معرفی
Eric Lewis Williams serves as Assistant Professor of Theology and Black Church Studies and Director of the Office of Black Church Studies at Duke University's Divinity School. An ordained minister in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), he previously curated religion exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and led the Center for the Study of African American Religious Life.
His educational qualifications include:
- Ph.D. in Religious Studies from the University of Edinburgh
- M.Div. from Duke Divinity School
- M.A.T.S. from McCormick Theological Seminary
- B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago
Williams' research centers on American religious history and Black Christian thought, examining how religious beliefs and cultural practices of African peoples in the West shape moral development, political aspirations, and social engagement. His interdisciplinary work integrates theological approaches with studies of African American spirituality, Black church traditions, and religion's intersection with music, activism, and popular culture as demonstrated in his curation of the Smithsonian's 'Spirit in the Dark' exhibition.
As Director of the Office of Black Church Studies, Williams leads the annual Sankofa Alumni Preaching Series during Black History Month and collaborates with the COGIC Scholars’ Fellowship to stimulate academic scholarship among COGIC members, while teaching courses including BCS 770-1: Black Church Studies and the Proctor Conference and BCS 765: African-American Spirituality.
