Debra Carter Williams has extensive experience in ministry and religious education. She received her B.A. from Wesleyan College, her M.A.R. from Yale Divinity School, and is currently pursuing her D.Min from Duke Divinity School. Williams has held several ministerial roles over the past 25 years, including positions at churches in Florida, Georgia, and Ohio. She is currently the Director of Campus Ministry at Wesleyan College, where she also teaches as an adjunct faculty member in the Religious Studies department.

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Curriculum Vitae
Debra Carter Williams
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Education:
Duke Divinity School 2015-Present
Duke University Doctor of Ministry Program
Durham, North Carolina DMin expected 2018
Yale Divinity School 2012-2014
Yale University M.A.R. in Theology
New Haven, Connecticut
Wesleyan College 2008-2012
Macon, Georgia B.A. in Religious Studies & Philosophy
with a minor in History
summa cum laude (4.0 GPA)
Unity School for Religious Studies 1988-1990
Unity Village, Missouri Ordination conferred
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Academic Honors & Awards:
Robert G. Gustafson Scholarship 2012-2014 Academic Years
Yale Divinity School Full academic scholarship
Yale University
Jacob S. Quiambao Scholarship 2010 & 2011
Wesleyan College For academic excellence in Religious Studies
Distinction in Religious Studies and Philosophy 2012
Wesleyan College
Clare Boisfeuillet Jones Prize in History 2012
Wesleyan College For distinction in historical
research and writing
Wesleyan Woman of Success 2012
Wesleyan College Awarded by the student body for service
to the campus community
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Inducted in 2012
Overall scholarship
Phi Gamma Mu Honor Society Inducted in 2012
Scholarship in the Social Science
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Other Activities:
Yale Divinity School Student Council 2013-2014
Second Year M.A.R. Representative

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Vetted Participant, Religion and Foreign Policy: Investigating Religious 2013
Minorities and Human Rights Summer Intensive Course sponsored
McGill University by the Faith and Globalization Initiative of
Montreal, Canada the Tony Blair Faith Foundation
Teaching Assistant, Religious Studies Department 2011-2012
Wesleyan College Conducted research and crafted an index
for an Oxford University Press volume
Served as the TA for a course on the
history of Christianity, lecturing during
the professor's absence
Led exam preparation sessions and
created the exam study guides
Proctored logic exams for the
Philosophy Department and served as a tutor
President, Nontraditional Student Body 2010-2012
Wesleyan College
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Academic Papers & Presentations:
“La Muchacha: Reading the Book of Ruth as an Account of Commodification and Objectification within the Guatemalan Context”
Presented at the American Academy of Religion, Southeast Regional Meeting, Nashville, TN, March
2015
“Searching for Jesus: Discovering Essential Christianity in the Post-Constantinian Church”
Presented and published at Wesleyan College, April 2012
“German Idealism, Hitler, and Voices in the Wilderness”
Presented at Wesleyan College, April 2011
“The Prophetic Voice in America: Speaking for Social Justice and Against Contemporary Apostasy”
Presented at the American Academy of Religion, Southeast Regional Meeting, Atlanta, GA, March
2010
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Professional Experience:
Director of Campus Ministry, Wesleyan College, Macon, GA 2014-Present
Responsible for all religious life programming on campus
Charged with the development of programming and worship services for Pierce Chapel
Leads and develops small group studies and spiritual formation classes
Fully responsible for the baccalaureate service
Participates in all academic ceremonies as a member of the platform party
Created and organized the dedication and consecration services for Pierce Chapel in April 2015
Serves the students as a pastoral counselor
Organizes well attended Theology of Justice convocations that address issues such as the theological
implications of the death penalty, mass incarceration, and hunger and homelessness
Creates opportunities for relationship building within the Wesleyan Community
Supervises and trains the Campus Ministry Assistants (CMAs), a six member team of students from
diverse religious faiths who, through the practice of radical hospitality, create a welcoming and safe space
in their respective residence halls in which students feel comfortable and supported as they navigate the
rigors of college life
Actively engages the campus community in the celebration of the richness and beauty of world religions
through interfaith services, convocations, lectures, dialogues, and classes
Advises the Wesleyan Disciples, an interdenominational group of young women who have made an
extended commitment to their spiritual formation within the Christian context

