The Role of Faith in Public Life: A Visit from Reverend Jimmie Hawkins

Duke Divinity School welcomed the Rev. Jimmie Hawkins, director of the Office of Public Witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA), for a special chapel service and lunch conversation on February 5 on “The Role of Faith in Public Life,” where he challenged attendees to consider how the church embodies its calling.

Jimmie Hawkins preaching in Goodson Chapel — Rev. Jimmie Hawkins

The events drew students, faculty, and local leaders into conversation about Christian witness, justice, and public advocacy.

“The Presbyterian Church (USA) has been a mainline denominational leader in justice and advocacy work for at least 75 years,” said Colin Yuckman, director of the Presbyterian /Reformed House of Studies. “The Office of Public Witness, which Rev. Hawkins directs, organizes and equips Presbyterian commitments by advising national policymakers and their staffs, writing letters, making phone calls, and occasionally testifying before Congress. This involvement helps to clarify the moral and ethical issues at stake in public policy.”

“At a time of national unrest, Christians more than ever need models of advocacy and justice in order to channel their witness to Christ for the common good. It serves as a reminder to the whole Duke Divinity School community of the value of denominational collaboration and connection for the sake of God’s justice and mercy.”

Hawkins brings decades of ministry and advocacy experience to his role. In addition to serving congregations and Presbyterian camps in North Carolina and Virginia, he has served on numerous PC(USA) committees and on the global board of Church World Service and the National Council of Churches. He is also a leader in the Moral Monday Movement and a member of the NC NAACP executive committee.

“At a time of national unrest,” Yuckman said, “Christians more than ever need models of advocacy and justice in order to channel their witness to Christ for the common good. It serves as a reminder to the whole Duke Divinity School community of the value of denominational collaboration and connection for the sake of God’s justice and mercy.”

During chapel, Hawkins preached from Matthew’s Gospel, reflecting on Jesus’ ministry. “What Matthew has done is to give us a synopsis of the ministry of Christ,” Hawkins said. “He confirms that it entailed teaching, preaching and healing […] Do we all acknowledge that this is our calling to be a church with a threefold ministry? The issue that we have is having clarity about how the mission is to be carried out.”

He challenged listeners to consider how the church embodies that calling today. “Charity is a legitimate component of healing, but not its total fulfillment,” Hawkins said. “We must address the causation of why people are starving, and that is done through advocacy for justice.” He urged the community to “remember that we are the children of Jesus […] determined to do the will of God, who calls us to preach, to teach, and to heal the wounds of this broken world.”

Jammie Hawkins preaching in Goodson Chapel

“Charity is a legitimate component of healing, but not its total fulfillment. We must address the causation of why people are starving, and that is done through advocacy for justice. Remember that we are the children of Jesus […] determined to do the will of God, who calls us to preach, to teach, and to heal the wounds of this broken world.”

Yuckman emphasized that the event also reflected Duke Divinity School’s broader commitment to leadership formation and connection beyond the academy.

“Duke Divinity is committed to forming and equipping the next generation of theological and ecclesial leaders,” he said. “Hosting representatives from the PC(USA) Office of Public Witness provides a wonderful opportunity for developing those connections between students and local leaders. It is often through such opportunities that students are able to deepen their vocational and professional discernment.”

He noted that Hawkins’ ministry resonates widely across the school’s centers and programs. “Rev. Hawkins’ work sits at the intersection of Christian faith and public advocacy, a place where many Christians find themselves full of questions and concerns,” Yuckman said. “The ministry of his team and office provides students and the Divinity community with an example of how to follow Jesus in troubling times and how to mobilize Christian advocacy for the transformation of the world.”

The chapel service and lunch conversation were co-sponsored by the Presbyterian/Reformed House of Studies, the Office of Black Church Studies, and the Center for Reconciliation.