences over the past year—and how their outlook on the future has changed. iStock

13 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 14 FEATURE BREAKING THROUGH

CHARLES DANIELS (’20) YARA GONZÁLEZ-JUSTINIANO (’14,’19) | VISITING ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AT COFOUNDER AND CEO OF FATHERS’ UPLIFT, BOSTON, MASS. GARRETT-EVANGELICAL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, EVANSTON, ILL.

Charles Daniels was raised by a unmet needs during the pandemic. Yara González-Justiniano is a visiting done, and continues to do, is to truly single mother and struggled with One barrier that is especially difficult assistant professor of practical question the distribution of resources feelings of abandonment before for the fathers we work with is coping theology and community engagement and unveil the systemic injustices eventually meeting his father. Now, with life after prison. When a man at Garrett-Evangelical Theological against essential workers. he works with fathers of color in the enters prison, the experience directly Seminary. Her interests range from Boston neighborhoods of Dorchester impacts his identity and separates Latinx theology to popular culture Is there a change you’ve made that and Roxbury, helping them overcome him from his role as a father. One but, she says, “I teach and preach you expect to carry forward? barriers that might prevent them from immediate response to the pandemic about hope.” In February 2021, Especially as we continue the work being involved in their own children’s was an expansion of our Fathers she preached to the Hope Central as online learners and teachers, I’ll be lives. He and his wife, Samantha Fils- Homecoming Program, where we Church in Boston’s Jamaica Plain mindful of our bodies and the diverse Daniels (pictured with Daniels above), work with incarcerated fathers months neighborhood, via Zoom, and spoke practices around trauma-informed founded Fathers’ UpLift in 2011 to before their release to put together of the societal inequities that have pedagogies. I take account of Zoom provide mental health counseling, a comprehensive mental health plan. led to so many COVID-19 deaths. exhaustion as well as the limitation coaching, and advocacy for fathers Our staff meet fathers at the gate of She ended with these words: “The of mobility during class; hence, I dealing with issues including racism, Suffolk County House of Corrections way to live an abundant life now incorporate breaks as well as assignments trauma, and substance abuse. Daniels to escort them to their homes, monitor is to pay the cost of creativity and that are flexible. For example, they can received a 2019 Obama Foundation their mental health, and create a creation together, and imagine ways submit video essays instead of written fellowship, which supports leaders pathway for success. One of our of being that will inevitably require work and they also have plenty of working on transformational changes in cofounders, Samantha Fils-Daniels, us to do differently—so that we all opportunities for extra credit. their communities. created an additional component to may live.” the homecoming program called Bags What comes next? What was your biggest challenge for Dads, which provides fathers with What was the biggest challenge I continue to question what it means this past year? necessities such as a comb, toothbrush, you faced in your work in 2020? to teach and practice flourishing with Creating community through a virtual shampoo, and deodorant inside a As a professor, it has been trying to keep my students. Therefore, I seek ways to platform. Getting our constituents sturdy duffel bag, so they have the up under the pressure of productivity still impart the content of the class, connected to one another online is fundamental tools and dignity to be a that hasn’t allowed us to stop and really without needing to replicate in-person different from an in-person experience. successful parent after release. begin to practice and think through learning. I also try to eliminate the “We knew we wanted So, the pandemic forced us to think who we need to be as a society. things that seem to be the causes of outside of the box and innovate Will some of the changes you made anxieties, as well as providing mutual to begin exploring every single day, making deliveries to carry forward into 2021 and beyond? How were you able to adapt in the boundaries since our private spaces ways to connect with our constituents to help them meet We knew we wanted to begin exploring face of that challenge? have become public. We meet twice fathers through an their needs while also building that ways to connect with fathers through an I have not been able to adapt. Also, a month for 1.5 hours, everything community remotely. online platform, but we never imagined I have chosen not to. The idea of else is done in their own time, and online platform, but doing it this soon. Now that we know “I have not been able adapting to a “new normal” when the I always give an opportunity for Were you still able to evolve and we can do it, we plan to offer both pandemic became a pandemic, partially makeup sessions. I also make sure we never imagined to adapt. Also, I have grow your organization? a virtual and in-person experience because of a lack of understanding of they understand my focus is on the doing it this soon.” We had to align our efforts with the moving forward—making our programs chosen not to.” communal living and a capitalist model content of what they are learning and needs of our constituents. This required more accessible and allowing us to that doesn’t care for humane practices, how they can incorporate it in their

us to add new services that addressed expand more quickly. We can’t wait. Daniels; of Charles Courtesy page: This González-Justiniano of Yara Courtesy page: Facing seems absurd. What I believe it has ministerial work, not on form.

15 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 16 FEATURE BREAKING THROUGH

ART GORDON (’16) MARY SCIFRES (’91,’91) SENIOR PASTOR, ST. JOHN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH, ROXBURY, MASS. FOUNDER, MARY SCIFRES MINISTRIES, LAGUNA BEACH, CALIF.

Art Gordon, a fourth-generation What changes did you make to Mary Scifres, an ordained elder in telephone-based now, and I anticipate Baptist pastor, grew up in the overcome that separation? the United Methodist Church, that being a permanent change. church. He’s also been an activist We had to switch to a virtual format is an author, a coach, and a Consulting and coaching is so much and student leader, traveling to that has been embraced, but many consultant. Through Mary Scifres more affordable for churches and Ferguson, Mo., to protest the police seniors without Wi-Fi or knowledge Ministries, which she launched nonprofits when we don’t have to add shooting of Michael Brown, and of social media have had a hard time in 2009, she offers a range of the cost of travel and meeting space. visiting Israel and Palestine while he adjusting. One of the things I had to do services, helping churches navigate Honestly, my coaching clients show was at STH. He was vice president was to have check-in calls to see how transitions, resolve conflicts, and up more consistently and more fully of the STH Student Association folks were and if they were in need focus their missions. Despite losing engaged when they simply walk to and received the Donald A. Wells of any resources. Through the calls, I the business of one of her largest their desk and turn on their computer. Preaching Prize. In 2018, he received encouraged the use of online platforms, clients early in the pandemic, then They can focus on their coaching a Fellowship at Auschwitz for the while also connecting personally. needing to reinvent how she worked goals and needs, and we’re completely Study of Professional Ethics to As time progressed, many eventually with churches due to public health open and available to listen to one examine the role of clergy in Nazi- learned the mechanics of social media. protocols, Scifres finds reasons for another and to God’s still, small voice “The pandemic has occupied Germany and Poland. In hope. When she looks back at the in this setting. caused more families addition to being a pastor, Gordon, Do you think some of the changes changes that 2020 forced, she sees who had previously worked on the you made will carry forward, a more efficient business, capable What comes next? to be in need. In 2020 Senate campaign of Ed Markey beyond the pandemic? of reaching more clients with more Figuring out how to host an all- 2020, my church (Hon.’04) (D-Mass.), now serves as My greatest changes came in the ability affordable services. virtual leadership training event in a senior advisor to representative to gather resources, such as food, for early 2022 will be the most exciting had several food Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) in her my community. The pandemic has What was the biggest challenge challenge my team and I are facing. giveaways, and we Dorchester, Mass., district office. The caused more families to be in need. your business faced in 2020? As with the consulting, we anticipate pandemic forced him to reevaluate In 2020, my church had several food My primary client terminated our the event will be more affordable both also secured grants how he reaches the members of his giveaways, and we also secured grants consulting contract very suddenly for us as the host organization and that allowed us to church—as well as his role in helping that allowed us to help families in need last summer. My staff, current clients, for participants. Hotel events are so members of the community meet with electric and medical bills. I hope and longtime colleagues cheered me costly, and travel is almost prohibitive help families in “Consulting and basic needs. to continue this work, focusing on on and all jumped in to help me. Via in both time and money for churches, need with electric feeding families and contributing to coaching is so much video ministry, social media, phone clergy, and small business and nonprofit What was the biggest challenge necessary bills. calls, and email contact with the leaders. We look forward to creating and medical bills. more affordable you faced as a pastor over this churches and leaders I’ve helped over an interactive, participatory experience I hope to continue past year? What comes next? for churches and the years, we quickly got the word out that still creates community—a high Like most people, I faced several What comes next for me is continuing that I was available and ready to help value in our work—but also promotes this work, focusing nonprofits when we challenges during 2020. As a pastor, to help families in the community, other leaders and churches. sustainability for everyone involved. It’s on feeding families the biggest challenges included but also using my platform as a don’t have to add the better for Mother Earth as well. q communication with my parishioners community pastor and leader to How did you adapt to the and contributing to cost of travel and and keeping people engaged. Being help bring more resources to the challenges of the past year—and necessary bills.” away from the church created a community. I plan to write op-eds and meeting space.” do you see some of those changes These interviews have been edited challenge for the majority of the speak with local elected officials to becoming permanent? and condensed for clarity.

