Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium

What Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium does

The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI) is a non-profit educational consortium founded in 1968 that coordinates academic and community resources across 11 interreligious theological and religious studies institutions in the greater Boston area, including Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and Islamic traditions. Its primary service is a SharePoint-based cross-registration portal supported by a twice-yearly course catalog (bticourses.org) that gives enrolled students access to over 400 courses per semester across member schools. BTI supplements cross-registration with three specialized certificate programs — Religion and Conflict Transformation (jointly with Boston University's Tom Porter Program), Interreligious Leadership (coordinated with Hebrew College's Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership), and International Mission and Ecumenism — together with shared library access, field education placement, student conference funding (up to $200 domestic / $300 international), and interreligious community events including the REST dialogue program for underrepresented students.

The consortium is governed by a Board of Trustees composed of senior leaders (presidents, deans, and professors) from each member institution and is operated by a small full-time staff — an Executive Director, two Interreligious Leadership Coordinators, a Contextual Ministry Student, and a Graduate Student Assistant — based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. BTI is funded through recurring member school contributions and small grant programs; cross-registration is provided free with the student's normal home-school tuition, so the organization does not sell a commercial product and does not license technology. Its competitive position rests on the 57-year continuity of multi-institutional governance, the breadth of interreligious tradition it spans, and its self-description as the largest and oldest theological consortium in the world.

Name

Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium

Legal name

Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium

Website

https://bostontheological.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium is a non-profit founded in 1968 that coordinates cross-registration, certificate programs, libraries, and events across 11 Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox, Jewish, and Islamic theological schools in the greater Boston area, serving graduate students, faculty, and staff of its member institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Theological Education Consortium

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Interfaith & Ecumenical Theological Colleges (EDAHAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Faith-Affiliated Private Research Universities (EDAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Interreligious theological education
• Cross-registration courses
• Consortium certificate programs
• Theological field education
• Shared library access

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member School Contributions: The consortium is funded through member school contributions and participation. Cross-registration is provided free with normal tuition to enrolled students at member institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI) operates as an educational consortium that coordinates cross-registration, library access, three specialized certificate programs, field education, events, and student-led conferences across 11 interreligious theological and religious studies institutions in the greater Boston area. Cross-registration gives enrolled students access to over 400 classes per semester at other member schools, free with their normal tuition, and the consortium supplements this with student conference and travel funding, an interreligious dialogue program (REST) for underrepresented students, and a shared course catalog at bticourses.org.

Product overview

The Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium is a platform connecting 11 theological institutions through cross-registration, certificate programs, and student support services. The core offering is the BTI Cross-Registration System, which provides students access to over 400 courses per semester across member schools via a SharePoint-based portal. The consortium also offers three certificate programs (Religion and Conflict Transformation, Interreligious Leadership, and International Mission and Ecumenism), student conference funding, and the REST dialogue program for underrepresented students. The BTI Course Guide serves as the course catalog for the consortium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BTI Consortium Certificate Programs: Three certificate programs: Religion and Conflict Transformation (RCT), Interreligious Leadership (IL), and International Mission and Ecumenism (IME)

