The Center for African American Church History (CAACHR)and Research began in 2000 and is dedicated to sharing Black Church History, especially Church Of God In Christ.

As a part of the Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Parodox of Liberty Lecture Series, Dr. Thomas Spann will present a lecture on The Bible and Slavery.

The Daniels Distinguished Lecture is devoted to topics in the humanities and/or women's issues. Dr. Daniels was one of the founding supporters of the African American Museum at Bishop College. She served in several executive positions at The College and was in large measure responsible for the development of the Museum. Daniels was a master teacher who produced a number of students who went on to receive the doctoral degree in the humanities.

Dr. Lauren Cross teaches in the Department of Art Education Art History, and serves as a core faculty member for the Interdisciplinary Art and Design Studies program.

The White Lecture is one-of-three distinguished lectures presented during Women's History Month. The White Lecture spotlights women's religious and/or business issues. Mabel White was a founding Museum board member and community volunteer and church leader extraordinaire with South Dallas as her base.

Dr. Quida Lee is the Senior Pastor of Church of the Disciple in Desoto. She formed the North Town Community Development Corporation.

The Doty Lecture provides a platform for emerging female leaders with emphasis on leadership, education and/or religion Mrs. Doty was an educator/administrator in the Dallas Independent School District and an outstanding church leader in the community.

Reverdy Cassius Ransom (1861-1959) was a civil rights leader and social reform advocate who was a contemporary of Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois.  In 1905, Ransom joined the Niagara Movement organized by W.E.B. Dubois, William Monroe Trotter and other prominent African American leaders of the time. The following year,  Ransom co-founded and was the featured speaker at the second Niagara Movement meeting held in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.  This organizing was the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  Ransom was the forty-eighth bishop of the AME Church (active from 1924-1952).  And as with many African American activists, Ransom endured persecution for his beliefs and approach to achieving racial equality.  He used his platforms to speak out against oppression, poverty, and the harsh despair and lynchings that African Americans suffered.

The symposium will feature three distinguished scholars who will explore Ransom's life, ministry, influence, the AME Church, and the resulting Black Social Gospel movement.

Distinguished Speakers

Dr. Gary Dorrien is Reinhold Niebuhr Professor of Social Ethics at Union Theological Seminary

Dr. Anthony B. Pinn, the Agnes Cullen Arnold Professor of Humanities and Professor of Religion at Rice University

Dr. Calvin S. Morris - Retired Executive Director, Chicago's Community Renewal Society

The Lassiter Distinguished Lecture in Women's Healthcare is devoted to women in health and women's healthcare issues. Bessie Lassiter, a registered nurse, was the wife of Dr. Wright L. Lassiter, Jr., who with his two children endowed the lecture. Established healthcare professionals will be invited to present the lecture as part of our African American Heritage Series and a part of The Museum's Culture of Wellness Initiative.