membership. advocate for further support. of Art Gordon; Courtesy page: Facing Photography Erin Clendenin page: This Oh yes! My work is all video- and

17 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 18 FEATURE FROM SEMINARY TO SHORT RIBS

DAVID WITH HAS A PLAN TO REVERSE SHRINKING CHURCH BUDGETS— AND IT STARTS WITH MOUTHWATERING BBQ

BY MARC CHALUFOUR With looked at the financial struggles facing many churches even before the Much of David With’s workday is spent pandemic and saw the need for a cre- in the driveway of his home outside ative solution. “Revenues are down, giv- Raleigh, N.C., in the back of a black ing is going down, and millennials are food truck emblazoned with a colorful strapped for cash,” he says. In Raleigh, mosaic pig. BBQ has provided a solution. David With (’20) Around two in the afternoon, he fires up a stack of apple and hickory COOKING WITH PURPOSE wood in a smoker mounted to the With leaves his pork and brisket to smoke back of the truck. He brings the all night, then he’s up early the next temperature up to 225 degrees and morning to drive downtown. By 7:15 lays in seasoned slabs of pork shoulder. am, he’s parked behind FBC where he They cook for 18 hours. Brisket stuffs chicken and ribs into the smoker. goes in next and cooks for 12. With’s Then it’s on to mixing side dishes like methods borrow from across the BBQ sweet and tangy slaw, smoked beans, and spectrum and include Eastern North Southwest corn salad (special ingredient: Carolina’s vinegar-based sauce and Chili Cheese Fritos). At 11 am, he opens Texas-style slow-cooked beef brisket. for business. Then it’s back home to This is no typical BBQ business, refire the smoker and begin again. David With (right) hopes his food truck will inspire other churches to explore for-profit businesses. though. It’s With’s ministry of meat: a And Also With ’Cue caters to the food truck run in partnership with a employees at the North Carolina local church to fund their mission and State Capitol and other downtown thinking outside of the typical With, a student minister and tailgating at Wake Forest football help people in need. government buildings. Many of the tithing box,” says Leah Anderson associate pastor at the time, was games when he was in the uni- With (’20) opened And Also customers come for the award-winning Reed, FBC’s minister with expected to take kids on inter- versity’s School of Divinity. “I With ’Cue in October 2019 while food, but others are drawn to the community and With’s primary national trips for missional expe- told people, ‘I’ll get there at six in completing his doctorate at STH. And business’ charitable story. Each lunch liaison at the church. “This is an riences, so he started looking for the morning. Y’all come around more than one year in, despite a global purchase pays for a sandwich to be innovative approach to ministry that other ways to bring in money. three and it’ll be ready,’” he says. pandemic clearing the weekday lunch donated to someone else. Customers meets so many needs we have.” “I asked the question: would it “And it was awful—the food I crowd out of Raleigh, his experiment can further pay it forward by buying a With first floated the idea of be possible for us to start a little was cooking was terrible.” But he in funding church programs with a token for a future meal that With will pairing ministry with for-profit business?” But, “I got shut down,” enjoyed the process and, when for-profit business is paying off. He’s provide to someone who comes up to enterprise when the staff at the he says. “That idea didn’t float he graduated, his parents paid for posted profits every quarter, donated the truck asking for food. Proceeds also Baptist church where he worked with that crowd.” a weekend BBQ workshop. The hundreds of meals to people in need, help to fund FBC programs and pay during the Great Recession were Around the same time, he food began to improve and, when and provided his partner, First Baptist his salary. told that their budgets, salaries, had begun cooking in BBQ he and a friend entered their first Church of Raleigh (FBC), with a “As giving trends change and shift, and healthcare benefits were all competitions—a continuation of competition, they placed second

source of revenue. churches are going to have to begin Boerner (x2) Alex being cut. Even after those cuts, the hobby he’d picked up while out of 85 teams.

19 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 20 FEATURE

“BBQ was a way for me to sit “There’s a theology of service in my driveway and just chill out and not have to think about the aspect to it: the whole idea funerals that were performed that of bringing people together week or the people I had visited to socialize through food and in the hospital,” he says. Then he realized that if he could find a way to provide a really positive to make his BBQ meaningful to experience is a big part of my other people, he wouldn’t have to work at a desk again. satisfaction.” So he headed to BU to study —David With BBQ, beer—and theology.

SUCCESS IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY For his doctoral thesis, With searched for churches that used a for-profit model to fund their pro- grams but he couldn’t find any in the Protestant world. What he did find were Trappist monks. So he On most weekdays, With serves lunch in the First Baptist Church parking lot in downtown And Also With ’Cue’s popular Texas-style brisket smokes for 18 hours. spent several weeks in 2019 travel- Raleigh. The church is a partner in the business. ing through Belgium, France, and Germany, visiting abbeys that brew how a for-profit BBQ restaurant might and if it didn’t work out, it and weekday business plummeted With was able to support himself. going to be representatives from internationally known beers like transform a post-Christian ministry, would be easy to split up and about 70 percent. Almost as Even in a year of unprecedented churches all across the country,” Orval and Chimay. just might be the most heavily go their separate ways. quickly, though, residents unable challenges to the food industry, his he says. Rather than capitalism footnoted business plan in BBQ’s One of their ideas was for to go to restaurants began idea proved viable. After years of study and work- contradicting their lifestyles, the long history. church volunteers to serve booking food trucks to visit their With acknowledges that the ing in the church, With has found monks he met spoke of business With approached FBC, free meals around the city, neighborhoods. “We’ve seen our schedule is a grind, and he would peace working in the truck, join- as a means of spirituality and where one of his divinity school breaking bread with people they private event revenue quadruple,” like to eventually step into an ing his personal, professional, and prayer. “They look at profit not professors serves as pastor, and didn’t know. Then COVID-19 With says. “So it’s balanced out.” advisory role to have more time spiritual lives. “There’s a theology as coming out of greed, but as a proposed his idea. A simple hit. FBC had to pause that In its first year, And Also With with his wife and two young of service aspect to it: the whole gift of one’s work that you can partnership resulted: the church program and, although With ’Cue donated nearly 1,000 meals, children. He also wants to take idea of bringing people together to then use to give back to others,” bought the shell of the truck, had to close the business for most of them to the Helen Wright his idea to a bigger audience. socialize through food and to pro- he says. After his business idea had With bought the cooking only three days—due to a meat Center, an emergency shelter for He was invited to speak at the vide a really positive experience is a been shot down a few years earlier, equipment. They shared a shortage—his business plan women experiencing homelessness, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship big part of my satisfaction,” he says. this was affirmation With needed vision of the business not only had been flipped upside down. and families who visit the FBC annual conference in 2020, but “But even more fulfilling is being to hear. His thesis, the 155-page providing revenue but also The bustling lunch crowd was Raleigh clothing closet. Plus, FBC that event was canceled because able to do this in a way that helps

Post-recession mainline church revenue: benefiting the community— suddenly working from home Boerner (x2) Alex got a return on its investment and of the pandemic. “There were the community.” q

21 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 22 FEATURE FAITH AND RESILIENCE IN A DIFFICULT TIME

TWO ALUMS REFLECT ON THE CHALLENGES OF PRISON AND HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY DURING COVID-19

