Rev. Benjamin Ledell Reynolds

A native of Colorado Springs, Benjamin has spent nearly four decades in active ministry and believes that life is a series of calls and that we may have more than one calling over the course of our lives. He feels the purposes of his calling are yet ahead of him.

These days, Benjamin is preparing for qualifying exams for a Ph.D. at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Theology with an emphasis on Black Theology that has its roots in the spirituality, sexuality, and masculinity of members of Black Greek Lettered Fraternities.

In addition to serving as pastor of Chicago's historic First Church of the Brethren, he has served as assistant vice president and dean of students at Garrett. The University of Denver awarded him a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and the Iliff School of Theology in Denver a Master of Divinity. Benjamin has become established for his activism and organizing around issues of equality, access, and community dialogue; serving as Director of the LGBTQ Religious Studies Center at Chicago Theological Seminary; Director of Faith Communities for Illinois Unites for Marriage Equality campaign; and lead consultant for the Table to Action Project bringing Chicago’s diverse community of religious, academic and moral leaders together for dialogue and collaboration to build a stronger ecumenical community in the city.

Benjamin takes the position that “race and sexuality (and gender and class) are co-constitutive in our life; however, repeatedly we find members of the community placing anti-racist work in conflict with the struggle for LGBTQ inclusion. Ordained American Baptist, Benjamin has standing in the United Church of Christ.