LORENA M. PARRISH 251 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA

Transcription

1 LORENA M. PARRISH 251 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA CURRICULUM VITAE EDUCATION 2013 Ph.D. Systematic Theology Specialization: Womanist & Feminist Theologies; Theology, Ethics and Popular Culture; Theology and the Black Church 2003 M. Phil M.Div. Theology & Culture Specialization: African American Religious Thought 1997 M.S.S.W. Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY (Summa cum laude) 1992 B.A. Communications New York University, New York, NY (Cum laude) Doctoral Dissertation: Forsaking the Lowly Jesus for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, or How Shall We Be Saved?: A Theological Reflection on the Legacy of Christian Attitudes Toward Wealth and Poverty and Its Impact Upon the Black Church. Directors: Dr. Serene Jones and Dr. Delores S. Williams This project contemplates Jesus teachings on wealth and poverty and the historical roots of Western Christianity s ambivalence toward Jesus position. I catalog Jesus teachings on wealth and poverty and those parts of the theologies of some of the most influential theologians in Western Christianity that speak to their valuation of wealth and poverty as a way to outline the anatomy of a legacy of a theology of prosperity. I use the term theology of prosperity to refer to the way in which wealth accumulation is understood as part of God s divine order, linking individual prosperity, social power, mobility, and material acquisition to God s blessings and setting aside the notion that Jesus calls for a radical revaluation of wealth and poverty. I argue Jesus teachings on wealth and poverty calls for redemptive responses that renounce stratified power, privilege, and wealth inequity and ushers in a new human paradigm that values non-hierarchical relations, egalitarianism, and a culture of sharing and hospitality. Showing how such ambivalence served to dilute Jesus views and foster a legacy of a theology of prosperity from the patristic period to current black churches prosperity gospels; I delineate a descriptive of the anatomy of this legacy for the Black Church. Finally, engaging the work of womanist theologians to ascertain the significance of this genealogy of ambivalence for the construction of a womanist soteriology, I offer a constructive way out that takes serious Jesus teachings and Black women and men s longing for abundant living. Areas of Doctoral Study: Systematic and Contemporary Theology; Womanist and Black Liberation Theologies; Theology and Popular Culture; Christian Ethics and Critical Philosophies. Specialized Graduate Training: Graduate research in African women s theologies with Mercy Oduyoye, Institute of Women in Religion & Culture, Trinity Theological Seminary, Ghana, Lorena M. Parrish Curriculum Vitae Page 1 of 5

2 PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2015 Present Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Center, MA Director of Ministry Studies and Assistant Professor, Theology & Practice Provide faculty-level educational leadership for ministry studies across Andover Newton s programs, which includes directing Field Education and providing students and supervisors alike with training and support; directing and providing oversight for the Doctor of Ministry program in collaboration with the faculty-led Planning Committee and Committee Chair; planning and coordinating the annual Woodbury Leadership Workshop; designing other ministry leadership workshop opportunities for clergy and laity; and teaching two courses each academic year New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ Doctor of Ministry Cohort Mentor & Dissertation Advisor Supervised cohort of doctoral students for Pastoral Care & Counseling DMin program; provided academic and field placement advisement; evaluated dissertation research and writing, and assisted Director and Dean in planning and administration Spring 2014 Adjunct Professor Conceived and taught course Womanist Theology, Thought, Theory and Praxis, utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to examine the central concerns of womanist theologians, ethicists, theorists and grassroots practitioners in the 20 th and 21 st centuries, and the intersectionality of race, gender, sexuality, and class Fort Washington Collegiate Church, New York, NY Senior Associate Pastor Oversee all operational and administrative aspects of the church, including budget, staff, program development and community outreach. Conceived of and designed educational programs, special events and guest lecture series of renowned scholars and practitioners to foster spiritual development, engagement, and church growth Claryville Reformed Church, Claryville, NY Pastor Provided leadership and direction for the theological, spiritual, and cultural development and enrichment of the congregation Independent Consultant Ministry Advisor/Projects Manager Provided services in the areas of program and administrative development, leadership training, constituents/student retention and volunteer management. Clients included: The Riverside Church of New York City, Claflin University, Fordham University, American Baptist Churches USA ABC Girls Regional Conference, Global Youth Leadership Institute Girls Incorporated of New York City, New York, NY Executive Director/CEO Provided vision, leadership and direction for this new organization. Successfully increased donor base, raising $1.4 million; oversaw all aspects of the operation, Lorena M. Parrish Curriculum Vitae Page 2 of 5

