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Rev. Dr. Irie Lynne SessionRev. Dr. Irie Lynne Session was raised in New York City, and now resides in Cedar Hill, Texas a suburb of Dallas. She's the proud mother of India Liana Session. Dr. Irie holds a B.S. in Social Work from Oklahoma Christian University, an M.Div. with a Certificate in Black Church Studies from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School, specializing in Transformative Leadership and Prophetic Preaching. For more information about Dr. Irie check out her website at www.dririe.com.
www.dririe.com. Email: [email protected] "A Womanist is a Black woman who is progressive in her theology, courageous in her social justice advocacy and activism, fierce in her love of self and others, and actively engaged in work that contributes to the survival and wholeness of all people, Black communities, in particular." |
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Rev. Dr. Kamilah Hall SharpRev. Kamilah Hall Sharp is a native of St. Louis, Missouri and resides in Desoto, Texas with her spouse Nakia and daughter Anaya. She holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Interpretation-Hebrew Bible from Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University. Kamilah also holds a B.S. in Business Economics from Florida A&M University, a M.Div. from Memphis Theological Seminary, and a J.D from Indiana University-Bloomington. She is an ordained minister in the Disciples of Christ (Christian Church) and believes she was created to help and serve others.
Email: [email protected] "To care about people. To care about community. To look for ways to make the world better by using the experiences of Black women as a starting point." |
HOW IT BEGAN
In an unprecedented and forward-thinking vision, seven women gathered on Good Friday, in Dallas, at the invitation of Rev. Dr. Irie Session, to reimagine Jesus's seven last sayings from the Cross, through womanist interpretation. Each of the seven women brought messages of hope, freedom, and healing, not just for the guests, but for themselves. You see, it is a rarity, even in 2017, for seven Black preaching women to be in one place, at one podium, on one preaching assignment. Those in attendance embraced this style of liberating preaching and inquired when and where would they be able to experience this again. That was the genesis of The Gathering.
Immediately following that authentic night of worship, Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp and Dr. Session began having conversations, at the urging of her husband, Nakia Sharp, about creating a worshiping community that would offer womanist preaching, in Dallas, on a regular basis. They then invited Rev. Yvette Blair-Lavallais to the table. Clearly, God was doing a new and transformative work and was leading the way for the formation of this new faith community where all would be welcome to experience worship that is healing, authentic and necessary.
Immediately following that authentic night of worship, Rev. Kamilah Hall Sharp and Dr. Session began having conversations, at the urging of her husband, Nakia Sharp, about creating a worshiping community that would offer womanist preaching, in Dallas, on a regular basis. They then invited Rev. Yvette Blair-Lavallais to the table. Clearly, God was doing a new and transformative work and was leading the way for the formation of this new faith community where all would be welcome to experience worship that is healing, authentic and necessary.