Luke Powery

Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery serves as Dean of Duke University Chapel and holds dual faculty appointments as Professor of Homiletics in the Divinity School and Associate Professor of African & African American Studies in Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. His work bridges preaching, theology, music, and cultural studies, particularly focusing on the African diaspora. Educated at Emmanuel College (D.Th., 2007), he teaches courses like Introduction to Christian Preaching and explores the spirituals as homiletical resources. Recent publications include Living the Questions of the Bible (2023) and Becoming Human (2022), addressing interrogative spirituality and the Holy Spirit’s role in racial rhetoric. His outreach includes Bass Connections projects on immigration and marginalized voices in preaching. Notable media features highlight his engagement with contemporary theological and social issues.

Research emphasizes pneumatology’s intersection with race, liturgical practices, and African American religious traditions. He has published extensively on preaching methodologies, lament theology, and the role of spirituals in worship, reflecting a commitment to inclusive theology rooted in historical African diaspora expressions.

Professional activities include leadership in Bass Connections teams addressing topics like immigration narratives and bodily presence in the pulpit. His teaching and scholarship aim to connect theological inquiry with lived experience, fostering communities that engage both faith and societal challenges.