Mission

Led by our Board of Trustees that represent our ten member schools, the BTI Consortium provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to foster interreligious cooperation. Since its founding in 1968, the BTI Consortium has become the largest theological consortium in the world, bringing together the resources of theological schools and seminaries throughout the greater Boston area together with some of the world's most prestigious educational institutions.

Throughout its history and all its ongoing work, the BTI Consortium prioritizes the cultivation of a spirit of deep collaboration. By fostering authentic relationships we can bring into being what Rabbi Jonathan Sacks calls "the dignity of difference" in our diverse world. We hope to offer all our members opportunities to realize their role as responsible actors in local and global contexts, to form the next generation of visionary leaders, and create community for positive change exploring the role of religion in our pluralistic world.

To download the BTI Consortium Promotional Flyer, click here.

Our current member schools are:

We seek to achieve our goals by facilitating institutional collaboration, fostering a rich intellectual community, and honoring spiritual differences across religions and cultural backgrounds.

If you or your institution are interested in membership, or have any questions, please reach out to btioffice@bostontheological.org.

BTI Board and Executive Director at their Annual Retreat (October 2022)

BTI Consortium Staff

Stephanie C. Edwards, MSW, PhD
Executive Director

Stephanie originally hails from near Portland, Oregon and now makes her home near Portland, Maine. After undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University (2007), Stephanie spent a formative year as a Jesuit Volunteer in post-Katrina New Orleans. She holds a PhD in Theological Ethics from Boston College (2019), where her interdisciplinary research focused on the ties between Christian theology and trauma. Her research can be found in the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics and Political Theology. Stephanie's interest in such work has its roots in her "other" career as a social worker (MTS/MSW, Boston University 2011), wherein she has practiced diverse service delivery, grant writing, and non-profit management for over a decade. She lives in Biddeford, Maine, with her husband and rescue dog, EmmyLou, where you find her in nature: canoe camping in summer, leaf-peeping in fall, and bombing down the slopes in winter.

email | edwards@bostontheological.org

Amy Jeong
Graduate Assistant

Amy was born and raised in Korea until she and her family moved to the U.S. when she was 10. She grew up in Massachusetts the majority of her life and graduated with a BS in Psychology from Northeastern University. Throughout her college education, she dedicated her time to serve Korean American youth in the New England area and continues to serve the youth at her church today. Amy is a graduate student pursuing an MDiv at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. She is passionate about creating space for building community and connections among people from all different backgrounds. Outside of her studies, she enjoys pouring well-crafted cups of coffee as a local barista, breaking bread with friends, painting acrylic and gouache, and walking around the city and discovering different spots to capture on camera.

email | btinews@bostontheological.org

Joe Penny
Contextual Ministry Student - Incoming 2023

Joe Penny is a second-generation Black-Costa Rican from San Dimas, California, a small suburb just east of Los Angeles. After graduating from St. John’s University (MN) with a BA in Theology, he moved to Boston to pursue a Master's degree at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (STM). During his graduate studies, Joe found a way to blend his musical and theological passions and now serves as an artist-theologian, uplifting music from the Black and Latin American tradition. He is currently a Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry student and a professional musician in Boston and Los Angeles. Additionally, he was recently hired as the BCSTM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Graduate Assistant, becoming the first in school history to hold this position. Outside of his studies, Joe enjoys praising behind the drum set at church, dancing with his friends, and watching the sunset at the beach.

email | btistudentconference617@gmail.com

Jess Navarette and Kyle Desrosiers
Interreligious Leadership Coordinators - Incoming 2023

Kyle and Jess will coordinate our interreligious events and student certificate gatherings for AY23-24.

Kyle Desrosiers is a second year MTS student at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. His interests are in comparative religion, history, and liturgy. Kyle holds a BA in journalism and fine arts from Baylor University and an MA in Conflict Resolution and Mediation from Tel Aviv University, Israel. He currently serves as the administrative assistant at the Betty Ann Greenbaum Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership of Hebrew College. In his freetime, Kyle loves being outdoors, making pottery, photography, reading, and hanging out with cats and dogs.

Jess Navarette is a native of Los Angeles, where he served as a longtime educator, performing musician, community organizer and multi-religious scholar. Jess received his MA in Comparative Religion from Claremont School of Theology, focusing on Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. Currently, Jess is a PhD student at Boston College, focused on Comparative Theology between the Hindu and Christian traditions. Jess is passionate about interfaith music and gatherings, interreligious dialogue, and issues of multi-religious belonging.