ECBCS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OCTOBER 18th-19th, 2024
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.
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