Meet Rev. Dr. Rose

Rev. Dr. Richard Rose is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at the University of La

Verne. Dr. Rose is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Dr. Rose serves

as the Executive Director of the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies (ECBCS). The

Ecumenical Center’s purpose is to provide in-service professional education for ministers, other

staff, seminarians and laity of whatever ethnic background, who serve the African American

Community. Through a partnership between ECBCS and the University of La Verne, Dr. Rose’s

students have engaged in contextualized theological education for the 21st Century.

At the College level Dr Rose teaches courses related to real life issues. In “Power and

Oppression” students reflect upon the theme of Power and Oppression within a contemporary

community engagement project. In “Religion, Science and Consciousness” student examine the

structure and practice of scientific and mystical traditions and learn what each has to say about the

mind-body problem. In “World Religions: East” students examine the origin and development of

those religions which undergird East, South, and Southeast Asian worldviews with emphasis given

to the way adherents of these traditions continue to practice their belief system in the Los Angeles

metropolitan area.

During the Covid-19 Global Crisis ECBCS established the Jr. Order of Melchizedek Rites

of Passage Program. The Program is designed to be an after-school enrichment activity for middle

school children. Using the values found in Ephesians 6:14-16, the program teaches that seeking

Truth with Integrity and Faith we can establish a world of Peace. The Program prepares these

youth to make good choices for both college and their careers ahead.

Dr. Rose earned his undergraduate degree from Pacific Christian College in Philosophy.

The program involved dual enrollment within CA State Fullerton’s Philosophy Program. He

earned his Master of Divinity degree from Howard University School of Divinity and the Doctor

of philosophy degree from The Claremont Graduate University. His dissertation is titled “Howard

Thurman’s Life and Thought: Implications for Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Dialogue.”

Dr. Rose’s current research examines global issues related to Interfaith dialogue and

Religious Pluralism. Dr. Rose sees his life’s work as continuing the Process of Building the

Beloved Community. In 2023 Dr. Rose received a Life Worth Living Network Grant through the

Yale Center for Faith and Culture. That Grant has helped in the development and dissemination of

the message contained in the course Building the Beloved Community.

Dr. Rose is the author of An Interreligious Approach to a Social Ethic for Christian

Audiences (2017) and 7 Meditations on the Lord’s Prayer (2016), both published by Christian

World Imprints, New Delhi, India. Dr. Rose serves on the following Boards: Bethany Theological

Seminary, Southern CA Committee for a Parliament of the World’s Religions, the John Cobb

Institute, the Bethel A.M.E. Church in Monrovia, CA.