08/26/2026
We're grateful to have the witness, wisdom, and authenticity of Traci Blackmon as part of our 2026 Preach Conference. Join us in Minneapolis or online. Comment 'PREACH' for a link to learn more and register.
More about Rev. Blackmon:
If you ask Rev. Traci D. Blackmon what keeps her up at night, she will tell you: “It is the cries of God’s people.” Rev. Blackmon believes the gospel is meant not only to be believed, but also embodied: in our homes, in the church, on the streets, in the halls of power, and wherever human dignity is at stake. She is a nationally recognized public theologian whose ministry lives at the intersection of faith, public witness, and collective action. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, Rev. Blackmon is known for biblically grounded preaching and storytelling rooted in Black liberation theology and the prophetic tradition of the Black Church. She emerged as a national moral leader during the Ferguson uprising following the killing of Michael Brown Jr. Her pastoral presence, community organizing, and prophetic clarity helped shape a faith-rooted response to state violence and racial injustice in her region. As a certified grief doula and registered nurse, with more than 25 years of healthcare experience, Rev. Blackmon brings together clinical expertise and spiritual wisdom to care for people in both sacred and civic spaces. Rev. Blackmon served as pastor of Simpson Chapel AME Church in Millersburg, Missouri, for three years before entering seminary. Following graduation, she was called as the first woman pastor in the 159-year history of Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant, Missouri. She served that congregation for 10 years before answering the call to serve the wider church as Associate General Minister of Justice and Local Church Ministries for the United Church of Christ. Today, Rev. Blackmon continues to serve the wider church as a public theologian, movement strategist, and organizational consultant advancing justice-centered, faith-rooted change.
