Reginald Williams, Jr.
Dr. Williams is a highly motivated servant seeking to bridge gaps between academy, sanctuary, and the streets in an effort to serve God’s people in the prophetic tradition of Black Church and Black people. Affirming and employing everything from holy texts, to hymns to hip hop, Dr. Williams preaches, teaches, and serves through a spiritually centered and culturally relevant praxis. Whether engaging in constructing social justice ministries, or the construction of sermons, his focus centers around a theology of authenticity which grounds one in their story in order that they may stand in their person and for their people!
“So often in public and private spaces, we are told and taught to be something other than that which we are. These standards and expectations have served in society to limit and even lock up people, instead of liberating them to be free. I understand education as a pathway to liberation. In my class, it is important that students understand that they have permission from the Creator to come fully as themselves, in partnership with others as we journey together in a spirit of Ubuntu.”
“Give light, and the people will find a way” ~Ella Baker~
“There is in you something that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself…” ~Howard Thurman~
Education
- Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University B.S. Business Administration: Class of 1995, Cum Laude
- University of Wisconsin Law School Juris Doctor: Class of 1998
- The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University Master of Divinity: Class of 2002 Doctor of Ministry: Class of 2017
Sample Courses
- Prophetic Preaching
- Social Justice Ministry in the Local Church
Publications
- Co-author of “To Serve This Present Age: Social Justice Ministries in the Black Church” (Judson, 2013)
- Contributor to, “Church On Purpose” (Break Camp: Becoming a Church On Purpose with Purpose for Purpose; Judson, 2015)
- Monthly columnist for Trumpet News Magazine (2003-2007)
- Sermon entitled, “A Critical Question” published in the Winter 2005 edition of The African American Pulpit
- Article entitled “What Should Be The Black Church’s Response To Wal-Mart” published in Summer 2006 edition of The African American Pulpit
- Contributor to “At The Table” published in “Blow The Trumpet In Zion”—a collection of the proceedings at the inaugural Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastors’ Conference”