Reverend Raquel A. St. Clair, Ph.D.

Executive Minister, St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

Email: rstclair@stjamesame.org

 

 

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

 

            Executive Minister, St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church

            and Director of the St. James Christian Learning Center with thirteen

            years of significant experience in the ministry of God’s Word,

            emphasizing applications in teaching, curriculum development,

            ministerial and teacher training, preaching, worship leadership, and

            administration.  Career enhanced by considerable knowledge of the

            biblical languages and a variety of exegetical methodologies.  A

            highly effective communicator and published author.  Academic

            career distinguished by various awards and fellowships and

            culminating in a Doctor of Philosophy in New Testament Studies, a

            Masters of Divinity with a concentration in Biblical Studies and a

            Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies.

           

 

EDUCATION

 

            Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ n   2005

Ph.D. in New Testament Studies

Dissertation:  “Call and Consequences: A Sociolinguistic Reading

through a Womanist Cultural Lens of Mark 8:31-38”

 

Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ n  1995

M.Div. with a concentration in Biblical Studies

Honors Thesis: “Cross-Talk at the Intersection of Biblical Interpretation and Womanist Theological Inquiry: An Exegesis of Mark 8: 31- 9:1”

 

Yale University, New Haven, CT n 1992

B.A. in Religious Studies

Areas of Concentration: Christianity, Afro- American Studies
Thesis: “A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: How Christianity Provided a Framework for an African- American Worldview”

 

LICENSURE & ORDINATION

            African Methodist Episcopal Church

                        Licensed to Preach, 1995

                        Ordained Itinerant Deacon, 1996

                        Ordained Itinerant Elder, 1998

 

 AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS

           

            Dissertation Fellowship, Fund for Theological Education,

            1999 – 2000

President’s Doctoral Fellowship, Princeton Theological Seminary,

1995 –1999

New Testament Fellowship, Princeton Theological Seminary,

1995

Expository Preaching Prize, Princeton Theological Seminary,1995

William Fries, III Scholarship, Yale University, 1988- 1992

National Merit Scholar (National Negro Achievement

Scholarship), 1988

            Outstanding Young Women of America, 1997

 

 

EXPERIENCE: ACADEMIA

 

            Director, St. James Christian Learning Center.  Developed overall

            structure and academic program as well as the curriculum, certificate

            programs and overall course structure.  Responsibilities include

            providing academic guidance for students.  Produce yearly handbook

            describing the institution, course offerings, policies and procedures.

            Hire and supervise faculty.  Insure the accurate recording of student

            grades, form collaborative relationships with other educational

            institutions and teach courses. Oversee marketing and student

            recruitment. 

 

            Significant Accomplishments: 

§         Christian Studies and Christian Ministry Certificates accepted for credit at Essex County College, Newark, NJ

§         Approved by the NJ Annual Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for ministerial training leading to ordination

Courses taught at the St. James Christian Learning Center, Newark, NJ:

Instructor – Introduction to the New Testament n  2001, 2003
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and administered all grades.

Instructor –Introduction to Christian Theology n  2000, 2003
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and administered all grades.

Instructor – The Gospel of Mark n  2002
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and administered all grades.

Instructor –Biblical Interpretation n  2002
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and administered all grades.

Instructor – The Historical Witness of the Christian Church n  2001
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and administered all grades.

Instructor – Introduction to the Old Testament n  2000
Developed syllabus and overall course structure and administered all grades.

 

At Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ :

Teaching Assistant to Professor Brian Blount in “The Gospel of Mark ” n  1999 Facilitated weekly review sessions, met with students upon request, and graded all written work, including final exam papers.

Teaching Assistant to Dr. William Watley in “Preaching Biblical Stewardship” n  1997. Collaborated on curriculum and student grading, assisted in facilitating sermon critiquing sessions, and met with students upon request.

Teaching Assistant to Professors Donald Juel and Beverly Gaventa in “Introduction to the New Testament” n  1996 Facilitated weekly review sessions, met with students upon request, and graded written assignments.

