Rev. Joy J. Moore is the new Director of Student Life at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. Joy’s first responsibilities at the seminary were to facilitate the seminary’s relating of theological disciplines to the life and faith experiences of all people. As the Director of Ethnic Ministries, Joy established the Center for American Cultural Diversity which will expand the seminary’s commitment to sustaining and strengthening the diverse church and foster an anti-racism learning environment. As Director of Women’s Ministries, Rev. Moore worked to provide models and encouragement , for both male and female members of the Seminary community, to develop a scriptural theology of women in ministry. As Student Life Director, Joy’s responsibilities include programming student activities, residence life, discipline, and counseling at ATS.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rev. Moore’s desire to teach led her to study at the National College of Education in Evanston, Illinois, from which she received a Bachelor of Arts in Education and Mathematics. She holds a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Seminary. A full clergymember of the United Methodist Church, Joy was the first African American female ordained elder in the West Michigan Annual Conference, where she serves on the Board of Ordained Ministry. In addition to having served as chairperson of both the Conference Racial/Ethnic Local Church Committee and the Conference Council on Ministries, Joy was an elected delegate to the 1996 General Conference.
She has served as chaplain and director of church relations at Adrian College, a church-related liberal arts college in Michigan and served as pastor in rural, urban, and suburban congregations.
Rev. Moore has contributed to Essential Truths (Bristol Books, 1997) and Unity, Liberty, and Charity (Abingdon Press, 1996). She was named a Christian Woman Role Model for 1998 by The Ecumenical Coalition on Women and Society.
Joy serves on the National Steering Committee of the "Confessing Movement" and the "Connection of Evangelical Clergywomen" within the United Methodist Church. Joy has served the denomination at the general, jurisdictional and annual conference level. In addition she has served on a number of issue-oriented task forces and community boards related to adoption, racial accord and substance abuse.