Whether it’s through writing articles, teaching, facilitating workshops, preaching or lecturing, Dr. Renita J. Weems is indeed passionate about her vocation as a minister of spiritual insight. Her special talent resides in her ability to draw life and inspirational wisdom from Bible-based stories about the triumphs and failures of God’s people.
Ordained an elder in the Methodist tradition, Dr. Weems taught Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt University and is presently serving as the William and Camille Cosby Visiting Professor of Humanities at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She holds degrees from Wellesley College and Princeton University. Her 1999 book, Listening for God: A minister’s Journey through Silence and Doubt (Simon and Schuster), won the Religious Communicator’s Council’s Wilbur Award.
Her work has afforded her the opportunity to serve as a contributing writer to Essence Magazine, as well as, serve as a panelist for Bill Moyer’s 1995 PBS award-winning “Genesis Project,” for various A&E and Hallmark cable programs on women in the Bible, and more recently on FlashPoints USA, with Bryant Gumbel and Gwen Ifill discussing the role of religion in politics, government, and public life which aired in 2004 around the country.
Lately, this dynamic orator has been particularly active speaking to professional women’s organizations about spiritual values and support systems, juggling family and work, work and spirituality, and women seeking to find balance between spiritual values and their aspirations in the work world.
The African Lecture Series was established in 1987 by Dr. Zan W. Holmes, pastor emeritus of St. Luke Community UMC. The series was set forth to provide a time of learning, celebration, and reflection on “who we are and whose we are.”
Dr. Weems will be speaking January 30 at 6 PM, and January 31 – February 1 at 7 PM. The lectures are free of charge and will be held in the church sanctuary at 5710 East R.L. Thornton Freeway.
In conjunction with the lecture is the African Marketplace, a book signing, and Children of the Sun Film Festival. For more information call 214-821-2970 or www.slcumc.org