Author: Charlotte Fields

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Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight Series

Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight – Christian S. Watkins Minister Christian S. Watkins (M.Div. ’19)

Minister Christian S. Watkins leads with conviction and clarity at the intersection of policy and prophetic ministry. Serving as Government Relations Advocate at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, he champions legislative change on issues including reparatory justice and criminal legal reform.

Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.

I serve as Government Relations Advocate at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, focusing on criminal justice reform, democracy, and reparatory justice.

What led you to pursue theological education?

After years in corporate roles, I returned to my call. Perkins offered rigorous academics and a place to align my faith with social activism.

What does Juneteenth mean to you?

Juneteenth is Jubilee—it echoes Luke 4 and reminds me that freedom and justice are core to the Gospel.

How did Perkins prepare you for this work?

Perkins sharpened my theology and provided leadership opportunities—from the Black Seminarians Association to #BlackAtSMU organizing.

What advice do you offer faith leaders engaging justice work?

Know who and whose you are. When you lead from your divine calling, you’ll have the grace to do the work of justice.

From Capitol Hill to local congregations, Minister Watkins bridges faith and justice with prophetic clarity. His work echoes the call of Juneteenth—to proclaim freedom and pursue liberation for all.

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Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight Series

Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight with Katie Pryor (M.Div ’19)

Katie Pryor is a spiritual leader, preacher, and storyteller whose ministry bridges faith, justice, and sacred belonging. Through her work with United Women in Faith, she empowers women to grow in grace, rise in leadership, and co-create a liberated future rooted in faith and fellowship.

Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.

I serve as the Executive for Membership Nurture + Development at United Women in Faith, where I help shape spirit-filled, radically welcoming spaces for women to grow in grace, rise in leadership, and move mountains together.

What inspired you to pursue ministry and theological education?

I wanted answers deeper than just “Jesus” when young people asked me questions about faith. Perkins gave me the space to question and grow.

Can you describe a moment that affirmed your calling?

When members I’ve only met through a screen tell me in person that my voice has spoken for them—that’s when I know I’m walking in my calling.

What does Juneteenth mean to you personally and theologically?

Juneteenth is where memory meets movement. It’s Exodus. It’s Luke 4. It’s Resurrection. It reminds me that God is always on the side of the oppressed.

How does storytelling preserve and advance Juneteenth’s legacy?

Storytelling resists erasure. It’s how we remember, how we fight, and how we build a world where no one is unseen or unfree.

Pryor brings voice to a legacy of liberation. Her ministry lifts up Black women and girls through sacred storytelling and radical belonging—keeping Juneteenth’s spirit alive in every act of nurture and resistance

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Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight Series

Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight – Rev. Dr. Anthony Everett (M.Div. ’08)

Rev. Dr. Anthony Everett’s ministry stands at the intersection of faith, liberation, and community transformation. A proud graduate of Perkins School of Theology, Dr. Everett now leads the Siloam Project at Baptist Seminary of Kentucky, advancing contextual theological education and advocating for returning citizens.

Tell us about your current role and the work you are doing.

As Executive Director of Mission Behind Bars and Beyond in Kentucky, I help support returning citizens as they transition from incarceration to community. Our ministry offers mentoring, spiritual guidance, and connection to local churches.

What inspired you to pursue ministry and theological education? I was drawn to ministry through a deep desire to serve the marginalized. At Perkins, I found the theological grounding and community support to shape that call into action.

How does your work reflect your theological commitments?

Our work centers on human dignity and liberation. We walk alongside those whom society often forgets, affirming their worth and advocating for systems change.

What does Juneteenth mean to you?

Juneteenth reminds me that freedom must be full—not just symbolic. You can’t celebrate emancipation and ignore mass incarceration.

What legacy do you hope to leave?

I want to be remembered as someone who used ministry to free people—spiritually, socially, and systemically.

Rev. Dr. Everett’s work illustrates how liberation is both theological and tangible. By walking with returning citizens, he embodies a Gospel rooted in freedom, healing, and restoration.

