Raquel S. Lettsome

Affectionately known as “Rev. Raquel,” the Reverend Raquel S. Lettsome, Ph.D. is committed to excellence and loves to help people move forward in their lives and ministries. Building on her core values of scholarship, integrity, and authenticity, Dr. Lettsome informs and inspires congregants and classes through her preaching, teaching, writing, and online course and webinar experiences. To this end, she founded Raquel S. Lettsome, LLC. (www.raquelslettsome.com) to use these gifts in the service of churches and educational institutions to help them advance their missions. She is also the Founder & President of the not-for-profit corporation, RSL Ministries, Inc., (www.rslministries.com) where she works with faith leaders and lay people to interpret Scripture more effectively for preaching, teaching, and living. With more than two decades of congregational ministry experience and extensive biblical and theological training, Dr. Lettsome knows how to integrate the highest levels of academic biblical scholarship, life giving ministry practices, and the discernment of the Holy Spirit to equip and empower believers.

Dr. Lettsome is a nationally recognized preacher, teacher, and scholar. Her preaching distinctions include the Distinguished Preachers Series (Riverside Church, NY), and the George A. Crawley Women in Ministry Preacher (Hampton University Ministers’ Conference); national conferences including the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, the Festival of Homiletics, and The Craft of Preaching; and academic institutions including Yale and Duke Universities. Dr. Lettsome is Professor of New Testament and Womanist Hermeneutics at Eden Theological Seminary (St. Louis, MO) and has been an invited lecturer and instructor for classes at Princeton Theological, Payne Theological, United Lutheran seminaries as well as national conferences, and denominational meetings.

Dr. Lettsome is also a published author in the fields of homiletics, biblical studies, womanist biblical interpretation and theology, and Christian spirituality. Her latest publication, “Breakthrough You! 30 Daily Devotions to Move You Forward,” was a #1 New Release in Religion & Spirituality Short Reads on Amazon.com.

Dr. Lettsome holds a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies (Yale University), a Master of Divinity (Princeton Theological Seminary) and is the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary (2005). Dr. Lettsome shares her life with her husband, Rev. Lydell C. Lettsome, M.D., and their 2 children, Tiffany and Luke. She and her family are active members of the Rockland Orange Chapter of Jack & Jill of America, Incorporated.