This year, Trinity is proud to partner with Union Presbyterian Seminary to host a joint event on Saturday, March 9th at 4pm at Legion Brewing in Southpark (5610 Carnegie Blvd). Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins, Director of the Office of Public Witness in the PCUSA, and Rev. Kate Murphy, Pastor at The Grove Church in Charlotte, will be our featured speakers. Their conversation will focus on the theme “Engaging In A Fearless Faith” and will be led by Rev. British Hyrams.
On Sunday morning, Rev. Hawkins will preach at 11am worship. He’ll also gather with folks for an informal meet & greet in the Heritage Room during the Sunday school hour.
Trinity’s Gilchrist Speaker Series is an annual Lenten speaker series that connects Trinity and the wider community with leading theologians and ministers to dig deeper into what it means to be a faithful witness in today’s world. Founded in 1982 and named for charter members Pat and Katie Gilchrist, this ministry is endowed by funds given in their honor by Press and Nancy Millen and the Gilchrist family.
OUR 2024 GILCHRIST SPEAKERS
Rev. Jimmie Hawkins
Rev. Jimmie R. Hawkins serves as the Director of the advocacy offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA): Office of Public Witness in Washington DC and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations (NYC). He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC); a Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (Richmond, VA); and a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center/Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA). For twenty years he served as the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC, 1996 – 2016. Between 1992 – 1996, he served as the senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian, Holmes Memorial and Trinity Presbyterian churches in Virginia (Peaks Presbytery).
He served on the boards of Church World Service, the National Council of Churches and Union Presbyterian Seminary. He has chaired several interfaith /ecumenical and non-profit boards: NC NAACP Executive Committee, Durham Congregations in Action, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham, Housing for New Hope (homeless advocacy), End Poverty Now, and others. He serves as a tri-chair of the Washington Interreligious Staff Committee (WISC) and the Heads of Washington Office (HOWO).
His community ministry includes being a leader for the Moral Monday Movement since its onset in 2013. He engaged in four actions of civil disobedience protesting the actions to curtail voting rights, healthcare and a living wage. He has been active in justice advocacy throughout his ministry.
His book, Unbroken and Unbowed, was released by Westminster John Knox Press, in February 2022.
He is the son of Elsie L. and the late James P. Hawkins. He is married to Sheinita Hampton Hawkins and they have two children: Kaela Renee and James Hampton.
Rev. Kate Murphy
Rev. Kate Murphy has been serving as the temporary pastor of The Grove Presbyterian Church since December of 2008. During her pastorate the congregation has transitioned from a faithful traditional majority white, majority elderly congregation into a faithful, thriving multi-generational, multi-ethnic, multicultural outwardly focused congregation passionate about serving its neighborhood. She is the happiest pastor she knows. Kate and her husband Colin are raising three daughters, Callie, Quinn and Kerrigan. She enjoys running, reading and pointless reality television. She records a weekly podcast about Jesus, race and leading & serving multi-ethnic congregations with her good friend Rev. Eulando Henton called 2 Pastors Take A Walk. She is currently completing her first book called Lost, Hidden & Small: (re)Discovering the Kingdom of Christ which will be published by Wildhouse Press in the Fall of 2024.