Joy J. Moore

An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Joy J. Moore, Professor of Homiletics, served as the 13th President at Northern Seminary in Lisle, Illinois. An “Ecclesial Storyteller” she seeks to encourage theologically framed, biblically attentive, and socially compelling interpretations of Christian Scripture in order to understand the critical issues influencing community formation in contemporary culture (all that means is she tells community-forming stories from the Bible as a follower of Christ!).

Prior to coming to Northern Seminary, she was Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she served as Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty. Dr. Joy established the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and served as Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning at Duke Divinity School at Duke University. Previously the director of Student Life at Asbury Theological Seminary and chaplain and director of Church Relations at Adrian College, she has held pastorates in the Michigan Area of the United Methodist Church. She has written for Sojourners magazine, Christian Century, Good News magazine, and Working Preacher, and was co-host on the weekly on the Sermon Brainwave podcast.

A native of Illinois, Joy grew up in the American Midwest on Chicago’s southside. A desire to teach led her to earn a BA in Education and Mathematics from National College of Education (National-Louis University) and an MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. A John Wesley Fellowship from A Foundation for Theological Education enabled her to work on a PhD in Practical Theology, which she earned from Brunel University/London School of Theology.

When not teaching, she enjoys traveling, watching episodes of NCIS, and reading. Currently, she is reading the works of Toni Morrison and George Lucas (and yes, she is fascinated by the Marvel Universe!).

In 2017, CBE awarded Joy a Lifetime Achievement Award for her advocacy for biblical gender equality.

Joy Moore serves on CBE’s Board of Reference. 

CBE’s 2026 International Conference Speaking Sessions

Workshop Session | Friday, August 7 at 3:30 pm | Location: Love B

A More Excellent Way: Rethinking Ancient Corinth and the Christian’s Radical Call to Equality 

Track: Going Deeper with Biblical Equality

The session rereads Paul’s letters to the 1st century church in ancient Corinth as a relevant challenge to practicing Christian community in the 21st century age of contempt. 

Workshop Session | Saturday, August 8 at 10:30 am | Location: O’Hare III

Making Us Whole: Practicing Honesty, Hope, and Hospitality in a Context of Hierarchy 

Track: Biblical Equality in Action

Moving beyond simple platitudes, this session highlights the importance of context and empathy, aiming to help people see the world and scripture in a fresh, transformative way offering practices to become an answer to Jesus’s prayer for unity. 

This in person session will also be available for LIVE virtual viewing.

Panel Discussion on Leadership | Saturday, August 8 at 7:00 pm | Location: O’Hare III

This panel will discuss leadership in ministry: the challenges and highlights of being a woman in an often-male context. In this conversation, we will learn what leadership is (closeness to God, servant heart vs. influencers), as well as offer practical advice for people starting out in ministry whether as women, alongside women, or intending to encourage and lift women up.  

This in person session will also be available for LIVE virtual viewing.