A Picture of an Activist?
Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Ellison II

Reflecting on protests in Ferguson and the work of Howard Thurman, Gregory Ellison probes questions about identity, vocation, and social justice.

Interview with Dr. Gregory Ellison II and Dr. Ryan Bonfiglio, Founding Director.

Rev. Dr. Gregory C. Ellison is Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Emory's Candler School of Theology. Greg joined the Candler faculty in 2009 after completing both his M.Div. and Ph.D at Princeton Theological Seminary. His teaching draws primarily from his work with the organization he founded called Fearless Dialogues, a non-profit organization that creates unique spaces for unlikely partners to have hard, heartfelt conversations on taboo subjects like racism, classism, and community violence. 


Ellison’s research focuses on caring with marginalized populations, pastoral care as social activism, and 20th and 21st century mysticism. He is the author of Cut Dead But Still Alive: Caring for African American Young Men and Fearless Dialogues: The Civil Rights Movement of the 21st Century. He is also the founder of Fearless Dialogues, an organization that seeks to create space for unlikely relationships to change the way people see themselves and the world around them. 

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The Silence of God

By Cole Arthur Riley • November 9, 2024
In this talk, Cole explores how individuals can maintain their faith in a seemingly silent God, particularly in times of suffering and distress. Cole delves into the complex relationship between trauma and spirituality. Cole suggests that, rather than losing belief, individuals can engage in practices that foster a deeper presence to both themselves and the world around them, even in the absence of clear signs of God’s presence.

Inheriting Trauma

By Dr. Moshe Szyf • November 9, 2024
Dr. Szyf delves into the fascinating science of epigenetics and its profound implications for understanding intergenerational trauma. Epigenetics refers to how environmental factors—such as stress, trauma, and life experiences—can influence gene expression without changing the DNA sequence itself. This talk explains how trauma experienced by one generation can leave biological marks on the genes, which may then be passed down to subsequent generations.

The Fourth Temptation

By Reginald Sharpe, Jr. • November 9, 2024
Rev. Sharpe explores the challenge of overcoming the pressure to please others and the inner conflict that arises when the desire to gain approval occasionally wins. He acknowledges that the need for external validation is a natural part of the human experience, but it emphasizes the importance of not allowing that desire to dictate one’s life decisions or self-worth.
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