3 including program design and implementation, administrative oversight, engaging stakeholders, policy creation, staff supervision, and serving as media spokesperson Trinity Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY Associate Minister Ministerial Staff Member and Worship Leader, Advisor to Youth Fellowship, Middle School and High School Class Sunday School Teacher, and Women s Summer 2003 Spring 2002 Fall 2000 Newark School of Theology, Newark, NJ Lecturer Designed and taught course on womanist/feminist theology and the Bible Guest Lecturer Taught a guest seminar, Womanist and African Women s Theologies in Dialogue for Professor Delores S. Williams course, Womanist Theology Teaching Assistant/Lecturer Facilitated discussions, did research, led field trips and lectured on issues pertaining to women and modern Islamic thought for South African visiting scholar, Professor Farid Esack s course, Introduction to Islam The Riverside Church of New York City, New York, NY Director of Youth Ministries Provided overall supervision, leadership, counseling, and spiritual development for youth and college age adults; created innovative nationally recognized programs, as seen in Essence Magazine; helped to manage fiscal budget of $18 million, including gifts, donations and grants; and managed a staff of over 90, including fieldwork interns, volunteers and consultants The Riverside Church of New York City, New York, NY Associate Director of Youth Ministries Ministerial staff member, Christian Education instructor and program evaluator; developed, implemented and maintained youth programs in a congregation of over 3500, under the leadership of Dr. James A. Forbes, Jr., Senior Minister The Riverside Church of New York City, New York, NY Youth Social Work Case Manager (Supervised field work) Individual & family caseworker/therapist; group facilitator; program and grant developer Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, School Library Journal, New York, NY Vice President, Advertising Sales Publishers Weekly Magazine, New York, NY Magazine Production Manager Scholastic Inc. Scholastic Magazines, New York, NY Magazine Production Manager Lorena M. Parrish Curriculum Vitae Page 3 of 5

4 LECTURES/ ADDRESSES/PRESENTATIONS Womanism: Past, Present and Future, Panel presentation honoring African American womanist scholars Rev. Dr. Jacquelyn Grant, Rev. Dr. Katie G. Cannon and Dr. Delores Williams at Union Theological Seminary, New York, February 25, Listening for the Voice of Vocation, plenary speaker for Claflin University Center for Vocational Reflection Fall Freshman Conference, Orangeburg, S.C., Aug. 2004; Aug. 2005; Aug Promoting Peace across Cultural Contexts in Conflict, facilitator for weekend workshop intensive for Auburn Theological Seminary Seeking Common Ground: Face-to Face/Faith-to-Faith Multicultural, Multi-faith Summer Leadership Program, August Wealth, Poverty and Christianity, lecture series presenter at The Riverside Church in New York City, September Youth, Faith, Action: Developing Leadership and Social Action Ministries, workshop facilitator for Children's Defense Fund Samuel DeWitt Proctor Summer Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry, Tennessee, July 1998 and July When Young People Pray: Youth in the Civil Rights Movement Impacting the World through Activism and Prayer, workshop presented at American Baptist Churches National Ministries Weekend Conference, June Designing Leadership Programs for Social Action & Community Engagement workshop facilitator for Episcopal Charities of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, November A Special Report: Race and the Media, presenter & organizer for The 1998 Symposium on Race with Gil Noble (WABC Like It Is), Elinor Ruth Tatum (publisher, The Amsterdam News), and José Santiago (WBAI Radio) at Union Seminary, New York, November 5-7, The Church, Jesus and Salvation in the Mind of Adolescents: An Introduction to Youth Ministry, seminar presented for Episcopal Charities of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, June HONORS/ PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS /SERVICE Anne McGrew Bennett/John Coleman Bennett Fellowship, 1997, Union Seminary Doctoral Fellow, , Union Theological Seminary Dean s Scholarship, 1981, New York University Mayor s Scholarship of New York City, 1980 and 1981 Member, American Academy of Religion Member, AAR Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Member, AAR Black Theology Group Member, Women of Color Scholarship, Teaching and Activism Member, National Association of Christian Social Workers Member, Association for the Sociology of Religion Initiating Council Member, Women of Color in Ministry Institute Advisory Board Member, Black Women s Blueprint President, Board of Directors of The Moriah Institute Member, Center for American Progress Faith and Reproductive Justice Institute PUBLCATIONS BOOKS Forsaking the Lonely Jesus for Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, or How Shall We Be Saved? A Theological Reflection on the Legacy of Christian Attitudes toward Wealth and Poverty and Its Impact upon the Black Church (Palgrave MacMillan Pub., in process) ARTICLES Celebrating Young Adult Sunday Young Adult Sunday Lectionary Commentary August 11, Lorena M. Parrish Curriculum Vitae Page 4 of 5

5 Another Survey Tells Us What We Already Know: Women, Especially Women of Color, Are Not Selected To Lead Religious Organizations November 20, RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION American Baptist USA, ordained June 2003 LANGUAGES Conversational Spanish; reading knowledge of Spanish and French. Lorena M. Parrish Curriculum Vitae Page 5 of 5