Reverend Doctor Jacqui Lewis realized she wanted to learn more about theology as a healing force from a young age. She graduated with a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1992, and returned to graduate school in 2004 for a Ph.D. in Psychology and Religion from Drew University.

Lewis was interested in going to graduate school for Psychology and Religion because she wanted to know why and how leaders built multiracial churches.

“Martin Luther King, Jr. once stated that 11 o’clock in the morning is the most segregated time in America. And I wanted to figure out why. There’s nothing about Jesus’s ministry that should make us think we should segregate it. So, I wanted to study why and how leaders build a multiracial church. If I could figure out why, then I could teach other people how to do it.”

That study led her to Middle Collegiate Church in New York City, where Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis now serves as the Senior Minister for Public Theology and Transformation. Since she started working at the church in 2004, Lewis has helped Middle Church become even more progressive and accepting than it was before by focusing on a strong commitment to LGBTQ justice and to being a multiracial church. 

 

Being a faith leader on social media

 

Lewis also has a huge following on social media, with 10.5k Twitter followers and 12k likes on Facebook. Being a faith leader comes with both opportunities and challenges, and one of the things Lewis has learned through her experience on social media is how to tell a short story.

“We who are preachers are long form writers in a way. Learning how to tell a short story is one thing that’s been an interesting opportunity. I’m learning that social media works better when you actually go have a short conversation,” said Lewis. 

Another aspect of being a faith leader on social media is figuring out how to navigate those negative conversations that take place online, and remembering that many people would never say the negative things they write online in person. 

“I’m really committed to live out my ideals of meeting that kind of victreal with love. And people say the meanest crap. How can we take the kindness that we know is important for in person dialogue and do that on social media? I think that’s an important opportunity for us to model for our followers,” said Lewis. 

 

Women in ministry

 

Jacqui is the first African American and first woman to serve as a senior minister in the Collegiate Church, which was founded in New York City in 1628 and is the oldest continuous Protestant Church in North America. When she decided at a young age that she was interested in pursuing work in ministry, she admitted that at first her own pastor, as well her father, were not supportive of those dreams. 

“I was feeling called to ministry when I was 8-14. I told my male pastor, and he was not excited. He was like, ‘Yeah, I don’t know’. My dad told me women can’t talk in church. I was like, ‘Really? Show me where that is’. And he didn’t know where it was,” said Lewis. 

She found, though, that finding a good support group was essential to succeeding in that field. 

“Put yourself in connection where you get to be your full female self with other women who are in ministry. Let your hair down, take your shoes off, and support each other. And you need male allies who will, when put in a room with you, counter the sexism that’s gonna come your way,” said Lewis.

Middle Collegiate Church and The Collegiate Church of New York is co-affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the Reformed Church in America. To learn more about Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Middle Church, check out their Facebook.