BY MARA SASSOON COVID wards, she can only speak with them by phone. “It’s still powerful, but COVID-19 has so ravaged prisons— it’s just not the same as an in-person infecting inmates at a rate more than interaction,” she says. Bess (’17), whose five times higher than the general role involves patient advocacy, says population—that many states have that these over-the-phone interactions been forced to release inmates early, require more prompting and deducing Ylisse Bess (’17) slow down new convictions, or close on her part. “If I was in person, I could jails altogether. The virus has also see that someone looked cold and taxed hospitals in unprecedented ways, needed a blanket and I could get one overwhelming their bed capacities, for them, but patients don’t always say forcing them to postpone or cancel what is bothering them and, on the elective surgeries, and bringing patients phone, I have to ask a lot of questions and healthcare workers alike untold to figure something like that out. stress and grief. “Everything is different because of After two weeks of remote work early in the pandemic, Ylisse Bess returned to Beth Israel In these fraught times, the work COVID-19,” she says. Deaconess Medical Center where she is a multifaith chaplain. of prison and hospital chaplains, who serve as voices of comfort and hope HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY: LISTENING in often-isolating environments, is of AND ADVOCATING Though she continues to meet their faith tradition, but that often says. “It’s not just medical ethics. Heidi (Schulz) Kugler (’97) heightened importance. In March 2020, as hospitals began to with COVID-19 patients over doesn’t happen. And that’s a huge People have religious ethics, “Chaplains are essential in admit more COVID-19 patients, Bess the phone, after those two weeks part of their life and their meaning- cultural ethics, and I make sure traumatic times like this pandemic,” was forced to work remotely for two were up, Bess was one of a few making,” Bess says. that’s a part of the conversation.” says Shelly Rambo, an associate weeks while Beth Israel considered the chaplains able to resume in-person She checks that patients are COVID-19 has heightened the professor of theology who helped best way to have its spiritual care team rounds for non-COVID patients. getting proper meals that meet usual anxiety that might come design STH’s Master of Divinity continue its work. She primarily visits The pandemic has brought their dietary restrictions, religious from a hospital visit, and Bess chaplaincy track. “They meet people cardiac patients and would normally many changes, but it has also or otherwise. “Another big works through these concerns in moments of crisis or pain, and go from room to room to check in on reinforced the importance of question I ask is, ‘Is this what with patients and their families. COVID has added a particular them. As a multifaith chaplain, she works Bess’ role. Besides helping patients you want?’” she says. Sometimes The virus has also compounded visibility to the important work that with people of all religions, offering navigate their concerns and talk patients are faced with medical many issues of racism that Bess they are doing.” But it’s also added a spiritual and emotional support. through their grief, Bess is an procedures, such as blood had been working to tackle before lot of new stresses and challenges. “Most of my job is listening to advocate for them and tries to transfusions, that might not the pandemic. For Ylisse Bess, a multifaith chaplain people,” she says. “In our everyday life, make their visits as comfortable as be aligned with their religious “Another inherent part of at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical people don’t get a chance to talk about possible. She often acts as a liaison beliefs. Bess works with doctors my work, as a Black woman, is Center in Boston, one of the toughest their grief and their sadness. All of us are between patients and other staff to make sure they are aware of supporting patients and staff of adjustments has been the lack of struggling with something. I try to create and medical professionals. conflicts like this and to facilitate color,” says Bess. Black Americans physical connection with COVID a space for patients to talk about what “Patients want their healthcare other options. “It’s making sure are disproportionately affected by

patients. With strict quarantines around they’re going through.” of Heidi Kugler; Courtesy Bess, of Ylisse Courtesy page: Facing 3.0 BY CC Pierce, Tim page: This professionals to ask them about that ethics are acknowledged,” she COVID-19, facing hospitalization

23 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 24 FEATURE

“In our everyday life, people rates 2.9 times higher than white an affinity space where staff can it has in the wider community,” strategies to help them cope with Americans and a death rate 1.9 meet to discuss their experiences says Kugler. “When inmates pandemic-related stress. “Having don’t get a chance to talk about times higher, according to the in the hospital. “Staff of color couldn’t gather in larger groups wellness and stress reduction their grief and their sadness. Centers for Disease Control and used to pull me aside in the hall- in centralized chapel areas for strategies and resources is vital to Prevention. Because of systemic way to talk, but now we have this their congregant worship and chaplains in correctional ministry All of us are struggling with racism, “people of color, espe- safe space to gather. That’s our religious studies across faith over time.” something. I try to create a cially Black people, have every job as chaplains—we’re supposed lines, the chaplains went to them Also of high importance for reason to distrust our healthcare to be conversation partners. We to meet their spiritual needs. Kugler has been ensuring that space for patients to talk about institutions, and my job is to help uphold ethics and we make sure We are committed to ensuring faith-based reentry programs, what they’re going through.” our staff understand why they that conversations are happening that inmates’ faith practices are which help inmates prepare have that distrust.” so that staff feel safe and patients protected.” for life beyond prison walls, —Ylisse Bess She connects with patients by feel safe and secure enough to She says that’s been especially continue uninterrupted. The asking them if they feel safe and get adequate healthcare. It’s so important for a population further programs—which are open to comfortable in the hospital and important.” disconnected from the outside inmates of all faiths, as well as brings the feedback she receives world by a deadly pandemic. Many those with no faith affiliation— to staff meetings. “I try to make PRISON CHAPLAINCY: “The pandemic has increased inmates have had to go without guide participants in addressing sure we’re always thinking about ADAPTING AND LIFTING seeing loved ones as visitations issues of personal growth power and privilege and how we As chaplaincy administrator for the need to provide spiritual have been shut down periodically. and life skills. They complete bring that into our interactions the Federal Bureau of Prisons, guidance to inmates and staff Some might have family or friends interactive journaling workbooks, with patients,” she says. “There Heidi (Schulz) Kugler oversees impacted by the virus, or might working with the chaplains, are people who need to be there 252 chaplains across many faiths as they process the additional be experiencing outbreaks within volunteers, and mentors on topics to encourage everyone to think at 122 federal prisons. In March losses and grief brought on by their facility. like spirituality, goal setting, about deconstructing these harm- 2020, her office began helping “The pandemic has increased reestablishing family relationships, ful thoughts, which inform our prison chaplains find new ways to the pandemic, but COVID has the need to provide spiritual and conflict management. treatment of patients and then lead support inmates: worship groups challenged our ability to conduct guidance to inmates and staff as “Pandemic or not, federal to worse healthcare outcomes. A and faith-based programs were they process the additional losses offenders will continue to release chaplain can do that.” moved outside, broken into smaller inmate congregant worship and and grief,” says Kugler, whose back into their communities,” COVID-19 has underscored these groups within housing units and group religious programming.” office created new religious says Kugler. “So we want to equip issues. “I heard some xenophobic and chapel areas, or shifted to other devotionals and support materials inmates with practical tools and racist comments in regular times, but worship formats. But Kugler (’97) —Heidi Kugler specifically tailored to the real-life strategies for reentry COVID has intensified that. It was says that chaplains have also con- pandemic’s consequences. success so they do not return shocking to me,” says Bess. “I heard tinued to conduct in-person daily The chaplains have needed extra to prison.” people referring to COVID as a pastoral rounds—clad in personal support, too. “Chaplaincy work The pandemic, she says, has Chinese disease or an Asian disease, protective equipment—since the is rewarding, but also inherently been a lesson in faith and resiliency. and I had to pull people aside and pandemic began. challenging,” Kugler says. Her “Through it all, bureau chaplains explain why that is unacceptable, “COVID has challenged office has connected them with have emerged stronger, with our racist, and xenophobic.” our ability to conduct inmate mental health resources to address shared values and collective resolve To further support fellow staff congregant worship and group compassion fatigue and offered sharpened to best care, inspire, and of color, Bess is cofacilitating religious programming, just as advice for healthy leadership transform lives for the better.” q

25 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 26 FEATURE ON THE MARGINS

AS A REPORTER, THEN A PRIEST, CRISTINA RATHBONE HAS HELPED PEOPLE EXCLUDED FROM SOCIETY SHARE THEIR STORIES

BY ANDREW THURSTON stand—that anybody asking for asylum should be allowed straight into the Cristina Rathbone doesn’t normally country to pursue that case.” wear a clerical collar, but the asylum Sometimes it worked, sometimes seekers at the US border needed all the it didn’t. help they could get. If her collar helped In recent years, it’s become harder nudge a border agent into waving them than ever to claim shelter in the Cristina Rathbone (’09) across, it was worth United States. the effort. During his four A priest in the years in office, “The homeless folks in Boston Episcopal Church in former President Boston, Rathbone taught me everything I know Donald Trump (’09) spent six months consistently reduced about how to pastor to people in 2019 working the cap on the with asylum seekers even as they are in the heart number of refugees fleeing violence the country would of suffering. They taught me and persecution in admit. In October Central America and that mostly all I really need to 2020, he set the hoping for sanctuary limit at just 15,000; do is listen and learn, and then in the United States. in 2016, the US had I’ll be given the skills that I Like many of the welcomed 85,000. Cristina Rathbone (right), who received a 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award from STH, stands with Lee Curtis, of the people she met, need, as I need them, from the According to the Diocese of the Rio Grande, near a Juárez–El Paso border crossing. Rathbone ended Washington Post, up in Juárez. The community on the ground.” the courts have a northern Mexican —Cristina Rathbone backlog of more Kingdom—her father’s “The kind of journalist I was joined the Cathedral Church city sits shoulder to than 1 million homeland—before returning and the kind of priest I am are of St. Paul in Boston, serving shoulder with El pending asylum to the States for college. After so similar,” says Rathbone. The as a canon missioner and Paso, Texas—border claims. starting, but not finishing, a degree people Rathbone wrote about— pastor to people experiencing cities split by the Rio Grande, but tied “My mother’s Cuban,” says in documentary filmmaking in particularly in her two books, On homelessness. together by four bridges that carry Rathbone, “so I have always had New York, Rathbone became an the Outside Looking in: Stories from “The homeless folks in Boston thousands of migrants every year. a particular interest in stories of investigative journalist, publishing an Inner-City High School and A taught me everything I know “I would put my collar on only to go immigration, especially from Latin articles in a range of papers and World Apart: Women, Prison, and about how to pastor to people up to the checkpoint and seek to lend America.” magazines, including the Miami Life Behind Bars—were on society’s even as they are in the heart of a bit of my privilege as a US citizen Herald and the New York Daily frayed edges. “My home lay out suffering,” she says. “They taught and an ordained member of the clergy,” IN THE HEART OF SUFFERING News. It wasn’t until she was in her on the margins,” she says. me that mostly all I really need says Rathbone, “to try to encourage Born in America, Rathbone spent forties that she switched paths and It still does. After studying to do is listen and learn, and

border patrol to uphold the laws as they her formative years in the United Service News Episcopal page: of Cristina Rathbone; This Courtesy page: Facing joined the church. theology at STH, Rathbone then I’ll be given the skills that

