Matthew 6:1–6, 16–18
The Rev. Dr. James Foster Reese is widely remembered for his dedication to justice, education, community and faith. While pastoring a church on the campus of Knoxville College, he was actively engaged in the Civil Rights Movement. He participated in the 1960 Knoxville sit-ins and mentored student activists. In 1964, he aided two white ministers who had been attacked while on a trip visiting Black churches in Alabama.
Though he was the only Black seminarian who attended Pittsburgh-Xenia Seminary from 1946–49, Reese was a student leader. His time at Pittsburgh helped cement his confidence and sense of calling in a country where Jim Crow still ruled.
After attending seminary, he accepted a call to be a pastor in Alabama, a state still in the throes of segregation. In a 2015 interview with the Presbyterian Historical Society, Reese shared his story of being denied a voter registration form from the county courthouse. One Sunday morning, he received a call from the Civil Rights Commission, which requested that he make a secret statement about the incident. “To this day, I have no idea how they found out … that I was the only African American who tried to register in Wilcox County,” he said.
Reese’s advocacy for civil rights was not boisterous. It came from his desire to live a full life and to ensure that others could do so as well. “Sometimes there are some things that you really feel will make you feel more human,” he said, “and whoever is denying you of these privileges, they are keeping you away from being a total human being.”
Ultimately, his commitment to justice was rooted in his faith. Throughout his long career in ministry, which spanned seven decades, Reese held many distinguished titles: pastor, professor, consultant and presbyter, to name just a few. But no matter where he was or what his work entailed at any given time, his commitment to following Christ showed through. Reese modeled discipleship — the kind of faith that makes you go out on a limb to love your neighbor when nobody is watching.
Prayer:
Holy God, you invite us to bear witness to the good news of Jesus Christ in everything we do. Grant us courage to follow you with courageous hearts as we work toward your kingdom of justice and peace. Amen.
Alex Pickell is a candidate for ordination in the PC(USA). Born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas, Alex received her B.A. in History and French from the University of Arkansas before attending Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 2024. This summer, Alex is serving as a Peacemaking Fellow in the Office of Public Witness.
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