The Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings, recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion, will be joining the Pittsburgh community Sat., Jan. 31, 2015, for a time of sharing and worship on the topic of "Tear Open the Heavens:" Race, Violence, and Faith in Our Times. 

All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are requested for dinner.
 

The day's events will bridge a set of concerns that move from ecclesial emphases (theological reflection/education around race, and allowing our analysis of race to affect how we have fellowship and "do life" together), to broader emphases (network building, local and regional action around racial justice). Our hope for this time together is that congregations will gain tools they can implement in their communities, and that those attending will make commitments to pursue transformative fellowship and action around race and racial justice.

This event is co-sponsored by Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, Union Baptist Church of Swissvale, Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's Office of Continuing Education and Metro-Urban Institute.

Schedule Sat., Jan. 31, 2015

Time Session Location
2:00-3:10 p.m. Lecture and Q&A Hicks Chapel Auditorium, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS)
616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
3:10-3:30 p.m. Snacks and Informal Conversation Long Hall, PTS
3:30-4:30 p.m. Small Group Workshops Long Hall, PTS
5:00-6:15 p.m.  Dinner (Reservation Requested) Kadel Dining Hall, PTS
6:30-8:00 p.m. Worship and Discussion Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ
3600 East Liberty Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

 

 

 

  

 

Dinner Reservations: Please reserve a seat by e-mailing or calling 412-924-1345.

About Willie James Jennings

The Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings is currently associate professor of theology and black church studies at Duke University Divinity School. For many years, he served as the academic dean of the Divinity School. Dr. Jennings was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich. He received his B.A. in religion and theological studies from Calvin College (1984), his M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and his Ph.D. degree from Duke University. Dr. Jennings who is a systematic theologian, teaches in the areas of theology, black church and cultural studies, as well as post-colonial and race theory. The author of numerous articles, Dr. Jennings’s recent work, The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race published by Yale University Press, won the 2011 American Academy of Religion Award for best book and is now becoming a standard text read in colleges, seminaries, and universities. Dr. Jennings is also the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity. In addition to being a frequent lecturer at colleges, universities, and seminaries,  Jennings is also a regular workshop leader at pastor conferences. He is a consultant for the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion and for the Association of Theological Schools. He serves along with his wife, the Rev. Joanne L. Browne Jennings as an associate minister at the Mount Level Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. For many years, Dr. Jennings served along with his wife as interim pastors for several Presbyterian and Baptist churches in North Carolina. They are the parents of two daughters, Njeri and Safiya Jennings.

The Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings, recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion, will be joining the Pittsburgh community Sat., Jan. 31, 2015, for a time of sharing and worship on the topic of "Tear Open the Heavens:" Race, Violence, and Faith in Our Times. 

All events are free and open to the public. Reservations are requested for dinner.
 

The day's events will bridge a set of concerns that move from ecclesial emphases (theological reflection/education around race, and allowing our analysis of race to affect how we have fellowship and "do life" together), to broader emphases (network building, local and regional action around racial justice). Our hope for this time together is that congregations will gain tools they can implement in their communities, and that those attending will make commitments to pursue transformative fellowship and action around race and racial justice.

This event is co-sponsored by Pittsburgh Mennonite Church, Union Baptist Church of Swissvale, Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ, and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary's Office of Continuing Education and Metro-Urban Institute.

Schedule Sat., Jan. 31, 2015

Time Session Location
2:00-3:10 p.m. Lecture and Q&A Hicks Chapel Auditorium, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS)
616 N. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15206
3:10-3:30 p.m. Snacks and Informal Conversation Long Hall, PTS
3:30-4:30 p.m. Small Group Workshops Long Hall, PTS
5:00-6:15 p.m.  Dinner (Reservation Requested) Kadel Dining Hall, PTS
6:30-8:00 p.m. Worship and Discussion Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ
3600 East Liberty Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA 15206

 

 

 

  

 

Dinner Reservations: Please reserve a seat by e-mailing or calling 412-924-1345.

About Willie James Jennings

The Rev. Dr. Willie James Jennings is currently associate professor of theology and black church studies at Duke University Divinity School. For many years, he served as the academic dean of the Divinity School. Dr. Jennings was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Mich. He received his B.A. in religion and theological studies from Calvin College (1984), his M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and his Ph.D. degree from Duke University. Dr. Jennings who is a systematic theologian, teaches in the areas of theology, black church and cultural studies, as well as post-colonial and race theory. The author of numerous articles, Dr. Jennings’s recent work, The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race published by Yale University Press, won the 2011 American Academy of Religion Award for best book and is now becoming a standard text read in colleges, seminaries, and universities. Dr. Jennings is also the recipient of the 2015 Grawemeyer Award in Religion for his groundbreaking work on race and Christianity. In addition to being a frequent lecturer at colleges, universities, and seminaries,  Jennings is also a regular workshop leader at pastor conferences. He is a consultant for the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology and Religion and for the Association of Theological Schools. He serves along with his wife, the Rev. Joanne L. Browne Jennings as an associate minister at the Mount Level Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. For many years, Dr. Jennings served along with his wife as interim pastors for several Presbyterian and Baptist churches in North Carolina. They are the parents of two daughters, Njeri and Safiya Jennings.