BRITE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Rosalyn and Manny Rosenthal Professor of Jewish Studies
Job Titles:
- Theological Librarian and Professor of Theology and Ethics
Job Titles:
- Manager of Advancement Data
Job Titles:
- Director of Community and Spiritual Life and Director of Baptist Studies
- in 2020 As Its First Director of Community
The Rev. Dr. Aretha Flucker joined Brite Divinity School in 2020 as its first Director of Community and Spiritual Life. Rev. Dr. Flucker's ministry has focused on spiritual formation, social justice activism, leadership development, and community empowerment. A preacher, she has served within communities of faith in New York City, NY and Humble, TX. She is excited to continue to help shape communities of faith and was named the Director of Baptist Studies in 2021. Rev. Dr. Flucker received her Doctor of Ministry (DMin) degree in Transformational Leadership at Boston University's School of Theology in May 2022. She centers her ongoing research and consultancy work on reimagining the church with a hybrid model amid a decline in attendance and engagement. Rev. Dr. Flucker currently serves on the Alliance of Baptists' Board of Directors and contributed a book chapter, "Reimagining the Cross: Jesus, a Womanist Co-Sufferer and Co-Conspirator in the Alliance's Taking on the Cross (Nurturing Faith Books, 2022).
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President and Dean, and Associate Professor of Theology
- in 2019 As Executive Vice President
Dr. Michael Miller joined Brite Divinity School in 2019 as Executive Vice President and Dean. He also serves as Associate Professor of Theology.
Dr. Miller previously served as Academic Dean of Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio, an historic educational institution of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He has also taught at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, Indiana and United Theological College of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica.
An Ordained Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), he is a graduate of the University of the West Indies (BA), Columbia Theological Seminary (ThM), and Claremont Graduate University (PhD). He is the author of Freedom in Resistance and Creative Transformation and Reshaping the Contextual Vision in Caribbean Theology.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Center for Lifelong Learning
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor of Methodist Studies and Theology
- in 2018 As Assistant Professor
Rev. Dr. Natalya Cherry joined Brite Divinity School in 2018 as Assistant Professor in Methodist Studies and Theology. Dr. Cherry received her BA from Georgetown University, an MDiv from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC and a PhD from Southern Methodist University. She is an ordained Elder in the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church, where she pastored local churches from 2001-2013 and previously served on the ministry staffs of Bethesda UMC in Bethesda, MD and Metropolitan Memorial UMC in Washington, DC.
Job Titles:
- Board Advisor
- Honorary Trustee
Job Titles:
- Professor of Religion Education and Coordinator for Vocation Development
Russell W. Dalton joined the faculty of Brite Divinity in the fall of 2004. Before coming to Brite he served as the G. Ernest Thomas Professor of Christianity and Communication at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and Director of United's Master of Arts in Religious Communication degree program. An ordained American Baptist minister, Dalton served several congregations prior to pursuing doctoral studies. He serves as an officer and member of the steering committee of the Religious Education Association. Dr, Dalton is the author of Children's Bibles in America: A Reception History of the Story of Noah in US Children's Bibles, Marvelous Myths: Marvel Superheroes and Everyday Faith, Faith Journey through Fantasy Lands: A Christian Dialogue with Harry Potter, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings and Video, Kids, and Christian Education, as well as numerous articles and essay. He has led a number of national and regional conferences and workshops in Christian Education, Theology and Film, and Religious Communication.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Hebrew Bible
The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D. is the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible. She is the author of A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church and translator of its biblical selections; the first two volumes, Year A and W (a stand alone volume) were published in August. Volumes B is awaiting publication summer 2023 and C is underway, due in due in 2024. She is the author of Womanist Midrash: A Reintroduction to Women of the Torah and of the Throne, a commentary on Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah in the Wisdom series; Daughters of Miriam: Women Prophets in Ancient Israel; and co-editor of The Peoples' Bible and The Peoples' Companion to the Bible. She has completed the second volume of Womanist Midrash focusing on women in the Former Prophets expected summer 2023. She is an Episcopal priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Pennsylvania and licensed in the Diocese of Texas and, a former Army chaplain and congregational pastor in the AME Zion Church. A former member of the Dorshei Derekh Reconstructionist Minyan of the Germantown Jewish Center in Philadelphia, she has co-taught courses with and for the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Seminary in Wyncote, PA.
Rev. Dr. Cady is President of Brite Divinity School. Dr. Cady joined Brite in March 2024.
Dr. Cady previously served as the Senior Minister of Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NY. The congregation, known for social justice, anti-poverty efforts, and LGBTQ advocacy, flourished during Cady's tenure. During his tenure, the congregation increased worshipping attendance, grew its endowment from $6 million to over $10 million while reducing the annual endowment draw, and completed the largest capital campaign in its history, raising more than $8 million, to renovate, expand, and transform a historic building into a fully accessible Community Outreach Center that offers meals, showers, laundry, haircare, clothing, and healthcare to the most vulnerable of the community.
Dr. Cady earned his Doctor of Philosophy at Princeton Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. He earned a Bachelor of Arts at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Job Titles:
- Director of Presbyterian Studies
A Presbyterian Minister of Word and Sacrament since 1964, Warner's career has combined the roles of pastor and scholar in his leadership of outstanding congregations in Indiana and Texas through significant transformation. At regional and denominational levels, he has served his church in areas of peacemaking, fund-raising, education, mission, and judicial affairs. He has been a commissioner to two national General Assemblies where he chaired committees on the Brief Statement of Faith (1989) and Bills and Overtures (2003).
Within the Fort Worth community Warner has been president of the board of the Parenting Center and founding president of an AIDS funding agency. He served on the board of the Presbyterian Night Shelter, United Way, and Planned Parenthood of North Texas. He is a member of Leadership Fort Worth.
As a scholar his area of continuing interest is the reception of biblical interpretations that challenge conventional ideas. He has contributed articles to the Journal of Presbyterian History, and his essays have appeared internationally in a Festschrift and a centennial collection. He continues his research and writing in the Book of Psalms and 1 and 2 Samuel.
Warner maintains an active life in retirement with his involvement at Brite Divinity School as Director of Presbyterian Studies and Adjunct Faculty member and as a member of the Steering Committee for Building a Brite Future. He is a Parish Associate at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church where he serves as Theologian-in-Residence. He accepts invitations for preaching and teaching. He and his wife, Mary, have two children.
Job Titles:
- the Right Rev. Sam B. Hulsey Professor of Hebrew Bible