Raynard Smith
Associate Professor of Pastoral Care/Pastoral Theology
732-247-5241
rsmith@nbts.edu
Bio:
Dr. Raynard Smith is the Associate Professor of Pastoral Care/Pastoral Theology at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, NJ. He is currently chair of the Ministry Studies Department and oversees the Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling program He has a Ph.D. in Psychology and Religion from Drew University; Masters of Divinity and Masters of Theology degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary.
He has several years of experience as a certified chaplain and pastoral counselor working in the hospital, hospice, and medical clinic contexts. He is also an associate minister in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC); co-founder and coordinator of the COGIC Scholars Fellowship a network of seminarians and academics within the COGIC and other Pentecostal denominations; and member of the COGIC Board of Education.
He is a member of the American Academy of Religion, the Psychology, Culture and Religion group, the American Psychological Association, the Society of Pastoral Theology, and the Society for Pentecostal Studies. His academic interests are the intersection of faith, health and medicine, psychobiography, and exploring the ways in which religion functions as a supportive coping mechanism providing meaning and identity in the context of African American congregations and the African American community. He serves as the coordinator of the John Suydam Kulthau Memorial Bioethics Conference.
He has a forthcoming peer reviewed article “Black Churches as the ‘Good Enough Mother:’ An Analysis of African American Churches from a Winnicottian Perspective” in the Journal of Religious Thought, and an edited volume, With Signs Following: The Life and Ministry of Charles Harrison Mason published by Chalice Press. He is currently working on a book entitled Come Sunday Morning: Black Churches as Healing Communities.
CV
Education
B.S., Springfield College,
M. Div., Princeton Theological Seminary
Th. M., Princeton Theological Seminary
BCC, Association of Professional Chaplains
Ph. D., Drew University
Teaching
Associate Professor of Pastoral Care/Pastoral Counseling
New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ;
April 2014-present
Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care/Pastoral Theology
New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick NJ;
July 2007- April 2014
Adjunct Assistant Professor
New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick NJ; September 2005- April 2007, February 1994-May 1995
Ministerium F/2005, S/2006,
Pastoral Care in Hospital Context F/2005
Denomination Comprehensive (Church Of God In Christ) F/1994, S/1995
African American Religious History S/1994
Graduate Teaching Assistant
Drew University Theological School, Madison, NJ; February- May, 2006
Introduction to Pastoral Care S/2006
Parish Ministry
Ordained Minister, Church of God in Christ, Inc. since 1986.
Associate Minister, Greater Harvest Evangelistic Church of God in Christ,
Newark, NJ; 1995-2014
Coordinator, Children’s Church Ministries, Greater Harvest Evangelistic Church of God
in Christ; 1996-2014
Associate Minister, Holy Ghost Christian Center Church of God in Christ,
Perth Amboy NJ, 1993-1995
Associate Minister, Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, New Brunswick, NJ,
1988-1993
Hospital Ministry
Staff Chaplain, Saint Peters University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, 1992-2007
Interim Director of Pastoral Care, Somerset Medical Center, Somerville, NJ 1991-1992
Hospice Chaplain/Bereavement Counselor, Haven Hospice JFK Medical Center, Edison, NJ, 1989-1992
Mental Health Experience
Rehabilitation Counselor (part-time), The Club/UMDNJ, New Brunswick, NJ, 1989-1992
AREAS OF TEACHING COMPETENCE
1. Primary:
Psychology and Religion, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Pastoral Theology,
2. Secondary:
African American Religious Studies, Classical Psychoanalysis, Ego Psychology, Object Relations Theory, Self Psychology, Black Psychology, Sociology of Religion, Research Methods
PUBLICATIONS AND WORKS IN PROGRESS
“Seeking the Just Society: Charles Harrison Mason’s Quest for Social Equality” chapter in With Signs Following: The Life and Ministry of Charles Harrison Mason (Chalice Press, Fall 2015)
“Black Churches, Black Males, and the ‘Good Enough Mother’: An Analysis of African American Churches from a Winnicottian Perspective” chapter in Evangelizing and Empowering the Black Male, ed., Darryl D. Sims (MMGI Books, 2013)
“The Black Churches as the ‘Good Enough Mother’: An Analysis of the African American Churches from a Winnicottian Perspective (approved for publication, The Journal of Religious Thought, 2013)
Minutes of the General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ, 1919-1932 (co-editor with Juanita Faulkner, in progress)
“Postmodern Approach to Pastoral Care of African American Men,” chapter (in progress)
Come Sunday Morning: Black Churches as Healing Communities, book (in progress)
“The Mourning After: Leah, Loss, and Melancholia in Genesis 29” co-authored article with Terry Smith (in progress)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
American Academy of Religion
Afro-American Religious History Group
Black Theology Group
Psychology, Culture and Religion Group
American Psychological Association
Association for Professional Chaplains
COGIC Scholars Fellowship
Society for Pastoral Theology
Society for Pentecostal Studies
AWARDS AND HONORS
Wabash Fellow, 2013
Dean’s Honor Award, Drew University 2006-2007
Qualified with Distinction, Comprehensive Exams 2005
Tuition Scholarship, C.H. Mason Foundation, Church of God in Christ, Inc. 2002.