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Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight

Juneteenth Alumni Spotlight Series: Perkins Alumni Leading Change

At Perkins School of Theology, the pursuit of social justice is more than an academic ideal—it is a spiritual imperative rooted in the Gospel’s call to liberation, justice, and beloved community. Juneteenth, the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the U.S. learned of their freedom, holds deep resonance within a theological framework. This moment embodies the tension between delayed justice and enduring hope.

To deepen this reflection, we spoke with alumni—Rev. Dr. Anthony Everett (M.Div. ‘08), Rev. Katie Pryor (M.Div. ’19), Minister Christian S. Watkins (M.Div. ’19), and Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters (M.Div. ’06, D.Min ’12)—whose work bridges faith, activism, and Black liberation theology.

In celebration of Juneteenth, Perkins is proud to highlight these remarkable alumni whose ministries embody the prophetic spirit of this historic day. Each is actively shaping a more just and compassionate world—through preaching, organizing, advocacy, storytelling, and leadership. Their stories are rooted in faith and lived out in communities across the nation.

We invite you to explore their stories in the links below, reflect on their witness, and be inspired to continue the work.

Each featured alum is a change-maker:

· Rev. Dr. Anthony Everett is advancing contextual theological education and advocating for returning citizens in Kentucky. Read the full spotlight here.

· Katie Pryor is nurturing women’s faith, leadership, and collective power through a ministry rooted in justice, storytelling, and sacred community. Read the full spotlight here.

· Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters is using the power of preaching, writing, and public witness to call for truth, healing, and justice. Read the full spotlight here.

· Minister Christian S. Watkins is organizing faith communities in pursuit of racial and economic justice. Read the full spotlight here.

“Juneteenth is Jubilee — a sacred proclamation of freedom that calls us to liberate and transform.”

— Rev. Dr. Michael W. Waters

These leaders are living out Perkins’ mission to equip persons for faithful leadership and Christian ministry in a changing church and society. Their stories call us to reflect on Juneteenth not just as a historical event, but as an ongoing movement for spiritual and social transformation.

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Perspective Online

2025 Perkins Graduation Day Awards

Albert C. Outler Award in Theology awarded to the student contributing the most outstanding theological essays of the academic year.

Amber Jamison

B’nai B’rith Award in Social Ethics is given by Harold M. Kaufman Memorial Foundation to students on the basis of scholarly competence in the field of Social Ethics and personal commitment as shown in voluntary activity in support of worthy social causes.

Michaela Calahan, David Henderson

Charley T. and Jesse James Bible Awards are awarded to students on the basis of academic achievement in biblical courses and overall scholastic performance. (Ranked)

Kenna Jeigh Curry, Elizabeth Ladd Beshear, Josiah David Brown

Dr. and Mrs. J.P. Bray Award in Hebrew awarded to the student who ranks highest in Hebrew scholarship.

Davis Anderson

Dr. and Mrs. Glenn Flinn Senior Award is given to that member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the faculty, best exemplifies the aims of the school and the church for its ministry.

Julie Renea Harding, Lily Ann White

Faculty Award in Greek awarded to the student who ranks highest in New Testament Greek scholarship.

Todd Stall

Harry Hosier Spirit Award established by Perkins alumnus Reverend Dr. Henry Masters, is given to a graduating student who best exemplifies the spirit of Harry Hosier expressed in what is described as his “elocution of faith: I sing by faith, preach by faith, pray by faith, and do everything by faith.

Eno Edet Adetoye Afon

Hoyt Hickman Award for Outstanding Liturgical Scholarship and Practice awarded to a student demonstrating strong liturgical scholarship and worship leadership.

Kwang Oh

Paul W. Quillian Award in Homiletics awarded for the best-written sermon.

Andrew Phillips

The Philip Schaff Prize in Church History established by Klaus Penzel, is awarded to students who have demonstrated excellence in the historical study of Christianity, while participating in courses in church history.  It is named after the founder of the American Society of Church History.