27 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 28 FEATURE

“I went to the border thinking it I need, as I need them, from the “When one’s operating very community on the ground.” much out on the edge of things,” was the place where I needed to says Rathbone, “it becomes very be in order to be of the most use ON THE BORDER important, at least for me, to feel When Rathbone arrived in tethered to the center.” in this immigration quagmire. Juárez in August 2019, she joined In November 2020, Rathbone I’ve realized that the border with the Episcopal Diocese of started a new program to train the Rio Grande in El Paso to and guide others in the church is everywhere in this country do what she describes as small who want to help those seeking already: people who cross the things: provide water, food, safe harbor in the United States. blankets, and clothing; later, she Neighbor to Neighbor connects border go to literally every town helped start a class for children asylum seekers with local and city. We can be of service and began walking with families Episcopal churches to help them to the border. adjust to life in the country. wherever we are.” “I’m a great believer in small “I went to the border thinking —Cristina Rathbone things,” says Rathbone. “Once it was the place where I needed we get sidetracked by trying to to be in order to be of the create big things, we spend more most use in this immigration time thinking about the big thing quagmire,” says Rathbone, who than the actual work the big is leading the organization in thing is supposed to contain and collaboration with Episcopal represent. Migration Ministries. “I’ve “Having said that, it’s really realized that the border is Thousands of people pass across the bridges between Juárez, Mexico, and El Paso, Texas, each year. hard doing small things in the everywhere in this country Rathbone tries to help those seeking asylum in the US. face of such dire and multiple already: people who cross the suffering.” border go to literally every town She says the resilience of the and city. We can be of service “We, the church, need to people she met—groups of moms wherever we are.” be in relationship with the and kids who’d banded together Having spent so much of her people who are most suffering, “We, the church, need to be in relationship with for the journey, parents whose life hearing and telling the stories because they have the most to the people who are most suffering, because they children had been tortured and of those excluded from society, teach us about love,” she says. murdered by narcos—“enlarged Rathbone hopes Neighbor to “Those of us in the church have the most to teach us about love.” and transformed my heart.” But Neighbor—which launched tend to be particularly good at —Cristina Rathbone caring for them required caring in the Episcopal Dioceses of pretending we’re not broken. for herself too. Rathbone says Massachusetts, Southeast Florida, Being with people who can no she relied on encouragement— the Rio Grande, and New longer pretend liberates us to spiritual and financial—from the Jersey—will enable others in the confess our own brokenness; institutional church, as well as church to spend more time with once we do that, the healing q from friends and family. them too. Images grandriver/Getty has already begun.”

29 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 30 The 2020 killing of George Floyd sparked n late May 2020, my wife, Colette, casual racism and grand juries refused Black Lives Matter and I sat on our balcony amid to indict murderous cops. Gospel great protests around the I world, including this the Texas twilight and absorbed the Mahalia Jackson melodiously asked, march in Chicago. news that the Minneapolis police had “How I got over?”3 Taking a moment to murdered George Floyd. A rapt silence “look back and wonder,”4 the Johnson fell over us as we conjured images of family endured the anxieties of the the Black man, about our age, being racism pandemic through a renewed brazenly suffocated by a white American commitment to the Black Church and police officer. One of us murmured, individual efforts of antiracist activism. “Damn. Another one.” The other sighed an “amen.” The mild expletive expressed *** our rage over the senseless, repeated killing of our sisters and brothers. The My faith in God was shaken to its breathy endorsement, a common refrain core in 2016, after the ascendance across Black America, presaged that more of a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic JOURNAL Black people would die at the hands political campaign evoked a deafening of sworn protectors of the peace. Left silence from our church. My time at unacknowledged was the grim fear held Boston University’s School of Theology by many Black people: That could be me had provided the intellectual and or someone I love. relational foundation that informed and THE PANDEMIC OF RACISM Across the year, as ubiquitous nursed my spiritual grief. I eventually suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic understood my experience as “a dark One family navigates a year, amid a offered Americans of all backgrounds night,” from the St. John of the Cross lifetime, of racist violence a comparable “it could be me” feeling, poem we had read in seminary.5 In a Black Americans endured the personal desperate search for something “real,” BY RONALD ANGELO JOHNSON (’06) and communal ravages of what scholars I found purchase in the writings of 1. Ibram X. Kendi, “Why Don’t like Ibram X. Kendi—BU’s Andrew W. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, to (Continued) We Know Who the Coronavirus Victims Are?” The Atlantic Mellon Professor in the Humanities and (theatlantic.com/ideas/ founding director of Boston University’s archive/2020/04/stop-looking- Center for Antiracist Research—call away-race-covid-19-victims/ “the pandemic of racism.”1 According to 609250). April 1, 2020. the American Psychological Association, About the 2. “‘We Are Living in a Racism “Racism is associated with a host of Author Pandemic,’ Says APA President,” psychological consequences, including American Psychological Association (apa.org/news/press/ depression, anxiety and other serious, Ronald Angelo Johnson (’06) holds the releases/2020/05/racism- sometimes debilitating conditions, Ralph and Bessie Mae Lynn Chair of pandemic). May 29, 2020. including post-traumatic stress disorder.. . . History at Baylor University. He studies 3. Mahalia Jackson, “How I Got The impact of these repeated horrific transnational African American history. His current project, Shades of Color: Over,” Columbia, 1976. incidents is inflicting trauma on the Racialized Diplomacy and the Haitian 2 4. Ibid. broader African American community.” Diaspora in Early America, examines the Honestly, it has been exhausting to be impact of Haitian immigration on early US 5. St. John of the Cross, Dark Night religion and culture. of the Soul, Third Revised Edition Black in the United States over recent

Facing page: Max Bender/Unsplash; This page: Robert Rogers Robert page: This Max Bender/Unsplash; page: Facing (New York: Image Books, 1959), 13. years, as government officials normalized

