The Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro, and president of the North Carolina state conference of the NAACP, will be the keynote speaker at an alumni symposium held on the campus of Hood Theological Seminary on March 18 in the Aymer Center.

While the day-long symposium is open to Hood Seminary alumni only, the wider community is invited to register to attend Barber’s keynote address and luncheon at noon.

Pre-registration by Friday, March 11, is required and seating is limited. To register, please call Janice Silver at 704-636-6926. Registration is $25 and may be paid by credit card over the phone or by check mailed to Silver at 1810 Lutheran Synod Drive, Salisbury, NC 28144. Registration will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 11.

“We are greatly honored to have Rev. Dr. Barber speaking here at Hood Theological Seminary. He is a widely respected pastor, author and nationally known political leader,” said Dr. Vergel Lattimore, president of Hood Seminary. “His speech will focus on the theme of the symposium, ‘The Pulse of 21st Century Ministry: Integrity, Innovation and Inclusiveness.’”

Barber has been pastor of Greenleaf Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ), in Goldsboro since 1993. He has led “Moral Mondays” civil-rights protests in the state, beginning in April 2013. He was awarded the 2006 Juanita Jackson Mitchell, Esq. Award for legal activism, the highest award in the NAACP for legal redress for advocacy.

He was the 2008 recipient of the Thalheimer Award for most programmatic NAACP State Conference, and in 2010 he won the National NAACP Kelly M. Alexander Humanitarian Award. Since 2006 he has been president of the NAACP’s North Carolina state chapter — the second-largest in the country.

In 2009, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine presented to outstanding North Carolinians who have a proven record of service to the state. He is the author of several articles and two books, “Preaching Through Unexpected Pain” and “Forward Together: A Moral Message for the Nation.” 

Barber received a bachelor’s degree in political science from North Carolina Central University, cum laude; a master of divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School; and a doctorate from Drew University with a concentration in public policy and pastoral care.

Hood Theological Seminary, located at 1810 Lutheran Synod Drive, is a graduate and professional school where intellectual discourse and ministerial preparation occur in tandem within the framework of a community of faith. Sponsored by the AME Zion Church and approved by the University Senate of the United Methodist Church, its student body is composed of people from many different denominations.