 John Wiley Bryant

The Robert Weatherford Prize for Internship Preaching was established to honor the distinguished service of Robert Weatherford to the United Methodist Foundation. This award is given to Master of Divinity students for excellence in preaching during internship.

Julie Melissa DuBose Bartle, Beth Bentley, Luke Roger Thomson

The Roger Deschner Prize in Sacred Music was established in memory of Roger Deschner, long-time professor of sacred music at Perkins. The prize is given to  M.S.M. students who excel in academic work, musical abilities, and overall achievement in the M.S.M. program.

Brooke Clarke Gibson

B. DeJernett Award in Homiletics awarded to the senior student with the highest academic average in homiletics courses.

Clayton Orville Hall

William K. McElvaney Preaching Award awarded for the best-written sermon addressing a public issue – including a social crisis, a controversial issue or a chronic social problem.

Laura Garcia

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News Perspective Online

Perkins School of Theology Celebrates 2025 Graduates

Perkins School of Theology will honor its graduating students with a series of special events this spring, culminating in the Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements on May 17, 2025.

The Celebration of Degrees and Academic Achievements will take place in the main sanctuary of Highland Park United Methodist Church (HPUMC) beginning at 2 p.m. The speaker for the service will be Rev. Dr. Blair Thompson, Chief Learning and Innovation Officer for the Texas Methodist Foundation, ordained Elder in the Horizon Texas Conference, a 2012 M.Div. and 2018 D.Min. Perkins alumna, and a member of the Perkins Executive Board.

Graduates will assemble for line-up in Cox Chapel at 1:15 p.m. in preparation for the formal processional into the sanctuary. The service will include the hooding of graduates and the presentation of select academic and community awards. A celebratory reception will follow in the Great Hall of Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall.

The reception is free for graduates, their guests, as well as Perkins faculty, staff, and students. It will begin immediately following the diploma presentation at 3:30 p.m.

For those unable to attend in person, the event will be live-streamed.

On Friday, May 16, the graduating class will gather for the Senior Class Worship Service at 5 p.m. in Perkins Chapel. Following worship, the Senior Class Banquet will begin at 6:30 p.m. at HPUMC. During the banquet, the Elsa Cook Award will be presented—an honor established by students in recognition of Ms. Cook’s lasting contributions to student life and community at Perkins.

Additionally, all graduating students are invited to participate in SMU’s university-wide Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 17, at 8:30 a.m. in Moody Coliseum. Line-up begins at 7:30 a.m. near the Perkins banner.

Details regarding schedules, regalia, ticketing, parking, and logistics are available at: smu.edu/academic-ceremonies/events/may-commencement. The SMU Commencement will be live-streamed at smu.edu/live and on SMU’s YouTube channel.

A full list of Perkins award recipients will be made available following the conclusion of graduation events, courtesy of Melissa Gooch, Registrar and Director of Academic Affairs.

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April 2025 Faculty News Perspective Online

Perkins Faculty Honored at American Theological Society Conference 

Perkins School of Theology is pleased to share the recent honors and scholarly contributions of three esteemed faculty members at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the American Theological Society (ATS), held April 4–5. 

Founded in 1912, the American Theological Society is the oldest professional theological society in North America. Membership is by nomination and election and is limited to 100 members at any given time. The purpose of the Society is to foster research excellence in the various theological disciplines and to cultivate collegial relationships. 

Dr. Frederick Aquino, Professor of Systematic Theology at Perkins, was elected to membership in the American Theological Society. His election recognizes his outstanding contributions to theological scholarship and signals a growing national recognition of his academic leadership. Aquino’s work explores the intersections of epistemology, spiritual perception, and the theology of John Henry Newman, and he is widely respected for his commitment to rigorous scholarship and theological formation. 

Dr. Karen Baker-Fletcher, Professor of Systematic Theology and current ATS member, presented a scholarly paper at the annual gathering titled “Becoming Christian and Buddhist: Poetics and Koans.” Her presentation explored themes of interreligious identity and the integration of spiritual practices through poetic and philosophical expression. Dr. Baker-Fletcher is known nationally and internationally for her theological work in womanist thought, constructive theology, and religious imagination. 

