Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison to speak Nov. 3-4 for Gill Preaching Workshop

September 15, 2025 — Biblical scholar, pastor, and activist the Rev. Rachel Griffin-Allison, will preach during worship in Greene Chapel on the campus of Hendrix College on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

She will also serve as a featured leader of this year’s John and Marjem Gill Preaching Workshop, which begins earlier in the day on November 3 and concludes Tuesday afternoon, November 4. Visit www.hendrix.edu/gillworkshop for more information or to register. Registration by October 15 qualifies participants for a discount.

Griffin-Allison’s visit to Hendrix was scheduled following the cancellation of Nadia Bolz-Weber’s planned Nov. 3 evening lecture and Nov. 4 leadership of the preaching workshop.

“Rachel is so gracious to step in to help lead these planned events in early November,” said Chaplain of the College the Rev. Ellen Alston. “She will be an incredible resource to those who hear her. Her reflections about her work in forging relationships that bring about peace, justice, and inclusion will inspire those who attend the worship service, the workshop, or both. It will be a privilege to learn from her.”

Griffin-Allison serves as Senior Pastor of Oak Lawn United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas, a diverse and justice-seeking congregation known for its witness of inclusion. With 30 years of ministry experience, she is widely recognized for her powerful preaching and her ability to help others navigate how to proclaim the Gospel faithfully in the midst of today’s social and political complexities.

She is also a co-editor of the CEB Women’s Bible and has preached and spoken at conferences across the country, including the Church of the Resurrection’s Leadership Institute in Leawood, Kansas, and Drew Theological School’s Tipple Lectures. She brings a wealth of experience in guiding both clergy and laity to connect scripture with the pressing questions of our time.

In addition to her pastoral leadership, Griffin-Allison is the founder of Safe Spaces Lebanon, a nonprofit supporting refugee children and families. Her ministry extends beyond the local church as she advocates for migrants, asylum seekers, and those at the margins. Her work has been recognized with honors such as the Profiles in Leadership Award from SMU and the Peacemaker of the Year Award from the Dallas Peace and Justice Center.

Griffin-Allison earned her Master of Theological Studies from Drew Theological School and her Master of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. She and her wife, Cheryl Griffin-Allison, are the proud moms of four amazing adult children and one spoiled fur baby.

Her visit to Hendrix is co-sponsored by the Compelling Preaching Initiative (CPI), which is funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment and administered by the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas. CPI seeks to build the capacity for bold, innovative preaching within Arkansas United Methodist clergy to transform churches and communities. It is co-sponsored by the Hendrix College Office of Religious Life and its John and Marjem Gill Preaching Workshop, which since 1984 has aimed to strengthen the United Methodist Church by enhancing clergy’s ability to proclaim the gospel in ways that are relevant to the needs of our time, and to enhance dialogue and fellowship among clergy colleagues.

About Hendrix College

Founded in 1876, Hendrix College is featured in Colleges That Change Lives: 40 Schools That Will Change the Way You Think About Colleges and celebrated among the country’s leading liberal arts colleges for academic quality, engaged learning opportunities and career preparation, vibrant campus life, and value. The Hendrix College Warriors compete in 21 NCAA Division III sports. Hendrix has been affiliated with the United Methodist Church since 1884. Learn more at www.hendrix.edu.

About the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas

With a mission to establish and manage charitable funds to strengthen and expand Methodist ministries across Arkansas, the Methodist Foundation for Arkansas manages over $220 million in endowment funds and other charitable assets that benefit local churches and other United Methodist ministries. Founded in 1963, the Foundation has grown into one of the largest United Methodist foundations in the country, managing more than 800 funds that support Methodist ministries. To learn more, visit methodistfoundationAR.org.