Professor Jo Waters is an adjunct faculty at Stark College and Seminary. She also serves as the Pastor of Congregational Care at Resurrection Baptist Church in San Antonio. Professor Waters earned a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center and Master of Arts in Sociology from Texas State University-San Marcos.
What African American professors, preachers, scholars, etc. have most influenced your calling as a teacher and minister?
My calling as a minister and teacher has been influenced by the work of professors, scholars, and preachers past and present. People such as Samuel Proctor, Howard Thurman, Benjamin Elisha Mays, Martin Luther King, Themba Mafico, Bishop Vashti McKenzie, Katie Geneva Canon, Dolores S. Williams, Renita Weems, Ralph West, Freddie Haynes, Marcus D. Cosby, and many others.
What are some hopes you may have for the future generations of minoritized theologians, pastors, or religious scholars?
My hope is, first, that these ministry leaders would be guided in the exploration of the African influence on Christianity, and, second, that they would be willing to explore biblical studies from a place of diversity and relevancy.
What are some of the struggles you faced while in seminary as an African American student, and how did you learn from it?
I attended the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta GA. Consequently, I feel I had no struggles as an African American student. I felt empowered to embrace the curriculum objectives built on the African principle of Sankofa (the past serves as a reference for the future). It was a wonderful experience to study Theology against the backdrop of a balanced curriculum steeped in the history of the Black Church and its evolution in America. I had the opportunity to examine how my personal beliefs and religious practices have been shaped by historical, sociological, and cultural events.
What can theological higher education institutions do programmatically, structurally, and interpersonally to celebrate and highlight African American voices?
There are many ways that institutions of higher learning can celebrate the contributions of African American voices. They can expand the curriculum to include an in depth study of African American Church History, be present at conferences and seminars attended by predominantly African American participants, and include more persons of color as staff and administrative leaders. It is also important for them to market to African American (and Latino) communities.
What would you say to other African Americans to encourage them in their pursuit of theological education?
I would encourage them to ensure that their experience—no matter what seminary they attend—is inclusive of serious opportunities to study African American Church History. Such study would include a close look at the origins of diverse perspectives such as Liberation Theology, Womanist Theology, the current trends in the African American Church, as well as the psychology and sociology of African American religious experience in America.
How can Christian seminaries support and empower Black students as they seek to fulfill their calling to serve God and their communities?
Christian seminaries can support and empower Black students by providing diverse academic experiences both in the classroom and in extra-curricular programming. For example, institutions may invite nationally known speakers from different disciplines and perspectives, such as Eddie Glaude Sr. or Dr. Joel Gregory. In this way, students will be exposed to the racial, political, social influences in the universal church and be able to shape and carry out their personal ministries in a relevant way.