school of theology | bu.edu/sth 32 which Wesley Wildman’s theology class members of our congregation. Scholar 6. Martin Luther King, Jr., Stride morning. I feel a sense of anxiousness had introduced me. An STH classmate Michelle Wright employs the particle Toward Freedom: The Montgomery until he comes home. My heart goes offered relentless friendship as I physics principle of superposition to Story (New York: Harper & Brothers, out to Ahmaud Arbery’s mother. 1958), 51. trekked along the path of unbelief. I explain the multidimensionality that Something must change.” On the emerged from a state of deep spiritual intersects Blackness in the African 7. Ronald Angelo Johnson, birthday of Breonna Taylor, she “Africans and Immigrants: Haitian 8 despair with a new and profound Diaspora across space-time. As Black Contributions to the African posted, “I cannot fully express the appreciation of koinonia, Christian people who experience tragic deaths Protestant Movement in Early pain and sorrow felt, coupled with my fellowship with God and with across our community, we understand America,” Revue Française d’Études own imminent fear for my daughter, each other. the fallen could be us, and we accept Américaines, 164 (2020): 43. my son, and my husband.” Our family united with Ebenezer that we could be them. 8. Michelle M. Wright, Physics of After the killing of George Floyd, Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, a com- Blackness: Beyond the Middle Passage our teenage daughter, Soleil, resisted munity of Black Christian believers whose Epistemology (Minneapolis: University racism through expressive art. She *** of Minnesota Press, 2015), 22–25. religious raison d’être, like ours, stems from sketched a tearful Black girl adorned the theology of Martin Luther King, Jr. Black people in the United States 9. W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black with flowers, wearing a mask with the Folk, Dover Thrift Editions (New (GRS’55, Hon.’59). In his first book, exist in what W.E.B. Du Bois termed York: Dover Publications, 1994), 2. words “No More.” Ebenezer posted Stride Toward Freedom, which I assign to “double consciousness, this sense of the sketch during a virtual program to US history freshmen, King proposed, always looking at one’s self through discuss racial justice. Soleil explained, “He who accepts evil without protesting the eyes of others.”9 It is important “I want to be able to walk in my own Following the killing of George Floyd, against it is really cooperating with it . . . a for Black people to understand who neighborhood and actually feel safe. the author’s daughter, Soleil Johnson, was inspired to draw. Of the flowers righteous man has no alternative but to we are and how others perceive us. I don’t want to fear for my life every surrounding the masked woman, refuse to cooperate with an evil system.”6 My son, RJ, does not enjoy “the talk,” time I see a police car. My heart aches “Amaryllis signifies determination. The Ebenezer community seeks social difficult conversations about the dangers with every injustice that steals another Jasione signifies justice,” she says. “We need both to grow as a nation.” justice through love-inspired resistance to white American (mis)conceptions can son or daughter from this world.” A full-color version of the drawing, systemic racism. As a Black family living pose to the lives of Black adolescents Referring to the flowers in the sketch, and other artwork, can be seen at in an incessant pandemic of racism, our like Emmett Till and Tamir Rice. RJ is she described, “Amaryllis signifies justsoleilart.weebly.com. spiritual resilience is replenished through a six-foot, two-inch teenager and will determination. Jasione signifies justice. communion within the Black Church. My be viewed as a threat despite his genial We need both to grow as a nation.” research illustrates the roots of the Black demeanor. We must teach him to identify Soon after our balcony discussion Church in early African Protestantism, a the perils of others’ implicit biases. Social of George Floyd’s murder, I penned an determined effort to establish churches activism during the pandemic by Black op-ed discussing “a culture of racism in open contrast to racist, white Christian NBA players bolstered RJ’s resilience. responsible for a jarring disruption of theology, as Black Christians “identified Their “cool” stance against racism my childhood innocence.”10 My father their movement with God’s mercy and inspired him to resist damaging language endured racist, emasculating treatment the history of deliverance of God’s people and practices through Instagram. and empowered me to become a first- from slavery.”7 Colette and I, like many Black generation college graduate. Racism Worship at Ebenezer offers racial professionals, continue to seek persists. Therefore, the Johnson family and spiritual affirmation through our acceptance for our family as full will continue to have “the talk.” collective disgust at the countless members in American society. We have no universal answers about microaggressions endured by our She took to Facebook during the stopping the pandemic of racism. Our community. We remember in prayer the pandemic to engage our neighbors acts of resistance are riddled with fear 10. Ronald Angelo Johnson, names of the fallen, including Sandra in more direct discussions about race. “The Rebel past,” Hays Free Press and sadness. But, we endure together. Bland, Jonathan Price, and Eric Garner, After the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, (haysfreepress.com/2020/06/24/the- Resilience against racism is our history, because, in a very real sense, they are she expressed, “My son jogs every Soleil Johnson rebel-past/), June 24, 2020. our theology, and our way of life. q

33 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 34 BU’s Inner Strength Gospel Choir performs in Marsh Chapel. hristian ethicist Cheryl J. Sanders Derided as “counterrevolutionary” C describes the collegiate gospel measures at the time by students choir movement as “one of the most favoring more radical reforms, vital ongoing institutional expressions HBCGCs have proven to be effective of the ubiquitous [Black college] and enduring vehicles for “the cultural student rebellions of the late 1960s.”1 resistance of black students to the Despite the significance of these groups, pressure to assimilate the particular Sanders laments that their past and values, practices, and attitudes of the present development is largely ignored university setting and the social classes by religious scholars. In response, I it emulates.”4 In his work on Black conducted a practical theological study college student success indicators, of historically Black collegiate gospel Terrell L. Strayhorn has argued that choirs (HBCGCs) at three universities higher education administrators in the Boston area. In exploring the have missed the enormous role that structures, practices, and public discourses traditional cultural practices—and, JOURNAL of these groups, I sought to understand specifically, spiritual practices such as the ways in which these HBCGCs participating in gospel choirs—play continue to transpose Black Church in enabling Black student persistence worship practices into the social context in the face of experiences of of predominantly white institutions of marginalization. In Strayhorn’s study SINGING WITH PURPOSE higher learning (PWIs). of 21 Black collegians who sang in an How historically Black collegiate gospel choirs Anne E. Streaty Wimberly identifies HBCGC named “Black Voices,” the build pride and resilience Black worship as a primary “means students reported that participating 1. Cheryl J. Sanders, “Resistance, whereby youth form a vital spiritual in the choir helped them to establish BY TEDDY HICKMAN-MAYNARD (’03,’15) Rebellion, and Reform: The resilience.”2 Wimberly cites the Black a sense of belonging, develop ethnic Collegiate Gospel Choir Movement Church’s historic function of building pride, and nurture resilience.5 (Continued) in the United States,” Journal of the Interdenominational Theological Center, and sustaining Black communities in No. 27, 1999–2000, 210. the face of their marginalization and

2. Anne E. Streaty Wimberly, argues that “Black youths’ formation of spiritual resilience is a nonnegotiable “Worship in the Lives of Black About the Adolescents: Builder of Resilience purpose of worship.”3 All three Author and Hope,” Liturgy, Vol. 29, No. 1, HBCGCs in my study were born 2014, 24. in the late 1960s and early 1970s as 3. Ibid, 25. Black students gathered informally to 4. Sanders, op. cit., 210. sing the songs of Zion in a strange Teddy Hickman-Maynard (’03,’15) 5. Terrell L. Strayhorn, “Singing in land, seeking to harness the resilience- is associate dean for students and a Foreign Land: An Exploratory building power of Black worship as community life and assistant professor of Black Church studies. His research Study of Gospel Choir Participation fortification against the soul-trauma addresses the public witness of the church Among African American of the racism they endured on the in contemporary American society with Undergraduates at a Predominantly campuses of these PWIs to which they particular emphasis on the future of the White Institution,” Journal of College Black Church tradition. Student Development, Vol. 52, No. 2, now had greater access, but in which

Facing page: Maddie Malhotra; This page: Dave Green Dave page: This Maddie Malhotra; page: Facing 2011, 142. they were not truly welcome.

school of theology | bu.edu/sth 36 While Strayhorn cites these three Edward P. Wimberly argues that the 8. Theodore Hickman-Maynard, the practice of “narrative discipline.”8 uncomfortable about and was like, I benefits of HBCGC participation as pastoral care that takes place through the “‘Black is My Home Country’: HBCGCs cultivate alternative gotta find out more about these things, Re-Membering Race on Gospel separate contributors to academic success worshipping life of the Black Church is Grounds,” Ecclesial Practices, 5, communal spaces within PWIs that both about my own faith—what I among Black students, my research on not confined to the corporate worship 2018. privilege the particular testimonies believe in—and about race. What does HBCGCs found these to be interrelated service, but extends to the various small and collective witness of Black it mean for me as a white person to dynamics. I discovered they emanate from groups in which worshippers gather to people to the good news of God’s be singing this music?” A Muslim the Black Church context that is the pray, interpret scripture, rehearse, and liberating and loving reign. In turn, Pakistani-American student said of natural habitus of the worship practices meet.6 Wimberly (’68,’71, GRS’76) the identities and communal practices her HBCGC experience, “It’s not just that comprise the communal life of these describes how liturgical formation extends of HBCGCs are shaped by this a gospel choir; it’s a family. . . . But, it groups. HBCGCs do not merely transport into these communal spaces: discipline of learning about, recalling, didn’t make me want to become a Black sacred music into the foreign reinterpreting, and appropriating Christian. It made me want to be a territory of PWIs; These small group the meaning of those stories for the better Muslim.” rather, they do their settings are often contemporary moment. HBCGCs that were created by and best to conjure the informal, but ritual is As those stories are centered, those for marginalized Black students, by spirit of the Black Historically Black collegiate present nonetheless. who find themselves on the margins of singing their own song, are helping Christian faith gospel choirs cultivate Here ritual is referred the HBCGCs are welcomed to engage others find their voices. Through Black tradition from which to as repetitive actions the Black Christian witness to the Christian worship practices, HBCGCs those songs spring alternative communal spaces that have as their goal extent and in the ways they choose. not only build resilience and hope; they by transposing Black within predominantly white the drawing of people A white, agnostic student shared, transform the social context for which Church worshipping into the major story of “I noticed those things that I was resilience is necessary. q institutions of higher learning practices into the faith community. the life of these that privilege the particular Whenever the goal of communities. ritual draws persons testimonies and collective Rehearsals end into the major story of with large prayer witness of Black people to the the faith community, circles during which worship takes place. good news of God’s liberating members hold Moreover, when ritual hands while sharing and loving reign. and worship draw praise reports and persons into the major prayer requests story of the faith com- before engaging in munity, worship and extended intercessory prayer. Teaching communal resources are brought to bear on BE THE SPARK (and a fair bit of preaching) occurs as personal needs; and when the emotional, Are you called to transform a congregation, revolutionize a culture, or build the future? the directors or student leaders explain interpersonal, and psychological needs of STH offers a Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership, a three-year, low- residency degree program that combines online learning with intensive on-campus the meaning of the lyrics to a song, persons are met in the context of ritual and classes. Learn more at bu.edu/sth/dmin. offering biblical interpretation in light of worship, pastoral care takes place.7 contemporary circumstances. Testimonies of God’s activity are shared both in Wimberly’s description of worship as rehearsals and during concerts. Meals are ritual action that draws persons into shared, time is spent, griefs are mourned, the major story of the faith community 6. Edward P. Wimberly, African and burdens are borne. As one student mirrors my own theorization of American Pastoral Care (Nashville: put it, whenever anyone in the choir is in the central culture-shaping tool of Abington Press, 2008), 17. need, “people just come.” HBCGCs, which I have identified as 7. Ibid, 18.

37 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 38 was raised in a family concerned It has sparked in me a deep and I about charity. My parents growing unease with how such sponsored several children through the charity works function, and the organization Compassion International. model of human resilience they We never met these children, and presume to support. tellingly I do not recall where they lived or what language they spoke. But *** to us, sponsoring a foreign child was a normal ritual of a Christian home. On one afternoon in the metropolis of Their photos were on the refrigerator Kampala, my collaborators and I talked door next to our report cards and to a group of parents and relatives artwork. Sometimes we prayed for caring for Compassion-sponsored them, that they would believe in children. Most of them had multiple Jesus and do well in school. When dependents in the home, some their JOURNAL they turned 18, we were assigned to biological children and others not. someone new. They were financially stretched from Today, I am a sociologist who all angles: rents and food costs were studies religious practice and social rising, school fees were going up, and welfare in postcolonial nations of accidents or job losses were regular RETHINKING RESILIENCE Africa. I’m currently researching stressors. Many spoke well of the community-based organizations sponsorship program: It was helpful to WITHIN GLOBAL CHARITY (CBOs) in Uganda, which are have one child’s food, clothes, books, domestic agencies with a social and school fees paid for. Others, What international aid organizations miss about the welfare focus. Such organizations have though, complained that their hands importance of family and community proliferated in recent years. Official were tied by the individual nature of estimates suggest there are now about the support. They could not (Continued) BY NICOLETTE MANGLOS-WEBER 3,000 of them in Uganda, focusing on problems like healthcare, education, and vulnerable youth.1 In this work I have reencountered About the child sponsorship from a different Author angle. For those unfamiliar, this model involves organizations, like Nicolette Manglos-Weber, an assistant Compassion International, which professor of religion and society, is a sociol- 1. Alessia Contu and Emanuela recruit donors to support a foreign ogist who studies global religious communi- Girei, “NGOs Management child into adulthood. That support ties, focusing on Christianity in Africa and and the Value of ‘Partnerships’ US immigrant religion. Her first book is for Equality in International is often executed by a CBO, in a Joining the Choir: Religious Memberships and Development: What’s in a Name?” partnership between foreign donors Social Trust Among Transnational Ghanaians Human Relations 2014; 67(2):205- and indigenous leadership. Yet (Oxford, 2018) and her current work is on 32. Susan Dicklitch, The Elusive lived religion, caregiving, and social welfare my research has uncovered many in Uganda. More information is available at Promise of NGOs in Africa: Lessons ugandacaregivers.com. from Uganda (London: Macmillan, tensions between such models and

Facing page: iStock; This page: Dave Green Dave page: This iStock; page: Facing 1998). the demands placed on local leaders.

school of theology | bu.edu/sth 40 use the money for any other member well through the years. At the time 2. China Scherz, Having People, it ignores, bypasses, or fails to support and supporting such a quality. My of the household nor for general we interviewed her, the brother was a Having Heart: Charity, Sustainable such relations. point is that much global aid and household incidentals. student at a local university. The two Development, and Problems of charity, and scholarly research on Dependence in Central Uganda A later conversation with a brothers now stay together, she says: (Chicago: University of Chicago *** those topics, is infused with an Anglo- CBO leader, whom I’ll call Sylvia, “I rent for them a room, but we have Press, 2014). European cultural commitment to provided further insight. She was a meals together. So, the only hope for Well-meaning scholars, NGO what the philosopher Charles Taylor program facilitator for a sponsoring this boy [with epilepsy] is his brother. directors, and religious leaders alike calls the ideal of the “punctual self”: organization, and she told me the If J. makes it, he will take care of P.” have sought to understand and support a personhood that is most fully following story. A boy sponsored On one level, this story is about resilience as an adaptive response to achieved in a mode of self-reliance and through her an exceptional stress and trauma, especially in places autonomy.4 As a result, we have given program was in woman’s com- where stress undue attention to a severe accident. passion, how she and trauma personal resilience, To pay his medical went above and are tragically to the detriment bills, Sylvia This story is about an exceptional beyond to rescue common.3 Ye t Sylvia . . . sees, in a way that the of the relations approached his woman’s compassion . . . a child. Yet it also these professional sponsor organization does not, on which persons foreign sponsors. reveals so much communities depend. They only agreed Yet it also reveals so much more. more. Sylvia felt a almost always how supporting this boy means As I near the to pay about Sylvia felt a sense of obligation sense of obligation approach supporting his key relations. She final stretches of $500, which was toward this boy resilience as an this project, it is toward this boy that was absent not enough. She that was absent in individual quality, ensured his future by investing those very resilient pleaded the boy’s in his foreign sponsors: she “had his foreign spon- or a trajectory in his brother as a caregiver. Her relationships— case to the doctors sors: she “had no of individual and models of no option” but to take him in. and contributed option” but to behavior. It is story thus tells us as much about relationship—that her own money, In her community, where take him in. In something that resilient relations and relational have most captured so the boy got his her community, individual persons and inspired me. relations of reciprocity are deep treatment. Still, where relations are or do, in systems as it does about Sylvia is just one the ordeal left him and essential for survival, she of reciprocity are spite of less- individual compassion. of many leaders with epilepsy. deep and essential 3. Nicolette D. Manglos-Weber than-favorable who I have seen had become his benefactor. Sylvia then for survival, she and Jade Avelis, “Expanding the conditions. act as mothers, Reflexive Space: Resilient Young took him back to had become his Adults, Institutional Cultures, and From that fathers, aunts, his family. When benefactor; and Cognitive Schemas.” Sociological framework, the or uncles to a she returned to she would be fail- Forum 2019; 34(3):664-684; child sponsorship model makes sense needy child, creatively adapting the check on him later, she found him in ing her role if she left him to die.2 George A. Bonnano, “Uses as a way to support resilience. Yet in extended-kin model of dependent pain from bed sores and nearly dead. Sylvia likewise sees, in a way that and Abuses of the Resilience Sylvia’s story, we can see how the ties. The resilience of such relational Construct: Loss, Trauma, and “I had no option but to take him the sponsor organization does not, how Health-related Adversities.” Social individualistic approach is out of systems, through decades of civil war to my place, and I have had him for supporting this boy means supporting Science & Medicine 2012; 74:753- balance. It runs counter to how people and exploitation, is what most gives me 12 years now,” she told me. He is a his key relations. She ensured his 56; Carol Aneshensel, “Social Stress: solve problems as dependent and hope for those I’ve met in my research. permanent dependent: “He can wash future by investing in his brother as Theory and Research.” Annual relational beings. It is a kind of resilience that, I believe, Review of Sociology 1992; 18:15-38. his clothes, bathe himself, and he is a caregiver. Her story thus tells us as My intent is not to isolate any can actually generate collective recovery on medication, which I have to buy much about resilient relations and 4. Charles Taylor, Sources specific program or organization, after trauma; and it is one I hope more of the Self: The Making of the every month.” relational systems as it does about Modern Identity (Cambridge, or to negate the idea of personal scholars, and more religious leaders and Sylvia also took in one of the boy’s individual compassion. It suggests that England: Cambridge University resilience. Certainly, persons can be activists, will actively work to support brothers, who was healthy and did the sponsorship model falls short when Press, 1989). resilient too, and it is worth studying in our world. q

