In recognition and observance of Black History Month, A.D. Bruce Religion Center and the Campus Ministries Association at the University of Houston would like to acknowledge the following Black Worship Leaders.

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Also known as African American History Month, the event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history.

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  Sheikh Ammar AlShukry

  Sheikh Ammar hails from Sudan via Queens, New York. It was in Sudan that Ammar began his studies in the Arabic language at an early age. After returning to New York he benefited from a local scholarship in a wide variety of Islamic Sciences. He continued his studies in Houston with renowned scholars such as Dr. Salah Al-Sawy, and completed an extensive study with Dr. Waleed Basyouni. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Sciences with AlMaghrib Institute. He is the author of "What the Pen Wrote," Imam and Resident Scholar of River Oaks Islamic Center in Houston, and the Content Director for Faith Essentials and FaithIQ. Sheikh Ammar has been teaching weekly classes for the University of Houston Muslim Student Association on and off for more than 5 years, and is currently teaching the "40 Hadith of Imam An-Nawawi" virtually every Wednesday since the beginning of Fall 2020. He is a true role model and source of inspiration and faith for the UHMSA community.

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  The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry

  The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry is Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church. He is the Chief Pastor and serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, and as Chair of the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church. Presiding Bishop Curry was installed as the 27th Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church on November 1, 2015. He was elected to a nine-year term and confirmed at the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in Salt Lake City, UT, on June 27, 2015.

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  Rev. Dr. William Barber

  Rev. Dr. William Barber is an ordained minister of the Christian Church, (Disciples of Christ), one of the sponsoring denominations of the United Campus Ministry of Greater Houston. Dr. Barber is also the founder of the Poor People's Campaign and Moral Monday Movement. His ministry is focused on eradicating poverty, and social justice for all people.

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  Rev. Dr. Yvonne Delk

  For nearly 50 years, the Reverend Yvonne V. Delk, has been a strong ally in the fight for human and civil rights for people of color, children and the poor. She has served as teacher, educator, preacher, executive, organizer and author in the United States and in the wider global community. In 1974, Rev. Del became the first African American woman to be ordained as clergy in the United Church of Christ (UCC).

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  Reverend Dr. Renita J. Weems

  In addition to being one of our co-pastors Rev. Renita, as she is known at The Ray, is a distinguished biblical scholar, author, academic administrator, public intellectual, and ordained elder in the African American Episcopal Church (1984). Her esteemed and insightful publications, commentaries, and articles on modern faith, race and religion, womanism and social movements, make her a widely sought-after inspirational speaker and academic lecturer. Rev. Weems was the first African American woman to give Yale University's prestigious Beecher lectures (2008).