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Serves on appropriate committees including those related to scholarship awards and college policy
Advises the Council for Religious Unity, a major student board comprised of students from many faith
traditions including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Neo-Pagan
Provides a voice of reassurance during times of crisis, gathering the campus community in prayer,
reflection, and dialogue
Creates and maintains a strong relationship with area clergy, churches, and ministries
Advises and works closely with all campus ministry organizations
Develops programming for the discernment of vocation and calling
Leads service and vocational discernment retreats
Served on the search committee for new faculty in the Religious Studies Department
Interfaces creatively with other departments, including the Lane Center for Service Learning and the
Office of Career Development
Prepared significant reports for the University Senate, the accreditation body of the General Board of
Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church
Works closely with the Student Affairs staff to address student needs holistically
Administers the campus ministry budget which includes the appropriate disbursement of grant funds and
required reporting
Creates publicity materials for events and activities
Supervises student assistants
Adjunct Faculty, Department of Religious Studies, Wesleyan College 2015-Present
Well-regarded instructor, receiving excellent evaluations from students
Classes taught to date:
REL 290: The Theology and History of John Wesley and Methodism (Spring 2015)
REL 100: Theories and Methods in Religious Studies (Fall 2015)
REL 225: Exploring the World’s Religions (Spring 2016)
Temporary Minister, Unity in the Heart of Georgia, Byron, GA 2009-2011
Assisted this small ministry in its initial pastoral, congregational, and administrative development
Senior Minister, Unity of Naples Church, Naples, Florida 2001-2008
Encouraged circles of community within a very large and vibrant congregation
Created a strong and vital adult education program, and facilitated well attended and challenging
adult education classes
Encouraged a consciousness of sacred service that led to a remarkable level of involvement in the
community as well as the creation of “Traveling Angels,” an international service team that has taken
over thirty tons of school supplies and humanitarian aid to Guatemala
Provided organizational direction for seminars by nationally known scholars such as Marcus Borg
and John Dominic Crossan.
Expanded the pastoral care ministry to include prayer chaplains and a hospital visitation team
Directed the overhaul of the financial reporting processes, supervised the creation of personnel
policies and procedures, and restructured the staff to more effectively support the vision and
mission of the church
Jointly managed and coordinated a large capital campaign
Managed a $1 million budget and a large physical plant that included twenty-seven acres of land
Organized and led trips to Guatemala, China, and Italy
Senior Minister, Unity Church of Christianity, Columbus, Ohio 1995-1999
Increased church attendance from an average of 290 to an average of 450-490
Developed an excellent and inspiring music program
Expanded the church staff to an appropriate level to effectively serve the needs of the church
Established a service ministry that included 250 active volunteers
Created a Development Team which implemented a planned giving program

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Encouraged participation in the larger community through outreach programs
Expanded the adult and youth education programs
Organized and led trips to Costa Rica, Peru, and Thailand
Traveled to Egypt as part of a peace initiative
Associate Minister, Atlanta Unity Church, Atlanta, GA 1991-1995
Responsible for the adult and youth education ministries
Provided support for the pastoral care ministry
Developed a strong volunteer program
Established an annual women’s retreat
Increased Wednesday service attendance from 30 to 150
Well-received speaker and teacher
Involved closely in the administrative direction of a large capital campaign
Directed the administrative staff in the planning for major events and speakers
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Professional Affiliations & Community Service:
Member, Board of Trustees, Wesley Foundation, Macon, GA (2015-Present)
Member, Women’s Interfaith Alliance of Macon, GA (2015-Present)
Member, Finance Committee, Centenary United Methodist Church (2014-Present)
Chair, Licensing and Ordination Team of the Association of Unity Churches (2007-2009)
Member, Licensing and Ordination Team of the Association of Unity Churches (2003-2009)
Member, Board of Directors, Mental Health Association of Collier County, Naples, FL (2004-2007)
Member, Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, Mental Health Association of
Collier County, Naples, FL (2006-2007)
Member, Board of Directors, Mental Health Association Foundation, Naples, FL (2002-2004)
Member, Family Selection Committee, Habitat For Humanity, Collier County, FL
Member, Board of Directors, Theological Center, Naples, FL
Steering Committee, Concerned Clergy for Racial Justice, Columbus, OH (1998)
President, North Atlanta Clergy Association, Atlanta, GA (1994-1995)