Professor Donald McNeal’s teaching and scholarship focus on biblical interpretation in practical ministry, engaging a theological, canonical, sociological and historical approach to empowerment. He team teaches Congregational Studies, a required course, as well as an elective course entitled Pastors and the Legal Systems.

Donald is a licensed and practicing Texas State and Federal Attorney at Law representing pastors and congregants in the Houston, Harris County, Texas area in Criminal Law and Discrimination (i.e., Police Misconduct and Racial and Mental Health Discrimination) and Family Law. In this role, Professor McNeal has seen conflict within the Church and in the life of the Christian minister, especially the one who serves as pastor.

Professor McNeal challenges students to view the traditions of the church and faith in light of 21st century reality.

“My goal is for students to be introduced to the role of “authority” within the Church, the parameters of the culture which places limitations and duties on the Church and its pastor. Our culture is quite litigious and the Church has increased in its use of the Court system to resolve issues personally and as a body of Christ. Students will be engaged in conflict as sacred and ordered by God and Christ from the beginning, whether physiologically, mentally or in belief. I want students to practice the hermeneutic of suspicion about the depth of what we say in the church about our faith and home life.

Students should learn ways to announce the kingdom of God in areas of family violence, criminal activity and wholeness in real terms.”

Professor McNeal challenges students to explore their psychological need for personal myths, marital myths and church myths—stories we hold in our minds and change as life gives us coping skills and reality alters the possible in our lives. Professor McNeal will engage students in exploring and re-ordering these stories to be viable in a current context. Students will also examine the doctrine of separation of church and state, and ways to keep your church out of court.

An ordained minister of the Missionary Baptist Church and American Baptist Church, Donald serves the Church as Pastor of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, through social justice advocacy through the NAACP, preaching, teaching and scholarship.