Columnist Rev. Reginald W. Williams

Rev. Reginald W. Williams Jr. is the first of three children born to Dr. Reginald Williams, Sr. and the late Atty. Marcelle H. Williams.  He was born and raised in Chicago, IL, into a family which acknowledged and affirmed a spirituality that serves God by serving God’s people, particularly in the cause of liberation.  Rev. Williams shares his life and love with Mrs. Nikita Nichelle Williams.  Together they have two daughters, Miss Nia Mar’Celle Williams and Laila Imani Williams.  Rev. Williams currently serves as pastor of the First Baptist Church of University Park.

Rev. Williams is academically prepared.  After graduating from Whitney M. Young Magnet High School, Rev. Williams matriculated through the School of Business and Industry at the Florida A & M University, where he graduated, cum laude.  Upon graduation, Rev. Williams followed his mother’s footsteps into the field of law, and completed the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he received several honors for his community involvement.

In November 1998, Rev. Williams acknowledged and accepted God’s Call on his life to Christian ministry, and enrolled at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University in the fall of 1999.  He completed this program and received his Master of Divinity degree on May 11, 2002.

Upon the completion of his degree requirements at Virginia Union University, Rev. Williams was called to serve the Trinity United Church of Christ under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.  Rev. Williams served Trinity United Church of Christ as the Associate Pastor for Justice Ministries.  In this capacity “Rev. Reggie” partnered with the 13 ministries within Trinity’s Christian Education Division of Justice. These ministries seek to provide support in various areas of social concern, and advocate on the local, state and national levels for equal opportunities and justice for God’s children.

Rev. Williams has been awarded numerous honors and commendations for his commitment to people and the process of bringing about social justice.  He served as Social Actions chairperson for the Florida A&M University NAACP college chapter, as well as Community Service co-chairperson for the Beta Nu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  He was honored by the Wisconsin State Bar as the Public Interest Law Student of the Year for 1998, in addition to a number of other honors bestowed upon him by the University of Wisconsin Law School.  He has participated in world conferences and meetings such as the fourth and fifth African/African-American Summits held in Harare Zimbabwe (1997), and Accra, Ghana (1999), respectively.

Rev. Williams has been a monthly columnist for the Trumpet Newsmagazine. Rev. Williams’ works have been published in the Winter 2005, and Summer 2006 editions of The African American Pulpit, as well as the book, Blow The Trumpet In Zion, a collection of the proceedings at the inaugural Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastors Conference.  Rev. Williams was also honored as a member of “Who’s Who in Black Chicago” for the year 2008.

Rev. Williams’ passion is for social justice through a spiritually centered and culturally relevant praxis that brings liberation to all of God’s children, especially the liberation of African people!