| Religious Resources | Cultural Resources |
| Religious Resources | Cultural Resources |
Inter-Religious Dialogue Program
Boston Theological Institute
210 Herrick Road
Newton, MA 02159
Phone: (617) 527-4880
The Boston Theological Institute, a consortium of nine theological schools in the Boston area, offers the year-long Religious Neighbors program. The program, which explores a particular theme each year, promotes inter-religious dialogue by enabling people to visit various religious communities in the greater Boston area. These visits are supplemented with a lecture series, open to all.
The National Conference for Community and Justice
15 Broad Street, Suite 505
Boston, MA 02109
Phone: (617) 227-9155
http://www.nccj.org
The National Conference for Community and Justice, founded in 1927 as The National Conference of Christians and Jews, is a human relations organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism in America. NCCJ promotes understanding and respect among all races, religions, and cultures through advocacy, conflict resolution and education.
Somerville Interfaith Group
College Avenue United Methodist Church
14 Chapel Street
West Somerville, MA 02144
Contact: Rev. Dr. C. Edward Deyton
Phone: (617) 776-4172
"While celebrating our diversity, we strive to be a unified presence of God's liberating love in Somerville through spiritual life and congregation-based community action which brings to bear our religious perspectives. We engage in spiritual education and celebration, and community involvement."
Women's Interfaith Institute in the Berkshires
P.O. Box 422
Housatonic, MA 01236
Contact: Rev. Dr. Allison Stokes
Phone: (413) 274-1340
Fax: (413) 274-1047
Email: astokes@bcn.net
The Women's Interfaith Institute is a non-profit corporation founded in 1992 to provide continuing education and support for ordained and non-ordained women in ministry, and for women studying for ministry. The Institute's mission is to encourage, enable and make visible the ministry of women of all faith communities in our pluralistic society and thereby become partners with God in God's mission of mending all creation.
CHRISTIAN
Massachusetts Council of Churches
14 Beacon Street, Room 416
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 523-2771
Fax: (617) 523-1483
Email: council@masscouncilofchurches.org
http://www.masscouncilofchurches.org
Established in 1902, the Massachusetts Council of Churches is composed of fifteen Protestant denominations in an ecumenical movement to heal a divided church and a broken world.
JEWISH
American Jewish Committee
126 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
Contact: Lawrence Lowenthal
Phone: (617) 457-8700
Established in 1906, the American Jewish Committee works to ensure the security of Jews in the United States and around the world, to safeguard the basic principles of American democracy that guarantee the equality of all, and to enrich the quality of Jewish life.
American Jewish Congress
126 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
Phone: (617) 457-8888
Fax: (617) 988-6246
http://www.ajcongress-ne.org
The American Jewish Congress is a national membership organization struggling for social and economic justice, religious freedom and human rights in the United States and abroad.
American Jewish Historical Society
2 Thornton Road
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone: (781) 891-8110
http://www.ajhs.org
Incorporated in 1892, the oldest national ethnic historical organization in the United States, the American Jewish Historical Society serves as the national archives of the Jewish people in America.
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston
126 High Street
Boston, MA 02110
Contact: Nancy Kaufman, Executive Director
Email: nkaufman@jcrcboston.org
Phone: (617) 457-8600
Fax: (617) 988-6255
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) of Greater Boston is the representative voice of the organized Jewish community. JCRC's mission, rooted in Jewish values and informed by Jewish history, reflects the ideals of American democracy. The JCRC, composed of constituent organizations: serves as a catalyst for building a strong and vibrant Jewish community in Boston and around the world; advocates for a safe, secure, democratic state of Israel; promotes an American society which is democratic, pluralistic, and just. In pursuit of its goals, the JCRC facilitates dialogue and forges an action agenda by encouraging collaborative partnerships within the Jewish community and between the Jewish community and the broader society. To this end, the JCRC: educates, assists, and enables the Jewish community to pursue social justice; advocates on issues of Jewish communal concern; builds coalitions for effective action and opportunities for community involvement; convenes the community in times of crisis, celebration, and commemorations.
Rabbinical Council of Massachusetts
177 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 426-2139
The Council administers the Rabbinic Court of Massachusetts to resolve religious questions, establishes kosher laws and provides kosher certification for products, and oversees ritual practices for the Jewish community.
PAGAN
The Society of Elder Faiths
P.O. Box 335
Boston University Station
Boston, MA 02215
Contact: Roger Powell
Phone: 508-839-3457 (answering machine)
Email: sef@elderfaiths.org
http://www.elderfaiths.org/
"The Society of Elder Faiths (SEF) is a Pagan religious organization incorporated as a church under Massachusetts laws. The SEF was founded by elders of five Wiccan covens in order to provide services to the local Pagan community which require a larger, more formal sructure than our individual covens can comfortably offer.
The SEF exists to worship the Goddess and the Old Gods, to teach the principles of our faith, to celebrate the rites of our religion, to realize fellowship and unity within our membership and among the elder faiths, to render loving service to the Earth and all Her inhabitants, to train and ordain clergy of our faith, and to promote the understanding of our faith."
CIVIC RESOURCES
Boston Human Rights Commission
Boston City Hall, Room 966
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: (617) 635-3562
The Boston Human Rights Commission investigates discrimination complaints and provides educational information about human and civil rights.
Boston Indicators Project
http://www.tbf.org/indicatorsProject/index.asp
See also their list of civic health links: http://www.tbf.org/indicatorsproject/links/links.asp
Office of New Bostonians
http://www.cityofboston.gov/newbostonians
Rappaport Institute of Greater Boston
http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/rappaport