J. Lee Hill Jr.
J. Lee Hill Jr., is the senior pastor of Christian Fellowship Congregational Church (UCC) and director of the Interfaith Justice Coalition in San Diego, California. He has served in ministry since 1999, most notably at The Riverside Church in the City of New York.[1] Hill is a licensed and ordained minister with full standing in the Alliance of Baptists and the United Church of Christ.
The Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill Jr. | |
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Born | Commonwealth of Virginia |
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | George Mason University (Bachelor of Arts, Integrative Studies, 2001) Wake Forest University (Master of Divinity, 2005) Emory University (Doctor of Ministry, 2017) |
Occupation | Senior Pastor, Christian Fellowship Congregational Church (UCC) |
Education
He attended Florida A&M University and graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Arts in integrative studies with a concentration in management and leadership in 2001, and a Master of Divinity from Wake Forest University in 2005. Upon graduation from Wake Forest, he received the coveted John Thomas and Dorothy Porter Award in Vocational Formation and Community Ministry, given in honor of John Thomas Porter, and in 2017 he returned to the university to receive the highest honor to be conferred upon an alumnus of The Divinity School, the Bill J. Leonard Distinguished Service Award Pro Fide et Humanitate for his work and advocacy as a public theologian. Additionally he has earned a diploma in biblical studies from the Howard University School of Divinity in 2002, a certificate in youth, church and theology from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2009, several units of Clinical Pastoral Education, and a doctorate from Emory University, for his investigation of the Narrative Lectionary's impact on biblical literacy, spiritual development and social actions within the Black Church. [2] In 2017 he was admitted and inducted as a fellow of the College of Pastoral Leadership at the Martin Luther King International Chapel at Morehouse College, and in 2019 he earned a graduate Certificate in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego.
His other research interests include preaching, worship and liturgy, religious education, and emerging models of Narrative Leadership.
Career
Following his graduation from Wake Forest University, Hill served on the ministerial staff of Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he became the first African-American ordained to Christian Ministry through that Alliance/American Baptist congregation in 2005. Before joining the senior staff of The Riverside Church in the City of New York where he served for a number of years leading ministries with children, youth and young adults,[3][4] additionally he was a ministerial intern at Metro Baptist Church in Hells Kitchen, New York. Since 2010 he has served as the senior pastor of Christian Fellowship Congregational Church (UCC).[5][6][7][8][9][10]
Hill has served the academy leading courses in the area of practical theology, and as a guest lecturer and preacher.
Christian Fellowship Congregational Church (UCC)
Christian Fellowship UCC is a progressive, inclusive, bible-based congregation that seeks in every way to recontextualize Christianity through black liberation theology and praxis. The church is located in Emerald Hills community of southeast of San Diego, atop a beautiful bluff, with sweeping viewings. In the congregation's long history the church it has hosted a variety of notable persons, among them Bayard Rustin,[11] Martin Luther King Jr.,[12] and more recently James Forbes, Yvonne Delk, Robert M. Franklin, Charles Ogletree and Jeremiah A Wright.[13]
Personal life
Hill was born in the Commonwealth of Virginia, is married and has two children.[14]
References
- Hall, Matthew T (November 30, 2010). "New Emerald Hills pastor a national name". New Emerald Hills pastor a national name. San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- Lee. "J Lee Hill Jr – Candler Doctor of Ministry Projects". Retrieved 2019-05-11.
- "Study: Young Americans less religious than their parents - CNN.com". Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- Monitor, The Christian Science. "Marry Your Baby Daddy Day: Activist marries unwed parents". Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- "New Emerald Hills pastor a national name". Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- "The jazz link to God". Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- "When Father's Day was 'Piffle!'". Retrieved 2016-08-20.
- Alexander Nguyen (2018-12-11). "Border Patrol Arrests 32 at Pro-Refugee Rally Organized by Faith Leaders". Times of San Diego. Retrieved 2019-02-10.
- "Faith and tolerance: San Diego's religious leaders offer prayers for Poway". San Diego Union-Tribune. 2019-05-03. Retrieved 2019-05-11.
- Union-Tribune (TNS), Kate Morrissey The San Diego. "First person from 'Remain in Mexico' to win asylum released into US after day in detention". The Eagle. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
- "NAACP San Diego Branch" (PDF). Chronology of the San Diego NAACP.
- "When Martin Luther King visited SD". Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- "Community Spotlight: Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright comes to San Diego | The Chocolate Voice". www.thechocolatevoice.com. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- Grynbaum, Michael M. (2009-02-28). "Vows Features Christie Love and J. Lee Hill Jr". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-08-19.