The Ruth J. Simmons Center for Race and Justice and Johnson-Phillips All Faiths Chapel will host their second collaborative event in their “Faith + Works: Race, Religion and Social Justice” series. The Black church remains a crucial religious, political, and social institution in Black communities and African Americans have retained their attachments to religious life at higher rates than other groups. At the same time, movements for social justice have defined African American politics in the last decade. This makes it imperative that we understand the contemporary role of Black religious institutions and leaders in justice struggles in the black community. Our featured guest this year is Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart.
Rev. Dr. Gina Stewart recently made history as the first woman to preach at the National Baptist Joint Board Session, which is a meeting of the major Black Baptist organizations that represent 15 million Black Baptists. As she began her sermon, Dr. Stewart acknowledged the historical impact, “This moment amplifies the shared stories of millions of women who daily rise against the crushing weight of patriarchy, misogynoir, and other interlocking systems of oppression that seek to diminish the value of women and marginalized communities.” In this instantly historic sermon, she advocated for more support for women in ministry, called the church out for its homophobia and sexism, and started the viral hashtag, #BeLikeClaudia, stemming from her sermon’s emphasis on Pontius Pilate’s wife, Claudia, who spoke up for Jesus before he was crucified. Dr. Stewart is a trailblazer in Black religious life. She was the first black women elected to pastor an established Black Baptist church in Memphis when she was elected pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church. She is the first woman to lead Lott Carey Foreign Missions Society, an organization started by African American Baptists in 1897. Dr. Stewart is nationally recognized for her preaching, pastoral leadership and seminary teaching. She has an Doctorate of Ministry from the historically black college, Interdenominational Theological Seminary in Atlanta and she is currently pursuing a PhD in African American Preaching and Sacred Rhetoric from Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. She is a native of Memphis and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
