Why UniteBoston?
As God’s people, we are called to oneness in Christ, which compels us beyond our differences. Yet, most of us, even as servants joined in the calling to the ministry of Jesus Christ, see the world very differently for reasons of life experience, biblical interpretation, and our prevailing human condition. Because of this, we are prone to disagree with and distance ourselves from those who are culturally, denominationally, and ethnically distinct from us. UniteBoston overcomes these obstacles that prevent us from truly knowing one another by nurturing relational connections and agape love throughout the diversity of Boston’s Christian community. With over 670 Christian churches in the metro Boston area, and an estimated 3,000 in the target area of Greater Boston (Highway 128 Beltway), the Christian community needs a means of connecting together in order to more effectively reach the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Mission
UniteBoston nurtures unity among diverse Christians through relationships for the flourishing of the city. We are an incubator and catalyst for unity, reconciliation and shared mission, knowing that interconnections are the channels where God’s kingdom is built.
Vision
The citywide Church is the best witness to Jesus: We envision the transformation of the city of Boston by connecting people to Jesus and His causes.
Statement of Faith
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
We believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
(The Nicene Creed was chosen as our Statement of Faith because it is the most widely accepted brief statements of the Christian faith and affirms the work of our Christian Forefathers. We also affirm the Bible as the authoritative Word of God.)
Participants
All Christian individuals, congregations, and communities that align with the Nicene Creed and are based approximately within the Highway 128 beltway around Boston are invited to participate in UniteBoston.
Services
UniteBoston seeks to pursue reconciliation among all Christians in Boston through shared experiences. The experiences we have together lead to relationships, mutual understanding, and agape love among brothers and sisters in Christ, therefore breaking down the walls that currently divide the Christian community. As we answer Jesus’ prayer for oneness in Christ (John 17), his promise is that the world will see Jesus as the Son of God, resulting in holistic transformation of our city and world.
We nuture these experiences through:
- We run a website and send out a weekly email newsletter as an infrastructure for communication for Christian events happening around Boston. Our website also has forums which connect resources and needs throughout the Christian community. This promotes a greater sense of awareness and a go-to location for what churches are doing in the city.
- We host the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity as an annual opportunity for the Christian community to connect with God and one another through worship, prayer, fasting, and fellowship. The evening gatherings are designed to reflect the diversity of Boston’s Christian community and promote ecumenical understanding.
- We coordinate UniteBoston Reps to build and establish relational connections within neighborhood communities. By being a learner of neighborhoods, UniteBoston Reps devote their attention to a specific geographic locale to find out where God is working and how churches can collaboratively serve together to further that work.
Values
Loving Your Neighbor
Jesus defined the greatest commandments as, “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:36-40). Jesus models loving people who are challenging for us to love. We encourage the UniteBoston community to step outside our comfort zones to build relationships with Christians that we may not agree with.
Intentional Pursuit
Ephesians 4:3 encourages us to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” As Christians, we are one in Christ, yet we must earnestly endeavor to make visible what God has done in Christ.
An Attitude of Humility
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Phil 2:5). With UniteBoston, we come alongside others to serve what is already happening, knowing that what we are personally called to is part of a greater whole.
The Power of the Holy Spirit
Diversity is an organizational goal and is needed for UniteBoston to meet our mission. Thus, we welcome Christians of various backgrounds, denominations and ethnicities to serve within our organization. Through Jesus Christ, the dividing walls of hostility that are separating Christians have been destroyed (Eph 2:14). Thus, UniteBoston affirms the notion that the power of the Holy Spirit which binds us together in Christ is stronger than anything that seemingly divides us.
