Church of the Covenant

Image Description: Boston's Church of the Covenant front and sides seen from the corner on a sunny, partly cloudy day. There are cars parked on the street around the church and people walking on the sidewalk.

Address: 67 Newbury St, Boston, MA 02116

Years Active: 1835–Present (after congregations merging, 1931–Present)

Tradition: Presbyterian Church; United Church of Christ

Description:

The Church of the Covenant is located in Boston and affiliated with both the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ. It is the result of a merger between two local churches—Central Congregational Church, originally founded in 1835, and First Presbyterian Church, originally founded in 1852/3—in 1931.

The Church of the Covenant is both a “More Light” Presbyterian Church and “Open and Affirming” in the United Church of Christ tradition. It declares in all capitals on its website that “all are welcome” to worship at the Church. According to its website, Church of the Covenant declared its support of same-sex unions as far back as 1995, and in 2004 followed the State of Massachusetts legalization of same-sex marriage by continuing to recognize such marriages in their congregation.

The National Fund for Sacred Places notes that, in addition to its historical support for LGBTQ+ communities, the Church of the Covenant also advocated for other marginalized groups throughout its history, such as supporting Irish immigration and abolitionist movements during the Civil War and opening an early shelter for victims of domestic violence—Casa Myrna. The National Fund writes: “In the 1970s, Church of the Covenant became a critical advocate for the inclusion of LGBTQ individuals in the church and society.” Additionally, the Church hosts Coro Allegro, an LGBTQ+ choir in Boston, and continues to strive for racial justice and to advocate for immigrants and refugees. One can learn more about the wide range of the Church of the Covenant’s social justice activities on their Social Justice page.

The LGBTQ Religious Archives Network, in their Shower of Stoles exhibit, contains a stole from the Church of the Covenant. (One can read about the stole here.) Martha Juillerat, the founder of the exhibit, reflects that: “Their strong and public advocacy on behalf of LGBT persons in the life and leadership of the church has drawn many LBGT persons to become a part of the church family. Their 52 stoles represent the largest subset of stoles given to the [LGBTQ RAN] collection by any one congregation.”

Additionally, the Church of the Covenant is also a stop on the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail. The congregation has been successful (and early) in getting women to leadership positions in there, and ordained two women—Elizabeth Rice and Alice Hageman—in 1974 and 1975, respectively.

The Church of the Covenant is also listed on Emerson College’s list of safe spaces for LGBTQ+ people of faith.

Sources and Further Information:

https://www.cotcbos.org/full-lgbtq-affirmation.html

https://covbospresproj.org/congregation-history/

https://www.fundforsacredplaces.org/participants/church-of-the-covenant/

https://casamyrna.org/about/history/

https://www.coroallegro.org/

https://www.cotcbos.org/social-justice.html

https://exhibits.lgbtran.org/exhibits/show/shower-of-stoles/item/397

https://www.bwht.org/explore/church-of-the-covenant/

Church of the Covenant

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