Black Theology & Leadership Institute
The Black Church has long served as a beacon of hope, resilience, and justice, deeply rooted in the spiritual and social life of African Americans. From its early foundations during slavery through its pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Church has continually reimagined itself as a force for liberation and transformation. BTLI is a weeklong intensive continuing education event for clergy and laity for training, worship, and fellowship. The institute is designed for clergy and lay leaders who would like to deepen their thinking and preaching by learning from preeminent scholars of theology and religion.
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Concentration
The Betsey Stockton Center for Black Church Studies offers a concentration enabling students at Princeton Theological Seminary to develop a focused academic program centered on African and African American religious traditions and institutions. This concentration prepares students for vocational ministry or scholarly pursuits that value the unique contributions of Black religious experiences to the totality of Christian faith, life, and witness. It assists seminarians interested in shaping their ministerial preparation for a wider knowledge and deeper appreciation of Black life within American or global Christianity. It is also designed for those who have a scholarly interest in the shape and depth of Black religious life throughout the African diaspora. Among the requirements for the concentration are earning nine (9) credits from approved courses (see below.) One course (or a maximum of three credits) can be taken at Princeton University in order to fulfill the concentration requirements.
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Presidential Lecture Series
The Betsey Stockton Center for Black Church Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary hosts numerous lecture series that relate to issues of racial and social justice and the ministry of African American congregations or other racial-ethnic minority communities, including the Prathia Hall Lecture (established in 2019, which honors the legacy of Dr. Prathia Wynn Hall, a renowned theologian and civil rights leader, by fostering dialogue on justice and faith), the Martin Luther King Jr. Lecture (held annually to explore enduring and emerging challenges in racial and social justice through the lens of Dr. King’s transformative vision), and the Geddes W. Hanson Lectureship (initiated in 2002 to honor Dr. Geddes Whitney Hanson, the Charlotte W. Newcombe Professor of Congregational Ministry Emeritus, by addressing the intersection of theology, ministry, and societal issues).
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Webinars & Events
The Betsey Stockton Center is committed to preparing children of God for vocational ministry or scholarly pursuits shaped by a wider knowledge and deeper appreciation of Black life within American and global Christianity. To that end, we host virtual and in-person events on timely subjects throughout the academic year.
Upcoming Events