Dr. Ruben L.F. Habito, Professor of World Religions and Spirituality, delivered the 2025 Presidential Address at the conference. His talk, “Effing the Ineffable: Charting Tasks for Christian Theology in Our Troubling Times,” challenged listeners to consider how theology can respond to contemporary challenges with depth, nuance, and spiritual courage. A pioneering voice in Buddhist-Christian dialogue and contemplative theology, Dr. Habito’s leadership within the ATS and across global theological communities continues to inspire scholars and students alike. 

For more information about Perkins faculty achievements and events, visit smu.edu/perkins.  

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April 2025 News Perspective Online Standalone

Exploring Faith and Reason: 2025 William J. Abraham Lecture with John Greco

More than 100 people filled Perkins’ Prothro Great Hall on April 1 for a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of faith and reason. The occasion: the William J. Abraham Lecture, named in honor of the late Billy Abraham, and featuring guest speaker John Greco, a leading voice in epistemology and religious philosophy.

Greco’s lecture, titled “Knowledge of God?”, explored the enduring philosophical question: Is knowledge of God possible?

Greco drew attention to a “double mindedness” among believers: On the one hand, they shy away from making claims about knowledge of God in academia or in the public sphere; on the other hand, they don’t hold back on such claims in their private lives.

“When you tell your child, ‘You are a beautiful child of God,’ you don’t say, ‘But at least that’s what I believe,’” he said. “It doesn’t even occur to us that we don’t know that God created this beautiful child. I want to challenge this double mindedness a little bit.”

He cited an “animating theme” that infused Abraham’s work, including the principle Abraham called “epistemic fit” — the idea that we know different things in different ways.

“The way you know, say geometry or mathematics, is different from the way you know about the empirical world of biology, or the way you know what’s right or wrong,” Greco said. “The principle of epistemic fit says: Don’t confuse the proper methodology for knowing one kind of subject area with the proper methodology of knowing another subject area,” he said. “So for religious belief, don’t take a mathematical model for how you would know that God exists or is creator.”

Dr. Frederick Aquino, Professor of Systematic Theology at Perkins and Director of the Abraham Lecture Series, highlighted the broad reach of the event. Among the attendees were included faculty, students, administrators, alumni, church leaders, and philosophers—some religious, some not.

“We had people who are part of the Global Methodist Church, The United Methodist Church, and other denominations, some who don’t go to church, and people from a variety of disciplines, including philosophers,” he said. “And more importantly, John Greco offered an engaging talk that I believe was accessible for everyone in the room.”

The Abraham Lectures aim to create space for interdisciplinary conversations about contemporary questions and issues of significance, as a way of extending the spirit of Billy Abraham’s work into the future, Aquino added, and he’s pleased so far with the response.

“Each year, the lecture grows—both in size and in spirit,” he said. “It’s connecting Perkins with new communities and rekindling ties with the university at large.”

Missed the lecture? Watch it here: John Greco – 2025 Abraham Lecture

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News Standalone Top Story

2025 Annual Conferences with Perkins Gatherings for Alumni and Friends

We’re hitting the road! Perkins School of Theology is excited to announce our presence at the 2025 United Methodist Annual Conferences across the country. Whether you’re a proud Perkins alum, a current student, or someone exploring theological education, we invite you to connect with us in person. Faculty and staff from Perkins will be onsite offering updates and we’ll be hosting special alumni gatherings along the way. Didn’t receive your invitation? Update your contact info here to stay in the loop. Make plans now to join us—we can’t wait to see you! 

