Rev. Dr. Brian Smith
Regional Coordinator - Greater Chicago Area
Rev. Brian E. Smith is Director of Strategic Partnerships at the Chicago Theological Seminary where he was the administrator of a Henry LUCE Foundation Covid-19 Emergency Response Grant providing leadership and resources to over 40 Chicago-Westside & Southside faith leaders. He is the visionary behind the Black Faith Leader Collective; a consortium of interfaith leaders that convene for continuing education, activism and grass roots efforts to develop and heal black communities. At CTS, he also had the honor of leading the Jesse Jackson Oral History Archive Project and convening the Rev. Jesse Jackson Symposium around the life of CTS alumnus Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. Rev. Smith pastors the North Shore Faith Community Church, a non-denominational congregation in Lake County, Illinois. Rev. Smith served previously as Director of Development at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary where he was the first African American to serve in a full time post. Rev. Smith has led fundraising efforts for multiple endowed scholarships including six designated for black students at Garrett-Evangelical and the first endowed AME Scholarship at Chicago Theological Seminary. Prior to his service in seminary education, Rev. Smith worked for many years in affordable housing in the non-profit and private sector as a community development professional. He has served on key public housing redevelopment teams in the city of Chicago including the redevelopment of both the Robert Taylor and Henry Horner Homes. Rev. Smith is an artist who enjoys singing, writing plays and Djing music. As an accomplished playwright and director, he has written and produced four theatrical works based upon African American hermeneutics including: The Star of Glory; a depiction of the Birth of Jesus Christ, The Prince of Peace, an Easter story, The Trail of Freedom, a historical fictional story about Harriet Tubman and American Defender based upon the life of Frederick Douglas.
Rev. Smith currently holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in Political Science from Grinnell College, a Masters of Science in Human Services Administration from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Theta Alpha Kappa) where he is completing a Doctor of Ministry in Black Congregational Leadership. His doctoral project research is focused on Reforming Faith Congregations and the Academy for Stakeholder Stewardship. Rev. Smith was ordained under the pastorate of his home congregation, the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist church, which is part of the National Baptist Convention.
He has been happily married to Mrs. Stephanie E. Smith for 24 years and he is the proud father of two lovely children: Chloe Ann Smith and Brian E. Smith II. He remains committed to building global relationships with diverse people to celebrate the goodness of God and the flourishing of all life.