Yale Divinity School News / Dec. 19, 2022
Yale Divinity School today announced the establishment of the Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, which will pursue teaching, practice, research, and collaboration at the intersection of theology and advocacy. Bishop William J. Barber II, a moral movement leader who comes to Yale after 30 years of pastoral ministry and has served in numerous public leadership roles, will serve as its founding director.
During 30 years of pastoral ministry, Barber led the Moral Mondays movement in North Carolina, established Repairers of the Breach to train communities in moral movement building, and co-anchored the revival of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. He brings teaching experience from Union Theological Seminary, St. John’s University, the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, and Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Drew University with a concentration in Public Policy and Pastoral Care, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Central University. He has also led the church as moderator of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in North Carolina and is a bishop with the Fellowship of Affirming Bishops.