The Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary is a theologically liberal seminary associated with the Presbyterian Church USA, focused on left-of-center activism in Black churches. The seminary no longer offers a Master of Divinity program, but instead offers two certificate courses geared towards training both clergy and laity in racialized liberation theology and activism. In 2023, the seminary undertook a national effort to study ways to implement a racial reparations program. ^{1 2 3 4}

Founding and History

Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary began with Freedmen’s college, a historically Black college that was founded in 1867 and was affiliated with Presbyterianism. From 1969 to 2014, the seminary was affiliated with the Interdenominational Center, which is a group of predominantly Black seminaries in the Atlanta area. However, in 2014, the seminary’s board of trustees voted to leave the association and also to end the school’s Master of Divinity program. The organization considers this decision to be the start of its rebirth and has since focused on certificate programs that are more focused on social and racial justice and Black liberation theology. ^{5 6}

Finances

Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary is registered with the IRS as a church, and therefore is not required to file annual nonprofit tax returns. However, the seminary has received $90,000 in grants from the left-of-center Ford Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation for the purpose studying the payment of reparations. ⁷

Policies and Projects

Drum Major for Justice

Drum Major for Justice is one of the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary’s two educational certificate programs. This five-month program is focused on educating clergy and laymen about racial oppression and activist strategies that can be used to mobilize Black churches towards left-of-center political goals. The curriculum draws from Black and womanist theology, liberation theology, and indigenous people’s theology. ⁸

Lead Change

Lead Change is the second of the seminary’s two certificate programs. It is 10 months long and is focused on various aspects of church leadership with the end goal to create leaders who can take a role in “decolonizing the church.” ⁹

Reparations

At the beginning of 2023, the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary launched an initiative to bring together Black churches and institutions around the country to begin a dialogue about advancing a discussion for racial reparations. This first stage, which was funded with $90,000 from the Ford Foundation and the Henry Luce Foundation, is designed to bring stakeholders together, with the second phase focused on proposals for how such reparations would actually be funded, who would be eligible, and how it would be distributed. ^{10 11}

Seeing Whiteness for Anti-Racist Action (SWARA)

The Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary is the fiscal sponsor of Seeing Whiteness for Anti-Racist Action (SWARA), an organization that is focused on promoting an understanding of American society where “whiteness” is at the root of structural racism and can only be dismantled if this relationship is understood. The program is geared towards “helping” white people understand the role of whiteness in social oppression and how they can be effective “anti-racist” partners. ^{12 13}

Leadership

Paul Timothy Roberts, Sr. is the president of the Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary. He began this role in 2010. Under Roberts, the seminary discontinued its Master of Divinity program and ended its long-term affiliation with the Interdenominational Center. ¹⁴

1. “About Us.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/aboutus.
2. “Drum Major for Justice | Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary | Seminary Courses.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/dmfj.
3. “Lead Change | Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/lead-change.
4. “Reparations.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/reparations.
5. Church (U.S.A.), Presbyterian. “Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – ‘A Brand New Day.’” PCUSA. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), October 2, 2015. Accessed August 13, 2023.  https://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/10/2/brand-new-day/.
6. “About Us.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/aboutus.
7. “Reparations.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/reparations.
8. “Drum Major for Justice | Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary | Seminary Courses.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/dmfj.
9. “Lead Change | Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/lead-change.
10. “Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary Is Hosting a National Conversation on Repairing the Nation’s Racial Divide.” Presbyterian Mission Agency, January 10, 2023. Accessed August 13, 2023.  https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/johnson-c-smith-theological-seminary-is-hosting-a-national-conversation-on-repairing-the-nations-racial-divide/.
11. “Reparations.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/reparations.
12. “Seeing Whiteness.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTUzMjE4.
13. “Seeing-Whiteness-for-Anti-Racist-Action-Overview.” The Radical Optimist. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://theradicaloptimist.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Seeing-Whiteness-for-Anti-Racist-Action-Overview.Updated2022-2.pdf.
14. “President.” JCSTS. Accessed August 13, 2023. https://www.jcsts.org/jcstspresidentpaulroberts.