41 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 42 This sermon was delivered during STH’s bodies and claimed 881,000 lives across matriculation ceremony, held online on the globe. It has disrupted, disconnected, September 16, 2020. References to current displaced, and discombobulated the entire events reflect what was happening on that date. planet. The sins of racism, supremacy, and privilege, which have infected our eloved of God, nation since its inception, have been B Here we are, or there you are . . . laid bare, and the feet of those who are you’re out there somewhere, right? This sick and tired of being sick and tired pandemic has robbed and keeps robbing have created a drumbeat for liberation us of so much. Whenever I have the and justice worldwide. The strides made opportunity to be in Marsh Chapel, I am against heteronormativity and econeglect excited because it feels like home. I have are being reversed at record pace. We are great memories of being in that sacred facing an election that will test the core space. And, when I am asked to preach tenets of our republic and the strength there, I look forward to it with great of our democracy. We are also in a time SERMON anticipation. But we are not gathered in in history where truth, honesty, morality, those pews looking at the beautiful pipe and integrity are on the auction block of organ and feeling the presence of those situational ethics and too often sold to the depicted in the stained-glass windows. highest bidder. No, we are gathering virtually and trying And yet, amidst all of this, you have MAKE SURE YOU GIVE A DAMN to pay attention as the cat climbs across been given the opportunity, the privilege, the keyboard or someone is watching the and the time to matriculate into the A calling for the next generation of students news in another room. School of The Prophets. Don’t take that One of my mantras is, “Let’s keep for granted. BY LATRELLE EASTERLING (’04) it real.” That is certainly what this year I graduated with the Class of 2004 demands, cutting right to the heart of the and perhaps I have some understanding matter and immediately getting to the of your situation. We were (Continued) deepest things we know. We’re going to keep it real today. You are embarking upon a journey that will challenge you, stretch you, vex About the you, bless you, and take you to places Author you have not yet imagined. There will be late nights, early mornings, too much coffee—and perhaps a few other Bishop LaTrelle Easterling (‘04) beverages as well—endless research, and is the episcopal leader of the Baltimore- all of the other components of pursuing Washington Conference of the UMC. She is an advanced degree at a prestigious the first woman to lead this conference. She formerly served as a DS and senior institution. And, you begin or continue pastor in Boston. She is married to the Rev. this journey at a time unlike any other in Marion Easterling, and they are the proud modern history. We are yet in the grips of parents of two adult sons.

Facing page: Kalman Zabarsky; This page: Tony Richards Tony page: This Kalman Zabarsky; page: Facing a pandemic that has invaded 27 million

school of theology | bu.edu/sth 44 sitting in class when news came that the Learn how to care about, and learn from, 1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer,Life Some scholars posit that as Jesus ‘hurrah!’”2 What was intended as a space World Trade Center had been struck and and engage a world larger than yourself— Together (New York: Harper & entered Jerusalem, in what we call his for worship and prayer and sacred singing Row, 1954). our nation was under attack. It shook us not just to debate and degrade it, but to triumphal entrance, he found the city in and deep meditation had become just to our core and shaped both our personal understand the perspectives and respect the turmoil and asking, “Who is this?” The another hangout. And those who should and academic environments. I share that people who hold them. In the words of crowds that went before and behind him have been about their Creator’s business to say the world rocks and reels from the Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “The first service one responded, “This is the prophet Jesus from were consumed with the world’s business. vicissitudes of life every day, but, beloved, owes to others in a community involves Nazareth in Galilee” (Matthew 21:11). Just beyond their activity were the most this is different, and we all know it. So, as I listening to them. We do God’s work for Jesus then approached and entered the vulnerable, and it looked as if they really thought about today’s matriculation service our brothers and sisters when we learn to temple precincts. It was the place where didn’t care. and what message I could bring to bear on listen to them.”1 the Gentiles could gather for worship And I can imagine that Jesus went this moment, the statement that kept and There is a question that continues to and prayer, but also the place where into what queer feminist scholar keeps rising in my spirit is, “Make Sure You walk around the existential room of our they acquired Brittney Cooper Give A Damn.” current milieu their offerings calls, “an eloquent It would be asking, “I really for sacrifice and rage.”3 In his pro- easy to engage in don’t care. Do you?” exchanged their “What was intended as a space phetic protest, “The world rocks and reels this year, and each Well, we know what local coins for for worship and prayer . . . had Jesus rearranged year of your degree from the vicissitudes of life happens when we ones that could be furniture and program, as just don’t care. When we become just another hangout. every day, but, beloved, this is given within this interrupted trad- another intellectual don’t care, we live sacred space. The And those who should have ing. Channeling exercise for no other different, and we all know it. for ourselves at the kiosks for currency Isaiah and Jeremiah, been about their Creator’s purpose than the So as I thought about . . . what expense of others. exchange were he reached back acquisition of another When we don’t brimming with business were consumed with the to the Hebrew diploma or fulfilling message I could bring to bear care, we hear the business and the texts and cried world’s business. Just beyond a credentialing on this moment, the statement cries of the suffering local Stop & Shop out, “My house will requirement. But and mock their was competing their activity were the most be called a house of that would be a that keeps rising in my spirit is, neediness. When we with Whole Foods prayer, but you are vulnerable, and it looked as if shame. Because you ‘Make Sure You Give a Damn.’” don’t care, we read for the best “dove making it a den of have the opportunity only to confirm our deal of the day.” they really didn’t care.” robbers” (Matthew to expand your own biases. When Can’t you see it: 21:13). Scholars horizons, disabuse we really don’t care, the lines were long, suggest that the yourselves of poor theology, free your we contribute to an ethos of division and and the travelers courts were too minds of old tropes, and wrestle with exclusion. When we do not care, we pour were talking and laughing and perhaps large for Jesus to have completely halted heretofore unchallenged assumptions. You fresh fuel on the embers of anger, thereby comparing images of their children and the business taking place there. It is will engage persons with completely igniting fires that foment violence and grandchildren as they stood online at unlikely that he disturbed trading even different worldviews, theological cement hatred. When we couldn’t really the Mall of Jerusalem. Jesus must have for the day. But, for those who saw with frameworks, and cultural norms. You will care less, we glorify greed and shame looked around and been consumed with their own eyes and heard with their own be called upon to read authors you would sacrifice. Selfishness and self-centeredness 2. M. Eugene Boring. The New how irreverent it had all become. As ears, I’m sure the moment was jarring. otherwise never select. There will be classes and othering are the currency of our Interpreter’s Bible Commentary irreverent as the “Hosannas!” that greeted Jesus engaged in protest at the repug- you may find heretical—take them. There transactional lives, the caste system created (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1995), 403. Jesus during his entrance into the city, nant and vile disregard for God’s people may be theological constructs you believe during chattel slavery continues to elevate once understood as part of the Hallel just beyond the wall while they satisfied to be inferior—engage them. There will one race while condemning all others, and 3. Brittney C. Cooper, Eloquent psalms and used as a prayer, they had themselves with the façade of holiness. Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers be colleagues who revere everything you the question begging to be asked in 2020 Her Superpower (New York: St. now become in the words of M. Eugene Let us be clear, this was not about hold in disdain—converse with them. is, “Does anybody give a damn?” Martin’s Press, 2018). Boring, “nothing more than a religious transactions taking place or price

