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Mark Kraai Lecture – 2019-2020
October 18, 2019 @ 11:00 am - 2:00 pm
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Please join us for the 2019-2020 Mark Kraai lecture – An annual lecture series focusing on issues concerning the practice of Ministry:
“Dandelions and Hibiscus Hedges: The Art of Flourishing in Inhospitable and Marginal Spaces”
Speaker: Rev. Dr. Gennifer Brooks, Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Preaching, Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute and Director of the Doctor of Ministry programs at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
The sad reality for many persons, especially those that the present culture refers to pejoratively as “persons of color,” is that they are often subjected to unwelcome, inhospitable treatment by society. Beyond initial mistreatment, by dint of their racial identity, they are often dismissed, overlooked and shunted to the margins of the society in which they find themselves. And yet there are stories untold of persons in such situations who rise to great heights in their life endeavors. How do they do it? What do our Christian beliefs, traditions, and practices offer to enable persons marginalized by society and the church to flourish? Or do they?
Location: Mast Chapel. A lunch will be held immediately thereafter.
Admission is free, but seating is limited, please RSVP to events@nbts.edu by October 11, 2019.
All are welcome!
About our speaker:
Gennifer Benjamin Brooks holds the Styberg chair in Preaching and is the tenured Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Preaching, Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute and Director of the Doctor of Ministry programs at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Dr. Brooks is also the Dean of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program.
She is an ordained elder and full clergy member of the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church, and has pastored local churches in rural, suburban, urban and cross racial settings. She was also Assistant Dean of New Brunswick Theological Seminary for four years.
Prior to going into full-time ordained ministry, Dr. Brooks had a successful career in corporate America as a designer and development manager of business computer systems.
Dr. Brooks holds a Bachelor of Business, cum laude and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University, a Master of Divinity, summa cum laude, and a Doctor of Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in Liturgical Studies from Drew University.
She is the author several books and articles. Most recently she has been a contributor to Connections (Westminster John Knox Press 2019) and “The Prophet on the Margins” in Preaching Prophetic Care (Dale Andrews Festschrift) (Wipf and Stock, 2018). Her publications include Bible Sisters: A year of devotions with the women of the Bible (Abingdon, 2017), Unexpected Grace: Preaching Good News from Difficult Texts (Pilgrim Press, 2012), Good News Preaching: Offering the Gospel in Every Sermon (Pilgrim Press, 2009) and Praise the Lord: Litanies, Prayers and Occasional Services (CSS Publishing Company, 1996). She is the editor of Black United Methodists Preach! (Abingdon, 2012) that showcases fourteen United Methodist Black Preachers. Her commentary articles include “All Saints Day Years A, B and C” in Preaching God’s Transforming Justice (Westminster John Knox Press 2011, 2012, & 2013), The New Interpreter’s Theological Companion to the Lectionary (Abingdon, 2013), and Feasting on the Gospels (Westminster John Knox Press, 2014). She has also contributed to many other publications including “Preaching” in Oxford Handbook of Methodist Studies, (Oxford University Press, 2009), “The Creation of an Africana Worship Ritual: Baptism in the Shouters of Trinidad” in Companion to The Africana Worship Book (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2008) She has also written the lyrics for several songs in Zion Still Sings: For Every Generation (Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2007).
She is currently completing two preaching manuscripts that deal with the subjects of Preaching and the Margins and Preaching and the Holy Spirit. She is also actively in the process of research focusing on worship rituals of a community that is part of the African diaspora.