Tuition Scholarship, Drew University 1997-2001
Benjamin E. Mays Fellowship, Fund for Theological Education 1984-1987
Outstanding Young Men of America, 1984.
SERVICE
Coordinator, John Suydam Memorial Bioethics Conference, 2007-present
Coordinator, COGIC Scholars Fellowship, Church of God in Christ, Inc. 2000-Present.
Editor, The Advocate newsletter, Church of God in Christ, Inc. 2000-Present.
Member, Diversity Committee, St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ 1997-2007
Coordinator, Lunch and Learn, St. Peter’s University Hospital Pastoral Care Dept., New Brunswick, NJ 1997-2007.
Co-Coordinator, Pastoral Volunteer Training Program, St. Peter’s University Hospital Pastoral Care Dept., New Brunswick, NJ Fall, 1997, Spring 1998, Fall 2000, Fall 2003.
Field Education Supervisor, New Brunswick Theological Seminary Fall 2001- Spring 2002.
Member, Geriatrics Committee, St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ 1997-2002.
Resource Person/ Training the Trainer, Advance Directives, St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ, 1999-2002
Member, Patient Education sub-committee, St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ 1997-2002.
Co-Supervisor, Introduction to Clinical Pastoral Education, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, January 1990-May 1990
Secretary, Black Seminarians, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1985-1987.
LECTURES and PRESENTATIONS:
Spiritual Support Through the Family Life Cycle, at New Garden State COGIC State
Conference, August, 2013
Overcoming Family Dysfunction, House of Prayer COGIC, Plainfield, NJ: April 2013
Maintaining a Healthy Spirit Through Forgiveness, United Missionary Baptist
Convention of NJ, Inc., Hackensack, NJ: April 2013
My Soul Says Yes to My Lord: Black Churches as Selfobject Environments, American
Academy of Religion: Psychology, Culture and Religion Group: November, 2012
Holiness and Wholeness: Re-Imaging Holiness in a Postmodern World, COGIC
Institutional Chaplains Institute, St. Louis, MO: November, 2012
Maintaining a Healthy Spirit Through Forgiveness, COGIC Commonwealth of PA,
Philadelphia, PA: August 2012
Religion, Spirituality and Health Care, Chilton Hospital: October 2011
Hospital Chaplaincy, New Brunswick Theological Seminary September, 2006
Abuse of Self: Pastoral Care and Addictions, Drew University May 2006
End of Life Care in the Intensive Care Unit, St. Peter’s University Hospital May 2006
The Role of Pastoral Care in Ethical Decision Making St. Peter’s University Hospital
April 2006
Ministry to the Elderly, Pastoral Volunteer Training St. Peter’s University Hospital Fall
1997, Spring 1998, Fall 2000, Fall 2003.
Spiritual Dimensions of Hospital Ministry, Pastoral Volunteer Training, St. Peter’s
University Hospital Fall 1997, Spring 1998, Fall 2000, Fall 2003.
Getting in Touch with Your Feelings as a Caregiver St. Peter’s University Hospital
April 1996
Coping with Loss During the Holidays St. Cecelia Roman Catholic Church December
1993, 1994 and 1995
Panelist, Psychosocial, Spiritual and Cultural Aspects of Nursing Care, St. Peter’s
University Hospital October 1995
Co-facilitator, Caring for Your Elderly Loved Ones St. Peter’s University Hospital
March 1994 and April 1995
Spiritual Aspects of Hospice Care JFK Medical Center, 1990-1992
Providing Pastoral Care to the Black Family. Church of God in Christ NJ Conference,
March 1987