Products and services

• BTI Cross-Registration System A portal-based system enabling students from 11 member theological schools to cross-register for courses at other member institutions, accessing over 400 classes each semester across the consortium via a SharePoint-based portal at bostontheological.sharepoint.com/sites/portal. Free with normal tuition at member schools.
• Religion and Conflict Transformation Certificate A certificate program recognizing courses taken in religion and conflict transformation at member schools, including field work and a capstone integrative presentation. Overseen by Boston University School of Theology's Tom Porter Program on Religion and Conflict Transformation in partnership with BTI.
• Interreligious Leadership Certificate A certificate recognizing students who complete interreligious/interfaith courses and apply these skills at BTI schools and community organizations. Coordinated by Hebrew College's Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership in partnership with BTI.
• International Mission and Ecumenism Certificate A certificate recognizing students for completing Mission and Ecumenism courses at BTI schools, decided by a faculty committee and highlighting interests within the student's program.
• Student Conference Funding Program Financial and promotional support for student-led conferences that align with BTI student interests, requiring involvement from three or more member schools.
• BTI Course Guide/Catalog An online course catalog accessible at bticourses.org, providing access to approved BTI courses across member schools, with semester catalogs posted twice yearly (November 15 and April 15).
• Student Funding Program Financial support for student initiatives including travel, grant matching, and accessibility costs, with funding up to $200 for domestic conferences and $300 for international conferences.
• REST (Radical Encounters with Story-Tellers) Program A program for underrepresented students offering six monthly interreligious dialogue sessions from November to April, focused on historically under-represented identities within theological education.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 classes available each semester through cross-registration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Boston College Theology DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1968Full member of the BTI Consortium Board of Trustees. The Theology Department participates in cross-registration, certificate programs, and consortium governance through Board representation (Andrea Vicini, S.J. as Chair).
• Boston College School of Theology and MinistrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member represented on BTI Board of Trustees (Michael 'Mick' McCarthy, S.J. as Board President and Dean). Hosts certificate programs and student activities.
• Boston University School of TheologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (G. Sujin Pak as Board Vice President and Dean). Hosts the Religion and Conflict Transformation certificate program and Orlando E. Costas Consultation.
• Boston University Graduate Program in ReligioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (Jonathan Klawans as Professor). Participates in all consortium programs and cross-registration.
• Harvard Divinity SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (Marla F. Frederick as Board Secretary/Treasurer and Dean). Participates in cross-registration with special prior-term enrollment system considerations.
• Hebrew CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (Sharon Cohen Anisfeld as President). Hosts the Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership which coordinates the Interreligious Leadership certificate.
• Gordon-Conwell Theological SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (Scott Sunquist as President). Hosts the annual Orlando E. Costas Consultation on East Asian Christianity.
• Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of TheologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (James Skedros as Michael G. and Anastasia Cantonis Professor). Participates in all consortium activities and hosts some certificate programs.
• Hartford International University for Religion & PeacecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (Sherry Turner as President). Contributes to international mission and ecumenism programs.
• St. John's SeminarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member with Board representation (Bishop Robert Reed as Rector). Provides theological education within the Catholic tradition.
• Boston Islamic SeminaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member with Board representation (Basyouny Nehela as President). Represents the Islamic theological tradition within the consortium.
• Miller Center for Interreligious Learning & Leadership at Hebrew CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinates the Interreligious Leadership certificate program with BTI Consortium. Works with BTI faculty, staff, and Executive Director on curriculum and programming.
• Boston University School of Theology Tom Porter Program on Religion and Conflict TransformationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOversees the Religion and Conflict Transformation certificate program jointly with the BTI Consortium. Manages registration, course approvals, and certificate applications.
• Mosaic Interfaith Youth ActionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBTI-funded internship program placing students as Mosaic Interfaith Youth Action Interns. Visit mosaicaction.org for program details.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Council of Independent Colleges: A national association serving independent colleges and universities, including engagement with religious institutions. Comparable to BTI as a consortium-style coordination body for higher education institutions, though much broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Washington Theological Consortium: A consortium of Washington DC-area theological schools that enables cross-registration and joint programming. Functions as the DC-region equivalent of BTI's Boston-area model.
• Philadelphia Consortium of Theological Schools: A consortium of Philadelphia-area theological schools enabling cross-registration and shared resources. Directly comparable to BTI as a regional multi-school theological consortium model.
• West Coast Consortium of Theology & Religious Studies: A consortium of theological schools in the western United States providing cross-registration and shared resources. Operates the same multi-school consortium model as BTI but serving the western US.
• Chicago Theological Institute: A consortium of Chicago-area theological schools that facilitates cross-registration, shared library access, and joint programming. Operates the same multi-school theological consortium model as BTI but in a different metropolitan market.

Emerging players

• Interfaith America: A national interfaith leadership organization (formerly Interfaith Youth Core) that runs interfaith programming and leadership training. Comparable to BTI's Interreligious Leadership certificate and related interfaith programming, though at a national scale.
• Auburn Theological Seminary: A multi-faith seminary and leadership development organization focused on interfaith collaboration and religious leadership. Comparable to BTI's Interreligious Leadership certificate work and interfaith capacity-building programming.

Regional players

• South Florida Consortium of Theologians: A Florida-based consortium of theological schools that facilitates cross-registration in the Southeast. Comparable to BTI as a regional theological consortium but serving a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bostontheological
• Instagraminstagram.com/bostontheological
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boston-theological-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium