WomanPreach!, Inc.

Let’s do this for Frankie! Picture this. It’s a July Saturday afternoon; “Before I Let Go” is playing in the backyard & you’re at the door ringing the bell at your sister’s house. You have a dish in your hand…

What’s the dish? 👀

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SEPTEMBER IS HERE! How many of you return to the classroom this fall?

Students sound off.
Professors sound off.

Tag someone that you’re praying will have a phenomenal Fall 2024 semester! Are you returning to the classroom this fall?

The word of the Lord was rare in those days; visions were not widespread. … The Lord called Samuel again, a third time. - 1 Samuel 3:1b, 8a (NRSV)

THIS! 📚📚📚

Cr: piper4missouri

None of us have to fail for all of us to succeed!

The future is always worth fighting for!

We know A LOT is going on in our nation right now. It might take its toll but be encouraged! You’re not alone. Pause don’t quit. We need you!

. Congrats Dr. Maisha Kariamu Handy! Introducing McCormick Theological Seminary’s 12th President: Rev. Dr. Maisha I. Handy!!!

Dr Handy is a Chicago native and recognized & accomplished theologian, administrator, and educator. She will step into the position on September 3rd. Read more about her appointment at mccormick.edu.

Introducing McCormick Theological Seminary's 12th President: Rev. Dr. Maisha I. Handy!!! We are excited to welcome Dr. Handy, a Chicago native and recognized & accomplished theologian, administrator, and educator, as she joins us at MTS starting on September 3rd. Read more about her appointment at mccormick.edu.

Two weeks ago, we gathered! To our class, what nuggets of wisdom are you still chewing on? Sound off with some Wednesday Wisdom!

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Our Jarena Lee Preaching Academy brings together some of the best scholars, theologians, practitioners & homileticians on the planet.

Meet our 2024 faculty. Introducing Rev. Dr. Jamie Eaddy-Chism, a multi-faceted healer, dreamer, theologian, thanatologist, and traumatologist who plays a vital role in her community. Her work is dedicated to promoting healing and well-being, focusing on navigating trauma, loss, and grief. She skillfully combines her commitment to justice and liberation with her expertise in thanatology and trauma in her educational, guidance, and care services.

She believes in a multi-sensory experience and uses sound therapy, aromatherapy, somatic healing practices, and touch (with consent) in her work. Jamie Eaddy Chism supports many individuals, including educators, activists, clergy, medical professionals, staff, and community members, especially during their most challenging and distressing times.

She passionately commits herself to challenging systems that perpetuate death and strives to create sacred spaces to explore our shared humanity. She actively promotes a decolonized approach to learning and care and is acutely aware of the white-centered approach in many death care circles. Because swallowed grief is never digested, her vision is to provide a breathing space for grief, emphasizing empathy, equity, and compassion.

Dr. Jamie firmly believes in the intersection of faith and holistic well-being and that all Black Lives Matter. Her personal interests enrich her approach, such as her love for art, travel, music, and poetry. As a world traveler, she’s dedicated to helping organizations rethink and decolonize their care practices. Her sessions on the intersection of Trauma, Black Grief, and White Supremacy have resonated nationally and internationally. She also serves as the Grief Doula and Director of Wellness and Counseling for the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP), where she supports individuals and communities impacted by violence and homicide.

📸 Ty’Reanna Harris

“Preach the Gospel and when necessary use words.” -St. Francis Assisi
WomanPreach!, Inc.

📸credit - Damon Nabrit
Caption Credit - WP! Board Chair: Rev.

The time has come! Today, our cohort will travel from near and far to meet us in Ohio for our flagship week-long intensive: The Jarena Lee Preaching Academy. Pray with us as we begin a transformative week!

Last but certainly not least…we welcome Rev. Tierney C. Ridley to our 2024 JLPA cohort. What an honor to have someone who works on your staff believe in the work enough to apply and participate as a student of the work. Rev. Tierney we salute you! Here’s a little more about them:

Tierney C. Ridley is a daughter, sister, and friend who has a passion for preaching, podcasting, and producing content that centers on a womanist lens for theology and pastoral care. They are currently discovering what it means to live out her calling at the intersections of the academy, local church, and entrepreneurship.

Tierney was born and raised in Macon, GA, and received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Southern University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity at McAfee School of Theology, seated at Mercer University.

Tierney is the curator of the Sassy SoulVersations Podcast and also the Executive Pastor at the Faith Community in Tucker, GA. Above all, Tierney is the proud dog mom of Tripp.

