Our New Rector

We welcomed the Rev. Cynthia Black, D.D. as the sixteenth Rector of the parish on Sunday, June 26th. The Rev. Black succeeds the Rev. Phillip Dana Wilson who served as Rector from 1987 to 2009.

"From everything I know about Redeemer, the congregation is committed to ensuring that all are welcome at God's table. Building on the great work that Redeemer is already doing will be a delight-I can't wait to get started," said the Rev. Cynthia Black.

Black recently served as Interim Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in Plymouth, Minnesota. Prior to that, she served as Dean of the Cathedral of Christ the King in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for nineteen years. The twenty-six years she has spent in parish ministry include a stellar record of service to local communities and the Episcopal Church. She has been a member of the national Episcopal Church's governing body, has served as President of the Episcopal Women's Caucus, and at present, chairs the Committee on the Status of Women. In 1995, she attended the U.N. World Conference on Women in Beijing. An active participant in the effort to raise local AIDS awareness, she has been honored for her volunteer efforts by Community AIDS Resource and Education Services in southwest Michigan.

In 2006, Black was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific, Berkeley, California, in recognition of her service to the Episcopal Church. Former Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold praised Black, saying, "Her ability to grasp the many dimensions of any situation and to articulate them clearly and boldly have been a gift to the Council and the church." Last year, she received the Polly Bond Award of Excellence for the documentary Voices of Witness Africa, describing the experiences of gay and lesbian Anglicans in Africa. She enjoys using filmmaking to encourage others to interact with Gospel values of peace and justice.

Beginning her ordained ministry in the Diocese of Newark in 1985, Black is excited to return to New Jersey and the opportunities that lie ahead for her and the Church of the Redeemer in Morristown. Her lifelong passion for social justice, meaningful and inclusive Christian worship, and community outreach will effectively complement and strengthen Redeemer's past efforts in these arenas. Gene Williams, church warden, commented, "Redeemer's mission is to seek God's justice and wholeness for everyone. I believe Cynthia's passions and proven gifts will strengthen our ability to live out that mission." Search Committee Chair Colleen Hintz notes that "as the Search Committee listened for the Spirit, and was guided by the profile and voices of all members of Redeemer, it became clear that Cynthia has the ability to help focus and stir the congregation into new directions and effective action. We look forward to what will be with joy and expectancy."

Black is joined by her partner of 30 years, Dr. Rebecca Walker, a mathematics professor.