Alum Spotlight: BMP Grad Promoted to Associate Dean at Columbia Theological Seminary

Dr. Jeffery Tribble Sr., who graduated from Hartford Seminary’s Black Ministries Program in 1985, has been appointed Associate Dean of Advanced Professional Studies at Columbia Theological Seminary (CTS) in Decatur, GA.

In a press release from CTS, Dr .Love Sechrest, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty, said: “Dr. Tribble represents a wealth of knowledge and experience both in his work here at the Seminary and with the wider church. He is devoted to equipping leaders for the church and works tirelessly with our D.Min. and D.Ed.Min. students already, making him an obvious choice for this position.”

The press release gave this additional background:

“Dr. Tribble received his B.S. from Howard University, a Black Minister’s Program Certificate from Hartford Seminary, his M.Div. from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University as part of a joint program with Garrett-Evangelical. He began his work in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as a minister of membership development at Martin Temple A.M.E. Zion Church in Chicago. Dr. Tribble was ordained as an elder in 1992, when he then served as the pastor at St. Andrew A.M.E. Zion Church in Gary, IN. He has also served in the A.M.E. Zion Church as a pastor at St. Mark church in Chicago, co-pastor at New Vision Church in Suwanee, GA, Associate pastor at Greater Walters church in Chicago, the minister of evangelism and men’s ministry and founding Dean of the Life Development Institute at Martin Temple Church in Chicago, and as the presiding elder for the A.M.E. Zion Church for the Augusta District from 2008–2013 and the Atlanta District from 2013-2017.

“Dr. Tribble began his career as an academic at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2000 where he served as adjunct faculty, Instructor of Congregational Ministries and Director of Teaching Parishes and Congregational Research, and Assistant Professor of Congregational Leadership and Director of the Center for the Church and the Black Experience. He has been a lecturer at Apex School of Theology in Durham, NC. He joined the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary as Assistant Professor of Ministry in 2007, later appointed as Associate Professor of Ministry in 2012.

“Dr. Tribble’s most well-known book is Transformative Pastoral Leadership in the Black Church (2005) published by Palgrave-Macmillan Press. He was selected as one of “45 Outstanding Black Alums” by Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 2017. In 2014, Dr. Tribble received the “Frederick Douglas Award” by the International Ministers and Lay Association of The A.M.E. Zion Church. He was also a co-convener of the National Council of Churches Christian Education, Ecumenical Faith Formation, and Leadership Development Convening Table for 2016-2017.”

Congratulations to Dr. Tribble!