Education
B.A. Carthage College
M.Div. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Th.M. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Ph.D. Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Biography
Richard J. Perry, Jr., associate professor of church and
society and urban ministry, has been on the faculty of the
Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago since 1996.
After his ordination in 1977, Perry served Calvary Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Gary, Ind., for three years. His experience
in urban and multi-cultural ministries was honed as director
of inclusive ministries for the North Carolina Synod of
the Lutheran Church in America, and as director for Black
ministries for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
(ELCA).
In 1999, he co-chaired the International Planning Committee
for the Conference of International Black Lutherans held
in Wittenberg, Germany, where he presented the paper "Justification
and Racial Justice." He was also a presenter at the
first consultation between African and African-American
Lutheran Theologians in Harare, Zimbabwe; and chaired the
working group on racism in the church and society at the
Lutheran World Federation's Seventh Assembly in Budapest,
Hungary.
A published author, Perry contributed the chapter, "African
American Lutheran Ethical Action," to the book "The
Promise of Lutheran Ethics" (Fortress Press 1998).
His essay, "Justification by Grace and Its Social Implications,"
was included in "Theology and the Black Experience"
(Fortress 1988), and he co-authored with Albert Pero and
Cheryl Stewart "Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters...,"
a Black cultural awareness resource published by Augsburg
Fortress.
Perry received the bachelor of arts degree from Carthage
College, Kenosha, Wis. The master of divinity, master of
theology and doctor of theology degrees were bestowed by
the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
Areas of Expertise
Topics that Dr. Perry is available to address at adult
forums and other congregational events
Church and Society
Church History
Cultural Issues
Ethics
Servanthood
Sexuality
Theology
Urban Ministry
Titled Presentations
African-American Lutheranism (Power Point presentation)
Taking the Church Public: Urban Ministry in the 21st Century
(more than one session)
Profile
Richard Perry is associate professor of church and society
and urban ministry and the director of the urban ministry
program and teaches in the area of Christian ethics. You
can read some of his ethical work in The Promise of
Lutheran Ethics and soon you’ll be able to read
a chapter—co-authored with Jose David Rodriguez—in
the book on sexuality that is being produced as part of
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) sexuality
study. He has been contributing to the life of the Seminary
since he was a master of divinity student in the mid-1970s.
Following his graduation and ordination in 1977, he served
as pastor in Gary, Ind., as director for inclusive ministries
in the North Carolina Synod, and director for black ministries
in the ELCA. He returned to the Seminary to pursue doctoral
work as the first candidate for the African American scholars
program where his specialization was in theology and ethics.
He joined the faculty in 1996 and lives in Chicago with
his wife Theresa and their daughter Rashida. He’s
a champion bowler and avid golfer.
Published Works
“Broadening the Moral Conversation (A Response to
Margaret McLean).” The University of Toledo Law
Review 32/3 (Spring 2001) 351-354.
"Elements of a Social Ethic of Liberation: An Interpretation
of the Hefner Legacy.” Currents in Theology and
Mission 28/3-4 (2001) 378-384.
"Broadening the Church’s Conversation.”
In Human Cloning: Papers From a Church Consultation,
ed. Roger Willer. Department for Studies of the Division
for Church in Society, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America,
2000.
"African American Lutheran Ethical Action: The Will
to Build.” In The Promise of Lutheran Ethics,
ed. Karen Bloomquist and John Stumme. Minneapolis: Augsburg
Publishing, 1998.
"Which Way Shall We Go?’ The Ethical Dilemma
of Africa American Lutheranism.” Currents in Theology
and Mission 24/3 (1997) 252-258.
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