CAATS and Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University alumnus Rev. Anthony W. Sullivan, Jr. writes about his experience as an individual, already involved in ministry and activist, who found himself called to and enriched by African centered theological education. In the lead-up to the 10th Anniversary Celebration of the Center for African American Theological Education SCUPE will be presenting reflections from some of the foundational leaders, current students, faculty, and alumni of this ground-breaking theological program.
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I live and engage in ministry within the Chicago metropolitan area. Religion has always served as a medium through which I explore and question the world, life, and all of the beautiful struggles that make up the human experience. I consider myself tremendously privileged that I was raised within a strong African American Christian community, which nurtured the development of my religious identity. However, as I continued to journey through life, I found myself ye
arning to expand my understanding beyond that which was familiar.
Often characterized as a change agent within my community, I have been called to serve disadvantaged communities, underserved and underrepresented populations, and people whose human dignity is under assault by social arrangements and structures. I embrace a worldview of radical inclusion characterized by reconciliation, liberation and inclusiveness for all people, but especially for runaway and homeless youth, same gender loving individuals and their allies, transgender persons, persons in recovery, those who are incarcerated, the economically disenfranchised, sex industry workers and persons infected and affected by HIV/AIDS.
After careful consideration, I chose to matriculate to the Center for African American Theological Studies (CAATS) via its collaboration with the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University primarily because of my familiarity with CAATS commitment to preparing and training seminarians how to think theologically as opposed to what to think theologically. Secondly, I desired an enriching environment that would nurture my call to respond to God’s commandments to do justice seek peace and effect change for a better world. Thirdly, I wanted to acquire a theological education that would promote cultural understanding, scholarly research, networking, collaboration and student/faculty exchange. Finally, I required a curriculum that emphasized inquiry into the religious and cultural heritage of Africans both on the continent of Africa and in the Diaspora by means of a pedagogical model that values, celebrates and expands intellectual engagement without minimizing or negating the African center of my theological, historical and societal perspectives.
I received much more than what I bargained for. As an emerging scholar, CAATS cultivated my scholarly interests, which are rooted in the Black Church and the African American religious experience. This was accomplished through study, research, interpretation and dissemination of knowledge. To that end, I learned to critically examine the structure, organization, contributions, and perspectives of Africa and its peoples throughout the Diaspora via an African centered epistemological framework that proceeds from a position internal to the cultures of African peoples. In addition, I learned that Africentricity is an orientation, a location, position, and perspective that empowers African people to become the subjects of an evolving historical narrative, and not merely disembodied objects on the fringes of historical consideration.
CAATS immeasurably augmented my ability to analyze complex urban situations, develop holistic responses to meet the unique needs of the city, and inform my appreciation for and sensitivity to the cultural, religious and social contexts of people while developing a solid biblical and theological foundation to effectively proclaim God’s redeeming work in the context of the city as a pastor, scholar and public theologian. And for that I will always be grateful.
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– Pastor Anthony W. Sullivan, Jr., M.Div
Associate Pastor, Community Outreach & Development | God Can Ministries UCC
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