This concludes our introduction of our Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! We’re just a few days away from our kickoff! We thank God for our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

The good news keeps rolling in! We offer our congratulations to the Rev. Dr. Kimberly D. Russaw who was granted tenure during Pittsburgh Theological Seminary’s recent Board of Directors meeting.

Dean Angela Hancock said: “Dr. Russaw brings a wealth of leadership and organizational skills to the institution, and her scholarly interests bring fresh questions to our team of researchers and instructors. We are delighted that she will continue to live out her commitment to preparing students for a range of ministries at PTS.” https://www.pts.edu/kimberly-russaw-tenure

INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! After a robust season of reading the applications that came in last year, we’re thrilled to introduce the 22 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

We welcome Kanisha NaKenya Chatman to our cohort! Kanisha, known as Nish to many, was born to the late Nathaniel Chatman, Jr., and Kelly Gray Chatman. Nish is a native of Philadelphia, Pa… and a 4th generation product of the AME church, whose family derives from the state of Mississippi. Nish is the proud Great-Grand daughter of the late Joshua David Watkins,Sr., a presiding elder who served in the 8th Episcopal District for 42 years.
Nish is a long time member of Mother Bethel AME Church, and serves her church community with gladness! Nish has served on the Junior Usher Board, was a member of the Youth Choir, and sang on the Adult Choir under the direction of the late Marc D. Jenkins. Nish was a Young Adult ministry Chairperson, an active member of her local Lay Organization who assists members within the Philadelphia Conference Lay Organization. Nish is a member of the Sarah Allen Women’s Missionary Society, has led vacation bible school classes over the years as well. Nish is a member of the Philadelphia Chapter of CHARMS, Inc., a civic- social club whose membership spans nationwide.

Nish has a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. Currently, Nish is earning her Master of Arts in Theology, with a concentration in the African American Church from the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa. Nish remains focused along her life’s path in ministry, as she aspires to become a Chaplain in due season, while maturing as a Womanist Theologian.

INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! After a robust season of reading the applications that came in last year, we’re thrilled to introduce the 22 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

We are thrilled to welcome Pastor Erin Dooley to our cohort. She comes from a family of pastors. Her late grandmother was a traveling pastor in the inner city of Chicago and her Dad is an ordained minister. At 13, she fell in love with the local church and knew it was where she wanted to invest her life’s work. By the age of 18, she was working at her local church full-time and has loved the work of community development ever since. Erin now serves as co-pastor at a church in downtown Phoenix called Kaleo and works to bring a unique perspective and vibrant creativity to everything she does. In her spare time, you can find her recording a podcast called Millennials In Ministry or supporting her husband, a Youth Pastor at Neighborhood Ministries.

INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! We’re just a few weeks away & are thrilled to introduce the 23 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

We welcome Minister Cassandra Ogbevire. She is a Nigerian American Chicago Native. She is a Daughter of Spelman College.

INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! We’re just a few weeks away & are thrilled to introduce the 23 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

We come Minister Monique Burgess to our cohort! She is the fourth of five daughters born to the late Joyce Burgess. She has been employed with the Philadelphia School District for 21 years as a middle school teacher and Special Education Advisor. She graduated from United Lutheran Seminary in May of 2020 where she earned her Master in Divinity. She is the creator and founder of Her Story Revealed Christian Podcast which airs every Wednesday at 8pm on Podbean and Her Tales Podcast which airs every Friday at 8pm on Facebook Live. She is the mother of three children. She loves to travel and believes traveling takes you out of your comfort zone and inspires you to see, taste and learn new things. Her life quote is Romans 8:38-39. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! We’re just a few weeks away & are thrilled to introduce the 23 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

We heartily welcome Dr. Jones graduated from South Philadelphia High School and attended Temple University Tyler School of Art and Marywood University majoring in Art Education and
Education. She is married and has five adult children and nine grandchildren.

She was employed as an art teacher for The School District of Philadelphia for thirty years. Served as president of the Ladies Auxiliary Usher Group, Camp Director, and Church Artist for the White Rock Baptist Church in Philadelphia PA.

She served as the Poster Contest chair for the West Philadelphia Baptist Congress of Christian Education for fifteen years. Dr Jones received her calling to deliver God’s word in 2012. Since then she has attended The Abundant Harvest Institute of Bethany Baptist Church in Lindenwold New Jersey, Bethel School of Prophetic Development in Wyncote Pa., Melvin Floyd School of Evangelism in
Philla Pa., and trained at the University of Pennsylvania for CPE.

She completed her MDiv at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia Pa. as well as her Doctor of Philosophy in Pastoral Ministry at Newburgh Seminary in May 2017.

