I am currently a doctoral student in the Ethics and Society course of study at Emory University’s James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies in the Graduate Division of Religion. Prior to coming to Emory I earned an M.A. in Ethics (concentration Peace and Justice studies) from Claremont School of Theology and a B.A. in Religion from Pepperdine University.
Generally speaking I am a student of Christian Social Ethics and the Sociology of Religion. My research broadly focuses on the relationship between religion and social change. More specifically I am interested in the motivations and roles of religious persons in peacebuilding efforts, nonviolent civil disobedience, politics and social and economic justice. I am especially interested in constructive Christian theologies that motivate participation in these movements. Broad categories that my research can fall into are: Religion and Violence; the History and Practice of Nonviolence; Race and Religion; Religion and Politics; Forgiveness and Reconciliation; Christian Ethics; the theology and ethics of both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Desmond Tutu; and Restorative Justice.
I firmly believe that theology, ethics and theory must constantly be in a dialectical relationship with praxis, history and experience. In light of this commitment my research is informed by my experiences of justice and reconciliation work in inner-city Los Angeles, and by international justice work in East Africa and Asia on behalf of refugees and children in slums. I am also informed by my experience as a minister in various local churches.
I have presented papers and spoken at churches, colleges and seminaries domestically and internationally. Sample topics of these public lectures and presentations are: cultural expressions of Christianity, biblical ethics, Gandhi and Christianity, war and peace, poverty, and immigration and public policy. I am also an occasional contributor to Sojourners’ God’s Politics blog.
Media:
God’s Politics Blog Contributor
The Fund for Theological Education Congregational Fellow 2007
I see ya mane!! doin big things ! I feelin tha blog.
Awsome web site loved your latest blog Brother Lowe sent me a link to your site.
when are you preaching again?
Hey Jimmy,
I work for AIM, we just started publishing an online magazine called Wrecked for the Ordinary. We’d like to publish some of your stuff on the site (with your approval), but I couldn’t find an email here. Could you reply back to me, and we could talk more about this online magazine we just started?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hey j,
Intresting site! Glad to know it is here. I am working on a wiki myself. I will shoot you the link when it is done.
oh, I will be back. We must talk!
regards
alan
Hi Jimmy,
I am a close friend of Kelley Charlston (her old Pepperdine roommate). I found your blog because I was doing some research on leper colonies. I am speaking to a group of high school kids tomorrow about how Jesus can heal them, and I thought I would use his miracle of healing the lepers in Luke. Anyways, thank you for sharing your experience.
I hope you are doing well,
Katie Reiff
Katie,
Thanks for the comment. Sorry it took so long to reply…I’m super busy and the blog hasn’t been a top priority lately. I’m glad my experience could be of some help to you. Tell Kelley I said, “Hi!” the next time you talk to her.
Jimmy,
I am the Copy Editor for a newspaper that serves the Collegiate Market. I just read your book review of Nelson Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom, and I’d love to reprint it in our newspaper. Please contact me so we can discuss the paper and the proper way to credit you and your site.
Thanks!
Michelle
I’m a Presbyterian Minister in the Bay Area and I’ve been reading your blog for awhile and really enjoying it. I was wondering if I could have your permission to post your blog site on my “blogs that I read” corner in my own blog? If you are unsure, you can check out my blog at the above site.
peace and blessings to you!
Barbara
Hello Jimmy.
I came to your blog through the post you did on torture on the Sojourners site (think that was it…). I like what you are writing – there are not enough US voices speaking along the sames lines as you. And there are precious few of them here were I live and work (AFghanistan). In particulare your thoughts on Christians needing to transcend nationalism I appreciate. Strength to you,
Phil Sparrow
Hi Jimmy,
I just came across your “Does Africa Need God” post from a Google alert I received today. Interestingly enough, a missionary friend of mine who works in Malawi emailed me the exact same article this morning.
I noticed on your blog that you mention Hopegivers International as one of the ministries you partner with. When you get a moment, could you please update the URL of your link because the one you are using is about two years old and does not work.
We really appreciate the link and your support of Hopegivers!
Steve
I would like to request permission to use the picture of Mother Teresa on a poster.
Hello Jimmy,
I like your name.
Jimmy