Rev. Dr. Janiece Renee Williams

Denomination: Baptist (Bapt.)
Organization: Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA

From the pulpit to the classroom, Reverend Dr. Janiece Renee Williams has devoted her life to the power of preaching. A scholar, practitioner, and teacher, she holds a Ph.D. in Religion from Vanderbilt University, with a special focus on Homiletics and Liturgics. Her work explores the intersection of Black preaching and ethics, with particular attention to practices of itinerant preaching and the ethics of preaching across relational dynamics.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, she was licensed to preach at Temple Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Dr. Sedric D. Veal Sr. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies from Nyack College, her Master of Divinity degree from Wake Forest University School of Divinity, and a Master of Arts in Religion from Vanderbilt University.

As a practitioner-scholar, Dr. Williams became a certified Homiletic Coach through the David G. Buttrick Homiletic Peer Coaching Program at Vanderbilt University. In this capacity, she has had the privilege of applying her extensive knowledge of preaching theory, methods, and history to guide preachers on their journey toward more faithful and authentic preaching. In 2024, she released Sermon Development: A Workbook for Preachers, which quickly became a primary resource for pastors, ministers, and scholars. It is widely used in Ministers-in-Training programs in churches across the country and has been recognized as a foundational tool at preaching conferences nationwide.

Dr. Williams is the Visiting Lecturer in Homiletics at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia where she takes great joy in shaping the next generation of preachers to be faithful stewards of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to her scholarly and coaching endeavors, Dr. Williams is proud to serve as the Homiletician in Residence at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Largo, Maryland under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. George Lewis Parks, Jr. Dr. Williams has been blessed to preach, lecture, and lead in various congregations, universities, and conferences across the country, including The Hampton University Minister’s Conference Late Night Service, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, and as a featured lecturer at Princeton Theological Seminary’s Black Theology and Leadership Institute.

In 2024, Dr. Williams made history as the first woman to serve on the leadership cabinet of the Pastors and Ministers Division of the National Baptist Convention USA. A proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, she is dedicated to service efforts that uplift underserved members of the community.