James A. Forbes

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James A. Forbes – Life, Ministry, and Legacy

James A. Forbes Jr. (born 1935) is a prominent American pastor, teacher, and social justice leader, best known for his long service as Senior Minister at Riverside Church in New York City. Explore his life, theology, activism, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

James Alexander Forbes Jr. is an influential American clergyman, preacher, educator, and social justice advocate. He served as Senior Minister of Riverside Church in New York City from 1989 to 2007, becoming the first African American to lead that historic, interdenominational congregation. Under his leadership, Riverside became a vibrant center for progressive theology, civic engagement, and interfaith dialogue. His career spans pulpit leadership, theological teaching, and national activism.

Early Life and Family

James A. Forbes Jr. was born on September 6, 1935, in Burgaw, North Carolina. James A. Forbes Sr. and Mabel Clemons Forbes. Goldsboro and then Raleigh, North Carolina, where he grew up in a deeply religious household.

His father was a minister at Providence United Holy Church and also worked as a candy salesman, supporting the family while anchoring them in the church community.

Education & Theological Formation

• Forbes graduated from Howard University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 1957.

• He then pursued the ministry and enrolled at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, earning a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in 1962.

• In 1975, he earned a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) degree from Colgate Rochester Divinity School.

• In addition, he completed a clinical pastoral education certificate from the Medical College of Virginia in 1968.

His academic and ministerial training combined both the intellectual and experiential dimensions of pastoral work, preparing him for preaching, pastoral care, and social engagement.

Early Ministry & Academic Career

Pastoral Assignments

After his theological training, Forbes served in several pastoral roles in North Carolina and Virginia:

• He briefly returned to Raleigh to assist in his father’s church.

• He interned at Olin Binkley Memorial Baptist Church in Chapel Hill, NC.

• He pastored Holy Trinity Church in Wilmington, NC; St. Paul’s Holy Church in Roxboro, NC; and St. John’s United Holy Church of America in Richmond, VA.

• He also served as campus minister at Virginia Union University in Richmond, VA.

Teaching & Homiletics at Union

In 1976, Forbes joined the faculty of Union Theological Seminary in New York, teaching preaching (homiletics). Joe R. Engle Professorship of Preaching, the first to hold that title at Union, from 1985 onward. Harry Emerson Fosdick Adjunct Professor of Preaching in 1989.

Forbes’s style of preaching was influenced by his Pentecostal upbringing, emphasizing a blend of narrative, spirit, and engagement, which made him a “preacher’s preacher.”

Senior Pastor of Riverside Church

In 1989, Forbes was installed as the fifth Senior Minister of Riverside Church in New York City, succeeding Rev. William Sloane Coffin. first African American to lead that prominent interdenominational congregation.

Under his leadership:

• Riverside increased its engagement with social justice issues, community development, and interfaith dialogue.

• He played a role in Harlem Congregations for Community Improvement, which focused on affordable housing and urban redevelopment.

• He supported efforts such as the Harlem Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, collaborating with pastors and public health initiatives.

• In 2004, during the U.S. presidential election, he addressed the Democratic National Convention and led interfaith rallies and social activism through Riverside’s Mobilization 2004 campaign.

His period as pastor was not without controversy. Some within the congregation objected to his style, to debates over finances, and to internal conflicts over authority and governance.

On June 1, 2007, Forbes retired from the active leadership role and became Senior Minister Emeritus.

Later Roles & Advocacy

After retirement from the pulpit, Forbes continued to serve in public religious, educational, and social capacities:

• He founded the Healing of the Nations Foundation (also called Healing of the Nations Ministries), a nonpartisan ministry focused on healing, spiritual renewal, and public advocacy.

• He served as National Minister for the Drum Major Institute, an organization founded on the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

• He continues to teach, preach, and speak in national forums, emphasizing issues of justice, reconciliation, racial equality, peace, and theological reflection.

• He also served on teaching staff at Auburn Theological Seminary and remains active in theological education.

Legacy & Influence

James A. Forbes’s influence extends across multiple domains:

1. Pulpit as platform for justice
   He continued Riverside’s tradition of the “prophetic pulpit,” using sermons to address immigration, poverty, war, racial reconciliation, and LGBT inclusion.

2. Bridging tradition and innovation
   His preaching style integrated Pentecostal energy with mainline theology, creating a platform attractive to diverse audiences.

3. Educator of preachers
   His years teaching homiletics at Union shaped generations of pastors and reinforced the art of preaching as a theological discipline.

4. Leadership in interfaith and civic engagement
   Through community development projects, congregational activism, and national speaking, he exemplified how ecclesial institutions can engage civic life.

5. Courage and controversy
   Forbes’s time at Riverside bore internal tensions—some congregants resisted his style or perceived changes—but his willingness to confront difficult issues marks his tenure as courageous.

6. Ongoing voice
   Even after retirement, he remains a respected elder statesman of American religion and public theology, consulted in conversations about race, faith, and social renewal.

Personality & Distinctive Traits

From his life, public persona, and writings, certain qualities emerge:

• Charismatic communicator: Forbes’s sermons were known for warmth, oral engagement, storytelling, and urgency.

• Theologically progressive yet rooted: He maintained Christian orthodoxy but embraced inclusive theology, social justice, and interfaith openness.

• Bridge builder: He worked across denominational, racial, and cultural boundaries, seeking unity in diversity.

• Resilient in conflict: Navigating institutional tensions, controversies, and generational change, he held to core convictions under pressure.

• Mentor and teacher: His heart was not only for the pulpit, but for forming others—preachers, thinkers, activists, and congregants.

Notable Quotes & Writings

Some representative quotes and works of James A. Forbes include:

• Book: Whose Gospel?: A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism (2009) — in which he addresses topics like poverty, war, equality, race, sexuality, and environment from a progressive Christian perspective.

• Quote: While I could not locate many widely published quote collections, Forbes’s preaching often emphasized:

  “The gospel is not given to comfort the afflicted—it is also given to afflict the comfortable.” (a theme in his preaching, though specific attribution is not always documented)
  His sermons often center on healing, justice, reconciliation, and the call to courageous love.

Lessons from James A. Forbes

From his life and ministry, we can extract several enduring lessons:

• Pulpit must engage society: The Christian pulpit is not optional for social critique; faith must speak to real human suffering and systemic injustice.

• Institutional change is fraught but necessary: Leading a historic church like Riverside means wrestling with tradition, change, and congregational feedback.

• Teaching strengthens ministry: His dual role as preacher and teacher allowed depth, sustainability, and continuity across generations.

• Diversity and inclusion require courage: Advocating for inclusion, racial equality, and interfaith bridges often invites pushback—but moral clarity matters.

• Retirement does not mean silence: Even beyond formal office, a life of influence continues through foundations, writing, mentoring, and public engagement.

Conclusion

James A. Forbes Jr. embodies the convergence of faith, intellect, and social commitment. As the first African American Senior Minister at Riverside Church, he expanded its prophetic witness, deepened its theological richness, and engaged public life in tough conversations. His legacy is not simply in titles held, but in lives touched—preachers he taught, communities he challenged, and a church he helped orient toward justice and hope.