For questions, contact: Michelle Killian | mmkillian@mail.smu.edu  

May 

Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference
Hilton Hotel, Baltimore, MD
May 13–15 

Greater New Jersey Annual Conference
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood, NJ
May 18–20 

Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference
Wildwood Convention Center, Wildwood, NJ
May 20–22 

Texas Annual Conference
Hilton Hotel Americas, Houston, TX
May 25–28
Alumni Event: Alumni Breakfast
Date & Time: Tuesday, May 27 at 7 a.m.
Registration: Breakfast Registration Link 

Special Invitation: Read a message from Bishop Harvey

West Ohio Annual Conference
Capital University, Bexley, OH
May 28–31 

Oklahoma Annual Conference
Boston Avenue UMC, Tulsa, OK
May 28–31
Alumni Event: Alumni Lunch
Date & Time: Thursday, May 29 at 12 p.m.
Registration: Available through the conference registration process 

Michigan Annual Conference
Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, Acme MI
May 29–31
Alumni Event: Alumni & Friends Dinner
Date & Time: Thursday, May 29
Registration: Available through the conference registration process 

Alaska Missionary Conference 
First UMC, Anchorage, AK
May 30-31
Perkins Representation: We will host a table with materials only.

June 

Holston Annual Conference
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
June 1–4 

Tennessee-Western Kentucky Annual Conference
Collierville UMC, Collierville, TN
June 1–4 

Great Plains Annual Conference
Kansas Wesleyan Center, Salina, KS
June 4–7 

Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference
Peoria Civic Center, Peoria, IL
June 5–7 

Florida Annual Conference
Florida Southern College, Lakeland, FL
June 5–7 

Wisconsin Annual Conference
Marriott West, Middleton, WI
June 5–8 

Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conference
SW Region Ministry Center, Anadarko OK
June 6–8
Alumni Event: Alumni Lunch
Date & Time: Saturday, June 7 at 12 p.m.
Registration: Lunch Registration Link 

Missouri Annual Conference
St. Charles Convention Center, St. Charles, MO
June 6–8 

Dakotas Annual Conference
Dakota Wesleyan University, Mitchell, SD
June 6–8 

Rio Texas Annual Conference
American Bank Center, Corpus Christi, TX
June 11-14
Alumni Event: Alumni Dinner
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 11 at 7 p.m.
Registration: Dinner Registration Link  

Special Invitation: Read a message from Bishop Harvey

Alabama-West Florida Annual Conference
Pensacola First UMC, Pensacola, FL
June 8–10 

Horizon Annual Conference
Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
June 8–10
Alumni Event: Alumni & Friends Breakfast
Date & Time: Monday,  June 9 at 7 a.m., Prothro Great Hall
Registration: Breakfast Registration Link

Alumni Event: Fresh Expressions Mixer with the Horizon Annual Conference – Sponsored by the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at Perkins School of Theology at SMU
Date & Time: Monday, June 9 at 5:15 p.m., Lockwood Distilling Company
Registration: Not required.

Northern Illinois Annual Conference
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, Schaumburg, IL
June 9–11 

Louisiana Annual Conference
Baton Rogue Hilton, Baton Rouge, LA
June 10–13 

Minnesota Annual Conference
St. Cloud Convention Center, St. Cloud, MN
June 11–13 

California-Pacific Annual Conference
Renaissance Esmeralda Resort and Spa, Indian Wells, CA
June 11–14 

Virginia Annual Conference
The Berglund Center, Roanoke, VA
June 11–14  

Mountain Sky Annual Conference
St. Andrews UMC, Highlands Ranch, CO
June 12–15 

Desert Southwest Annual Conference
Rio Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV
June 12–15 

Iowa Annual Conference  
West Des Moines, RecPlex, Des Moines IA
June 13 – 15
Perkins Representation: We will host a table with materials only.

Arkansas Annual Conference
Hot Springs Convention Center, Hot Springs, AR
June 18–20
Alumni Event: Alumni & Friends Breakfast
Date & Time: Saturday, June 19 at 7 a.m., Embassy Suites
Registration: Breakfast Registration Link 

New England Annual Conference
Boston North Shore DoubleTree, Danvers, MA
June 19–21 

New Mexico Annual Conference
St. John’s UMC, Albuquerque, NM
June 19–21 

Western North Carolina Annual Conference
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
June 19–22 

Pacific Northwest Annual Conference
Bothell UMC, Bothell, WA
June 26–28