As an intern, Dr. Jones began working with New Life in Christ Holistic Ministries in August 2014. She began “Passion for Purpose Arts Ministry” in 2017, managed the New
Members Classes of the church, and preached under the pastorship of Rev. Christopher, Tiffany
Gilmore, and Rev. Inez Shanks.

In October 2017, Rev. Inez Shanks ordained Dr. Jones to
preach. In July 2019, Pastor Inez Shanks went to be with the Lord. 2020 Dr. Jones joined the Union Temple Baptist Church under the pastorship of Dr. Albert Morgan. She began serving her ministry “Passion for Purpose Arts Ministry” full time and preaching for the WLAB 107.3 Gospel Radio under the leadership of Pastor Rev. Dr. Louis A. Butcher and Elder T***a L Butcher.

Hey - let’s congratulate our founder & President, Rev. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman who was welcomed as a UMC Elder in full connection last week.

Dean Valerie Bridgeman has worked closely with many United Methodist colleagues for decades. Now she joins them as a United Methodist elder in full connection. Bishop Gregory Palmer welcomed her into communion through recognition of orders at the West Ohio Annual Conference Celebration of Ministry in Columbus June 1.

Dr. Bridgeman was licensed by the Church of God Anderson, Indiana, in 1977 and ordained in that tradition in 1985. It wasn’t long before she found her work intersecting with Methodism.

“My first sense that God may be calling me to the United Methodist Church was the late 1990s, when I was in Austin and in relationship with several United Methodist people,” she said. “Because I’m Wesleyan, it resonated with me.”
Over the years, she has served as interim pastor for UM congregation Memphis and preacher-in-residence for a UM church in Washington, D.C. She served on a working committee of Methodists and Wesleyans from other communions on the study that resulted in the UMC’s This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion, which was adopted by the 2004 General Conference as the official interpretive statement of theology and practice.

And she co-edited The Africana Worship Book, with three volumes following lectionary years, published by the Upper Room. The team also co-edited essays for a book to help people think about the role and theology of Africana worship, Companion to the Africana Worship Book.

So, she said, “I’ve been Methodist-proximate for a while.”
Since joining the MTSO faculty in 2014, Bridgeman has had a number of conversations with the bishop about making the relationship more official. The process culminated in Saturday’s celebration – which, she said with a smile, officially left her “Methodized.”

“It literally is just the next faithful step,” Bridgeman said. “I believe God called me to this some time ago. It’s just taken this long to get to it.”

We’re just one month away from JLPA! INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! After a robust season of reading the applications that came in last year, we’re thrilled to introduce the 22 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

Rev. Paula Morrison-Smith is a married African American woman and mother of seven adult children and grandmother of 13. She was born in Philadelphia PA in a strong, loving, and nurturing family where her grandmother was the matriarch and theologian.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from Temple University and a master’s degrees in social work. She received her M. Div from United Lutheran Theological Seminary. She worked for 26 years in the behavioral health field as a Mental Health/Drug and Alcohol Therapist, and sees her work as a form of ministry, joining with people at their point of need.

Rev. Morrison-Smith was licensed to preach the gospel on April 22, 2018 and ordained on July 25, 2021. In her work she has served on various steering committees to assist in the development of programs to help the disenfranchised population of society. She left her job in 2018 to enroll in her first unit of CPE. Upon completing her CPE Residency at Penn Medicine Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, she has a total of five CPE units. I

She continues to work at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania as a PRN Chaplain.

We’re just one month away! INTRODUCING OUR WOMANPREACH! Jarena Lee Preaching Academy Class of 2024! After a robust season of reading the applications that came in last year, we’re thrilled to introduce the 22 Black Women Clergy who have been selected as our 2024 Cohort. JLPA will take place June 23-29 2024 at Methodist Theological School in Ohio.

We enthusiastically welcome, Marshaya Winston to our cohort. She is a Graduate Student at Howard University pursing dual degrees in Social Work and Divinity. Addressing social issues that plague our society by utilizing biblical scholarship is her intention. Awareness on these issues will bring enlightenment and healing towards marginalized groups.

What great news for Boston University School of Theology! It was announced yesterday that leading ethicist & womanist, Dr. Emilie Townes will head to BU to occupy the Martin Luther King, Jr. Professorship of Religion and Black Studies.

Dr. Townes is Dean Emerita of Vanderbilt Divinity School. Here’s what the BU Dean had to say:

“Emilie Townes is a towering figure and recognizably the leading living womanist ethicist today. She is not only an astonishing scholar; the incredible gift is this: she is a passionate teacher, a prophetic advocate, an innovative institutional leader, and a beautiful human being.”
G. Sujin Pak, Boston University School of Theology Dean.

Congrats Dr. Townes!