2018 Larzelere Memorial Lecture with Rev. Traci Blackmon

Additional Information

Rev. Traci Blackmon Will Offer 2018 Larzelere Memorial Lecture at The Peoples Church

Rev. Traci Blackmon, internationally-recognized advocate for justice and reconciliation, will offer the 2018 Larzelere Memorial Lecture on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 1:30 p.m. at The Peoples Church (TPC) of East Lansing. Her topic is "Faithful Witness in a Wailing World." This event is free and open to the public.

Rev. Blackmon has been called a bold voice for justice and non-violence in a world calling for reconciliation. Her early and prominent response to racial tensions in the aftermath of the killing of Michael Brown, Jr. in Ferguson, MO earned her an appointment to the Ferguson Commission by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. She ministered on the frontlines of the Ferguson demonstrations, helping the family and friends of those affected by the events in both Ferguson and St. Louis.

Rev. Blackmon is the Executive Minister of Justice & Witness Ministries for the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio and Senior Pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Missouri. She currently resides in both St. Louis and Cleveland.

Initially ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Rev. Blackmon served in various ministry capacities for 9 years, prior to being ordained in the United Church of Christ and installed as the first woman and 18th pastor in the 162 year history of Christ The King United Church of Christ in Florissant, MO . She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Birmingham – Southern College (1985), and a Master of Divinity degree from Eden Theological Seminary (2009). A registered nurse with more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Rev. Blackmon's clinical focus was cardiac care and in later years her focus shifted to mobile healthcare in underserved communities with the greatest health disparities in her region.

Her service on the Ferguson Commission as well as on other signature community and regional initiatives brought Rev. Blackmon to national and international prominence, receiving recognition from the White House, the Carter Center and the Vatican. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her work including the NAACP's Rosa Parks Award, The President's Volunteer Service Award from the White House, National Planned Parenthood Faith Leader Award and St. Louis University Community Leader of the Year. She was also given an Honorary Doctorate by Eden Theological Seminary and was appointed to the President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based Neighborhood Partnerships by President Barack Obama.

The Larzelere Memorial Lecture Series was established in 2017 to honor Henry and Annabel Larzelere, long-time members of TPC, for their dedication to continuing education on topics of international interest and theological thought. As world travelers who were always building bridges of hope and understanding, their lecture series strives to inspire a more just and peaceful world.