Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis from Middle Church in New York City to Speak for Danford Thomas Memorial Lecture Series
Submitted on March 18, 2024
Georgetown College is honored to welcome Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis as the featured speaker for the 2024 Danford Thomas Memorial Lecture on Tuesday, March 26 at 11:00 a.m. and for a special chapel service at 7:00 p.m. the same day in the John L. Hill Chapel. Dr. Lewis is a nationally recognized author, speaker, activist, and preacher who currently serves as Senior Minister for Public Theology and Transformation at Middle Church in New York City. Dr. Lewis has appeared on The Today Show, Good Morning America, and Front Line on PBS.
The Danford Thomas Memorial Lecture Foundation was established in 1920 by Rhodes B. Thomas, a local banker, farmer, and Georgetown College Trustee, in memory of his father, who served as a professor of Greek and Latin at the College from 1839 to 1882. Danford Thomas was also the College’s first librarian. The purpose of the lecture series is to further the historic interests and ideals of the College as an institution belonging to and representing the Baptist churches of Kentucky.
“We are honored to welcome Dr. Lewis for the Danford Thomas Memorial Lecture this year,” says Dr. Roger Ward, Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown College. “She uses her voice to lift others up and bring awareness to important social issues through the lens of faith.”
Dr. Lewis prides herself on using her talents to help create an antiracist, just, fully welcoming society. After graduating with her Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1992, Dr. Lewis fell in love with urban ministry, leading two churches in Trenton, New Jersey. Fascinated with how faith heals the soul, she returned to graduate school, for a Doctorate in Psychology and Religion from Drew University. Dr. Lewis joined the staff of Middle Church in New York City in January 2004.
Because of Dr. Lewis’ dynamic leadership, Middle Church was featured in a national broadcast on CBS. “A Bold New Love: Christmas Eve with Middle Collegiate Church” aired in 2018 to more than 1,000,000 viewers. Dr. Lewis and Middle Church have been featured on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Front Line at PBS, The Laura Flanders Show, and on Yahoo News, Grit TV, NY1, ABC, NBC, PBS, CBS New York Daily News, Here and Now with Sandra Bookman, and on the History Channel series, “The Bible Rules.” Her books include Ten Essential Strategies for Becoming a Multiracial Congregation, The Power of Stories, a Guide for Leaders in Multi-racial, Multi-cultural Congregations, and the children’s book You Are So Wonderful. Her newest book is Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World, which she will sign after the Holy Week evening chapel service.
Students, faculty staff, and community members are welcome to attend. Parking for the John L. Hill Chapel is available along Jackson Street. Attendees will receive a special discount code to attend the “Freedom Rising Conference” in New York City or online April 26-28! Learn more at www.freedomrisingconference.com.
