Our Ministries
Ministry of Justice and Compassion
At Hope Central Church, we believe God’s peace and justice are intimately connected with our faith and our lives together. We have been called to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and imprisoned. We believe justice is prophetic, relational, active, and always challenging us – as individuals and society – to become what God is calling us to become.
Here is just a sampling of our Justice Ministries:
Giving away 10% of our plate offering and pledges to Boston Faith and Justice Network, Campaign for Southern Equality, GBIO, St. Paul’s Clinic in Kenya, City Mission Society, Mass Council of Churches, Mark Johnston DOC GLAD Alliance, Fast Track Grants, Pastor’s Fast Track Grants, DOC and UCC Global Ministries.
Giving away 10% of our rental and parking spaces to community groups.
Providing reduced rent space to our sister congregation, Iglesia Hispana, a mission church of the United Church of Christ, by being a community center for Integrarte — a dance and movement school and studio, 12 step groups, theatre, orchestra, opera troupes, and choirs, a transgender support group, and kids’ play groups.
Participating in the work of refuge and respite for a congregation that already participates in the community doing racial justice, social activism, social work, medical care, church work, and the work of living in the world as a poor person, a person of color, a mentally ill person, a GLBT person.
Teaching compassion, vulnerability and resilience by teaching how to care for the material and pastoral needs of our congregation’s members.
Teaching Leadership using our spiritual gifts, fulfilling out spiritual purposes for the mission of the church: Making ultimate meaning, moving toward the Heart of God, and repairing the world.
Providing Fast Track Grants (see below for more information and Fast Track Application) to Covenant Partners to grant community members and agencies for the purpose of Justice and Compassion.
Fast-track Grants
Fast Track Grants are an expression of the richness and diversity of social justice commitments among Hope Central Church Covenant Partners.
This program provides a quick and easy process for requesting and securing small grants and is a way to support and encourage all Covenant Partners in our work of co-creating the Kin-dom of God within the local community and beyond.
You may use a grant to support a nonprofit organization, contribute to an event or activity, or provide help to someone in need.
Fast Track Grants are awarded in amounts of $250 or less, which makes it possible for many Covenant Partners to participate every year. Hope Central Church tithes by giving 10% of its budget to social justice causes, and Fast Track Grants are one way of doing that. (Grants in larger amounts and/or for extended periods may be considered as potential Partner Ministries or Special Ministries of Hope Central Church. Please contact a member of the Ministry of Justice and Compassion Team to learn more.)
Be creative! Your application will be reviewed within seven days of submission by the Ministry of Justice and Compassion Fast Track Grant Team and pastoral staff. The office will let you know if your grant has been awarded and, if not, will explain why and provide guidance on how you might re-apply.
As a Fast Track awardee, we will ask you to be available for a short time following one of the Sunday worship services at which your grant is announced. This will give others a chance to talk with you about the organization, project or people that we are all helping to support through your initiative!
PLEASE NOTE: The funds that we have available under this program are subject to our receipt of overall pledge payments and plate offerings. Applications that might otherwise deserve an award may have to be deferred, reduced in amount, or declined based on our available budget.
To apply for a Hope Central Fast Track Grant
First Step: Click here FAST TRACK GRANT APPLICATION to complete the application.
Second Step: email the Hope Central Church Fast Track Grant Panel in care of Barbara McQueen: mrukavina4@aol.com to let them know you have completed the application.
Small Groups
At Hope Central Church, we believe the point of Christian life is not just going to church, but “being church” in our everyday lives, and so we are working hard to develop a network of vibrant, engaging small groups. The idea of small groups is that they can gather just about anywhere, and do just about anything: study the bible, create art, watch movies, eat together, explore spiritual practices, write poetry, take hikes, play music, etc. The content and venue may vary, but the purpose is the same: to gather together to share life, tell stories, pray, serve, and grow deeper into a life of faith.
Here are some of the small groups that are currently or periodically active. All are open to newcomers. We encourage you to contact the church office for information for any group that might interest you.
Bible Study.
Pick Up Choir: Everyone is welcome to join our choir.
Ukulele Choir: Meets every Wednesday Evening to practice and learn new songs and skills.
Community Dinners: Once a month, and for special occasions, usually pot-luck.
In Discernment for Ordination
Our congregation is blessed with the spiritual work of raising up and supporting individuals for ministry. We are blessed as many seek to deepen their own sense of the divine through practice and service to the congregation, the neighborhood and the world. Some of these individuals seek to do service as ordained ministers in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or the United Church of Christ.
The following is our current candidate for Ordination. We ask you to pray for them and all who seek to rely on God for life and purpose.
To support those who are candidates for ordination, Hope Central has a Discernment for Ordination Team and support group. Individuals seeking to answer the call to ordained ministry must:
be a Hope Central Church Covenant Partner for at least one year
be accepted into Hope Central’s process by the Discernment Team and meet with them regularly
participate in the support group
engage in a pastoral relationship with the Pastor
participate in the life of the church
complete the process for ordination as required by the New England Area of the Northeastern Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or the Metropolitan Boston Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ
Hope Central’s Discernment for Ordination Team and pastor represent the body of Hope Central Church in formulating the recommendation of one of its members in the process of ordination in either the United Church of Christ or The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) denomination. The team is comprised of both ordained and lay members of the Church who are committed to supporting and endorsing candidates who fully understand their call and are prepared and able to carry out the work God has called them to do.
The team meets with candidates at least two times per year. These meetings are structured to question, support, challenge, bless, and love the candidate at each phase of the discernment and ordination process.
By participating in the support group, candidates for ordination form collegial bonds, learning from each others’ experience about ordaining organizations, service leadership, field education placements, confidentiality, sabbath, and boundaries, each one teaching one.
Our community has ordained (from the newest ordained):
Yara González Justiniano (DoC, 9/22/23
Susan Clinkenbeard (UCC 1/28/2023)
Ash Temin (DOC 5/3/2020)
Lindsay Popperson (UCC 10/17/19)
Seth Peter Robinson (UCC 11/18/18)
Alex Shea Will (UCC 9/27/15)
Mary Eaton (DoC 8/30/15)
Nina Swift (DoC 7/12/15)
Benjamin Perkins (DoC, 6/21/15)
Nanette Pitt Savides (UCC, 10/13/13)
M. Lance Wiser (DoC, 5/19/13)
Bruce Baker-Rooks (DoC, 5/12/13)
Jasmine Beach-Ferrara (UCC, 2/19/12)
Christine Evans (DoC, 12/11/11)
Laura Everett (UCC, 6/5/11)
Sarah and Andrew Taylor-Peck (DoC, 5/15/11)
Rebecca Anderson (DoC, 5/7/11)
John Brock (DoC, 3/13/11)
Kevin Baker-Rooks (DoC, 11/28/10)
Bob Brown (UCC, 11/21/10)
Mark Longhurst (DoC, 10/18/09)
Melissa Kreider (UCC, 10/4/09)
Kent French (UCC, 2/8/09)
JC Mitchell (DoC, 5/18/08)
Laura Ruth Jarrett (UCC, 4/6/08)
Chris Waldron (UCC, 4/6/08)
Tadd Allman-Morton (UCC, 1/12/08)
Steven Savides (DoC, 5/21/06)