Tutor- New Testament Greek, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ n   Summer, 1995

Teaching Assistant to Professor Elizabeth Edwards in “New Testament Greek.” n  1994-1995 Collaborated on curriculum and exam development, facilitated weekly review sessions, met with students upon request, and graded all written work, including final exams.

Tutor—Writing Center n  1993- 1994 Reviewed and edited student papers to correct spelling, grammatical, and compositional errors.

Research Assistant for Dr. Geddes Hanson n  1993-1995 Research, copy and compile information on organizational management for the publication of a book.

 

At other academic institutions:

            Guest Lecturer (Womanist Biblical Interpretation and Preaching) at

            Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ n   October, 2008.

      Guest Lecturer (Womanist Biblical Interpretation) and Chapel

      Preacher at Drew School of Theology, Madison, NJ n  October,

      2007.

      Chapel Preacher at Union Presbyterian School of Christian

      Education, Richmand, VA n 

                        February, 2008.

 

 

EXPERIENCE: ECCLESIAL

 

        Executive Minister, St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ, 1998 – Present

        Oversee all ministerial and administrative operations, supervise the

        heads of ministry departments, oversee the development and

        organization of the ministerial staff, supervise Field Education

        students, facilitate ministerial and lay training sessions, preach and

        participate in worship as assigned by the Senior Pastor, provide

        spiritual guidance for the membership.

 

        Supervisor, Supervised Ministry Programs, 1998- Present

        Supervise students from Princeton Theological Seminary, New

        Brunswick Theological Seminary, Drew Theological Seminary and

        Union Theological Seminary.

 

        Minister to Women, St. James AME Church, Newark, NJ, 1995- 2007

        Teach Women’s Bible Study, facilitate workshops, plan retreats,

        convocations and special services, develop lay leaders to participate in

        the ministry and provide spiritual guidance to the women of the church.

 

           

 PUBLICATIONS

“Womanist Interpretation,” New Interpreter’s Bible Handbook on

  Preaching, Abingdon Press n  Spring, 2009

 

 “Preaching from the Overflow,” Power in the Pulpit: How America’s

  Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons (vol. II),

 Abingdon Press n  Spring, 2009

 

 Call and Consequences: A Womanist Reading of Suffering and

 Discipleship in Mark’s Gospel, Fortress Press n  October, 2008

 

“Womanist Biblical Interpretation,” True to Our Native Land: An

African American Biblical Commentary, Fortress Press n  May, 2007.

 

“Interpreting Scripture for the Purpose of Writing a Sermon,” The

African American Pulpit, Judson Press n Summer, 2004.

 

“Prayerful Exegesis,” The African American Pulpit, Judson Press n 

Summer, 2002.

 

The African Presence in the Bible: Gospel Sermons Rooted in History, coauthored with William D. Watley, Judson Press n 2000.

 

 

LANGUAGES

 

English – native language

Spanish—verbal and written competency

French, German—proficiency in the translation of written texts.

Biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, Koine Greek- ability to read and

translate written text.

 

 MEMBERSHIPS & OFFICES

 

§         Secretary, St. James Preparatory School Board of Directors, 2007

§    Vice Chairperson, Visions Economic Development Corporation,

      2005

§         Vice Chairperson, St. James A.M.E. Development Corporation, 2004-present

§         Society of Biblical Literature, 1995- present

§         American Academy of Religion, 1995- present

§         Member, Advisory Board, The African American Pulpit, 2001- 2004

§         Co- Coordinator, The Women’s Center, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1994- 1995

§         Chaplain, Association of Black Seminarians, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1994-1995

§         Board of Governors, The Women’s Center, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1993- 1994

§         Member, Association of Black Seminarians, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1992- 1994

§         Chairperson, Church Council, Black Church at Yale, 1992

§         Chaplain, Yale Gospel Choir, 1990- 1992