Lee University will host a panel discussion on “Speaking the Truth in Love” with the creators and hosts of the popular podcast, “Truth’s Table,” Christina Edmondson, Michelle Higgins, and Ekemini Uwan. This event will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 16, in the Jones Lecture Hall in the School of Religion building.
According to Ms. Higgins, Ms. Uwan, and Dr. Edmondson, “we are black Christian women who love truth and seek it out wherever it leads us.”
Their serious, joyful exploration of truth has led them to discussions of the multicultural church, Jordan Peele’s “Get Out,” black motherhood and fatherhood, and Christian hip-hop artist Lecrae’s most recent album, among other topics.
These self-described “midwives of culture for grace and truth” seek to help others understand why and how it is so important to “speak the truth in love” when talking about racial justice issues in America and in the Church.
“Truth’s Table” has been featured in articles from Huffington Post, New York Times, The Atlantic, as well as on Lecrae’s new album, “All Things Work Together.”
After a recent interview with Lecrae, and a follow-up response from pastor and author John Piper, the podcast was ranked number nine on Apple’s Top 200 Religion & Spirituality podcasts list.
Dr. Edmondson serves as the dean for intercultural student development at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mi. As a certified cultural intelligence facilitator, public speaker, and mental health therapist, Dr. Edmondson is often contacted by churches to consult diversity and mental health issues. Her writing has been seen and referenced in a variety of outlets including Essence.com, YourBlackWorld.com, and Gospel Today magazine.
She holds a doctorate in counseling psychology from Tennessee State University, a master’s from the University of Rochester in family therapy, and a bachelor’s in sociology from Hampton University. She is married to Pastor Mika Edmondson of New City Fellowship Church and is the mother of two girls.
Ms. Higgins is the director of worship at South City Church in St. Louis, Mo. She has served as choir director for various churches. She is also the director of Faith for Justice, a Christian advocacy group.
Ms. Higgins serves as an organizer for the Leadership Development Resource Weekend, an annual gathering founded to address the core concerns of dignity, identity, and significance for people of color. She also speaks frequently for conferences and gatherings such as Q Ideas and Urbana.
Ms. Higgins has been published in Christianity Today, The Washington Post, and Relevant, among others. She holds a Master of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and lives in Old North Saint Louis with her husband and two children.
Ms. Uwan has been published in Huffington Post: Black Voices, Christianity Today, The Reformed African American Network, and Christ and Pop Culture to name a few. The New York Times, Mashable, and Huffington Post Religion have also quoted her insights.
Ms. Uwan also contributed to the vocals on a few songs from recent albums of Lecrae and Sho Baraka, Christian hip-hop artist and writer.
She received her Master of Divinity degree in 2016 from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa.
The event is free and open to the public. To listen to “Truth’s Table” before the event, access it for free on iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/truths-table/id1212429230?mt=2 or on Sound Cloud at https://soundcloud.com/thetableoftruthpodcast.
For more information, contact Dr. Mary McCampbell 614-8353 or at mmccampbell@leeuniversity.edu.