45 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 46 gouging or chastising the merchants for That described the temple precinct then, 4. Howard Thurman (Hon.’67) Beloved, we know Jesus gave a damn call us out when we major in the minors taking advantage of the poor, because and, if we’re honest, it describes too many was the dean of Marsh Chapel because he cared enough to: and minor in the majors. You are the ones from 1953–1965. Jesus scolded the sellers and the purchas- of our temples now. • challenge corrupt customs, who will demand that all the intersec- ers alike. He threw them all out. This And, in the Matthean rendering of this 5. Howard Thurman, Jesus and The • not be silenced by bullies, tionalities of oppression and privilege be was not about cleansing the temple in pericope, Jesus taught by his actions. He Disinherited (Boston: Beacon Press, • elevate the individual over acknowledged and dismantled simulta- 1949). a traditional sense of that term because immediately turned to the ministry of the institution, neously, rather than playing the hierarchy that would have required a purification healing and attending to the most vul- • offer healthcare to the sick, of harm’s game. You are the ones who process. No, this was about secularizing nerable among them by restoring sight • include the excluded, will continue to get into trouble, good and sacred space. We obsess about respect- to the blind and movement to the lame • expand his own worldview, necessary trouble. You are the ones who will ability politics, but Jesus was calling out and welcoming the children. Jesus told us • dismantle systemic barriers that cancel cancel culture and work toward respectability Christianity. Hear these from the beginning and demonstrated it robbed God’s true reconciliation haunting words of again at the end of people of hav- and restoration of Howard Thurman,4 his earthly ministry ing life God’s liberated “A religion that was born of that his anointed to the full, “You are the preachers and vision for human- To those who need purpose was to • discipline and ity. You are the a people acquainted with prophets and theologians and profound succor preach good news disciple, ones who under- and strength to persecution and suffering has to the poor, to • offer true academicians and entrepeneurs stand that we need enable them to proclaim release of reconciliation a revival more become the cornerstone of and missionaries and social live in the pres- the prisoners and and restoration than a revolution, ent with dignity a civilization . . . whose very recovery of sight to to all. workers and business leaders and in the words and creativity, the blind, to liberate This is the ministry. of Bishop William position in modern life has too who will lead us away from Christianity often the oppressed, and This is the calling. Barber, that “the has been sterile often been secured by a ruthless to proclaim the year This is the task to Christian nationalism and back rejected must lead and of little avail. of the Lord’s favor. which you have the revival for love use of power applied to weak and to true Jesus-centered ministry. The conventional Jesus embodies this set your minds and justice because Christian word is defenseless people.” by building a com- and your hearts You are the ones who will disrupt rejected stones muffled, confused munity rather than and your parents’ make the best cor- —Howard Thurman the status quo.” and vague. Too hiding within a bank accounts. We nerstones.”7 often the price stone edifice. are glad about it As you engage exacted by society One of the bless- because we know this year, may you for security and respectability is that ings of the pandemic is that it has forced you will take up the sacred mantle and, be empty pitchers before a full fountain the Christian movement in its formal us to leave the comfortable, convenient in the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, of opportunities and experiences and expression must be on the side of the echo chambers we call sanctuaries and “you’re not throwing away your shot!”6 relationships and pedagogical exper- strong against the weak. This is a engage the outside world. To leave the You are the preachers and prophets imentation and exegetical excellence matter of tremendous significance, for it precincts where we seek shelter from and theologians and academicians and and failing greatly and rising strong and reveals to what extent a religion that the compartmentalized lives we too entrepreneurs and missionaries and social risking extravagantly. As you engage this was born of a people acquainted with often lead, singing salvation and grace 6. Hamilton, music and lyrics by workers and business leaders who will year, please make sure you give a damn. persecution and suffering has become on Sunday, but voting for and support- Lin-Manuel Miranda, dir. Thomas lead us away from Christian nationalism Because if you do, you and the world will Kail, chor. Andy Blakenbuehler, q the cornerstone of a civilization and of ing nationalism and condemnation on Richard Rodgers Theatre, New and back to true Jesus-centered ministry. be the better for it. Praise be to God. nations whose very position in modern Tuesday. The Lord cried out then and York, NY, February 2, 2016. You are the ones who will disrupt the life has too often been secured by a ruth- cries out now, “My house shall be a house status quo. You are the ones who will Watch this sermon at 7. William J. Barber, We Are Called less use of power applied to weak and of prayer and will not be turned into a to be a Movement (New York: resist hatred masquerading as righteous youtube.com/watch?v=rkN5E_gwSQg, defenseless people.5 den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). Workman, 2020). indignation. You are the ones who will beginning at 42:00.

47 boston university school of theology | bu.edu/sth 48 REFLECTION BLESSED AND BROKEN Boston University University Boston School of Theology Theology of School FINDING PURPOSE AND STRENGTH IN TRAUMA 2021 2021

Dean Dean BY ZINA JACQUE (’97,’05) labeled, you reap what you sow. We breaking. WeG. knowSUJIN PAKthis blessing for PAK SUJIN G. begin to believe this line of thinking, we experienceAssistant it in Dean the of breaking Development of Development of Dean Assistant We have been broken open. The or we are so fatigued by it, our fight the bread andand inAlumni the breakingRelations open Relations Alumni and sound of shattered dreams, damaged seeps away. But we have been broken of the tomb.RAY We JOYCEare blessed (Questrom’91) to be uestrom’91) (Q JOYCE RAY relationships, and cracked bodies open, for a purpose. broken openAssistant because Director new of room Alumni Alumni of Director Assistant and Donor Relations Relations Donor and seems to describe so much of our The protests in the street, com- for growth isANDREW created KIMBLEand the (’19) abil- (’19) KIMBLE ANDREW world. These are not good things. prising every hue and age, broke ity to stretchCommunications toward new Directorhorizons and and Director Communications Breaking is not, usually, a good thing. open our separation from one becomes ours.Journal We Reviewer must, in whatever Reviewer Journal KIMBERLY MACDONALD MACDONALD KIMBERLY And though I do not diminish the another and announced a new language fits(CFA’04) our tongues, thank the (CFA’04) pain any have felt in this season understanding of our connectedness. Divine OneEditor for loving us enough to Editor ofInvest breaking, sometimes, only after inSpeeches from young poets and pas- refuse to allowMARC us CHALUFOURto remain captive CHALUFOUR MARC in Invest the breaking can the new emerge. sionate advocates broke open gen- to old spacesContributing and former Writers places. We Writers Contributing RICH BARLOW BARLOW RICH Flowers cannot grow unless the seed erations of images of who has voice must be thankfulMARA forSASSOON the breaking. SASSOON MARA is broken open. The delectable taste and who does not. Shouts from pul- Next, weANDREW must gather THURSTON the good THURSTON ANDREW studentspits broke open the gospel in potent that is left. WeDesigner must bring it forward Designer students of your favorite cake is impossible without the breaking open of eggs. ways. Children in cages, speaking in to mingle withBRUNO the PEROSINO common good PEROSINO BRUNO And no child would ever be born other tongues, broke open our hearts of others. WeProduced must byjoin Boston together University University Boston by Produced Marketing & Communications Communications & Marketing unless the mother’s body gave way as we heard the words of Jesus, “and and gain wisdom from one another’s seeking focus is funded by donations from from donations by funded is focus seeking to a process of being broken open. a little child shall lead them!” (Isaiah lessons and alumnilives andand friends dreams to the and Boston Willthe youto givegive toyou theWill Boston the to friends and alumni So, what are we as people, as 11:6). Pandemics, food lines, unem- declarationsUniversity of a better School day. of Theology Theology of School University Annual Fund. Learn more at at more Learn Fund. Annual communitiesecological of faith, as a world, to ployment, and deep worry broke We movebu.edu/sth/giving in this direction. 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But, “broken open” hints process of our protective shells being ways, we pray.articles So atbe bu.edu/sth/focus it. q . . bu.edu/sth/focus at articles ground students in ecologically informed To contact the development within indigenousworldwide. communitiescommunities worldwide.indigenous within development the contact To informed ecologically in students ground thatspirituality the breaking and haspractices a purpose. as they preparebroken open? What do we do with and alumni relations team, team, relations alumni and prepare they as practices and spirituality We have been broken open for a this feeling of being exposed? Our email [email protected] or call call or [email protected] email for meaningful and effective work in 617-353-2349.Zina Jacque (‘97, YourSTH. at gift willstudies help their studentsin excel excel instudents their help studieswill gift at STH.Your 617-353-2349. in work effective and meaningful for purpose.faith-based Within environmental our particular initiatives. and first step is to acknowledge what ‘05) received her initiatives. environmental faith-based universal spaces, many have grown is lost in the act of breaking. We COVER IMAGE:MDiv and ThD IMAGE: COVER accustomedYour gift will to thehelp prevailing students way. explore thelose the familiar. We lose our sense AlessandraRC/iStockfrom STH. She has AlessandraRC/iStock the explore students help will gift Your rich depth of religious resources for served in both the for resources religious of depth rich Police brutality is codified as a few of safety. We grieve. Yet grief, in a church and non- badecological apples. Economic justice work. injustice is Christian world view, is appropriate, profit world and work. justice ecological named as the fault of a community. for we do not grieve without hope. Please recycleloves being a recycle Please grandmother. Email [email protected],bu.edu/sth/giving. callvisit 617-353-2349,or or617-353-2349, visitcall bu.edu/sth/[email protected], Email Disparity in health and educational Our second step is to accept In keeping with Boston University’s University’s Boston with keeping In commitment to sustainability, this this sustainability, to commitment outcomesEmail [email protected], and mass incarceration call 617-353-2349, is the blessing that is inherent in the publication is printed on FSC-certified IL) Balsamo (Barrington, Thomas FSC-certified on printed is publication 617-353-2349, call [email protected], Email or visit bu.edu/sth/giving. paper. paper. bu.edu/sth/giving. visit or 0421 0421 49 boston university Nonprofit Inside: US Postage Meet Sujin Pak, STH’s new dean PAID Boston MA Hospital and prison chaplains in 745 Commonwealth Avenue Permit No. 1839 the time of COVID Boston, Massachusetts 02215 Resilience in Black collegiate 2021 gospel choirs

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Ryan (from left), Faye, and Casey Darmody. My time at BU was life changing. STH challenged Breaking me to develop my social conscience and understanding of justice, both by working in my local community and THROUGH by traveling the world. Those experiences play a role in 2020 tested us again and again. Alumni adapted, shaping who I am every single persevered—and looked to the future. day. As an alumna, I consider myself part of BU’s legacy. And now, through our estate, I’m proud that STH will forever focus is made possible be a part of my family’s legacy. by donations from BU

Jack Darmody STH alumni and friends —Casey Darmody (’12)