Hodari Williams

Pastor Hodari Sadiki Williams is a next generation preacher/theologian who is committed to keeping the culture of prophetic preaching alive. His preaching challenges individuals to see Jesus as a social engineer who confronted the social, political and economic issues of his time. Pastor Williams’ teaching and preaching is known to inspire people to advocate for social, political and economic justice for the marginalized.

Pastor Williams has an extensive background in field organizing that stems as far as the continent of Africa. Pastor Williams’ passion for social justice led him overseas in 2007 to Nairobi, Kenya, where he worked with the Noble Peace Prize Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement. The Green Belt Movement’s mission is helping to enhance environmental conservation, community development, and capacity building in the central region of Kenya. As a part of the Economic Social Cultural Council (ECOSOC) Committee of the African Union, Pastor Williams was also responsible for developing partnerships between various organizations within the diaspora.

Pastor Williams is native of Lakewood, New Jersey and a graduate of Francis Marion University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He is also a graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center (Johnson C. Smith) in Atlanta, Georgia where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He has served on the pastoral staff for several congregations including the First Afrikan Presbyterian Church of Lithonia, Georgia and the Abundant Life Fellowship Church of Camden, South Carolina.

He attributes his passion for social justice to his parents who were very involved in the Black Power Movement. His ministry, preaching and theology have been inspired by the works of Huey P. Newton, Malcolm X, Dr. James Cone, Dr. Carolyn Ann Knight, Dr. Mark Lomax and Dr. Randall C. Bailey.

Currently, Pastor Williams is the Campus Pastor of Congregational and Community Development for Elmwood West, which is a satellite ministry of Elmwood United Presbyterian Church located in West Orange, NJ. Pastor Williams is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., member of Prince Hall Masonic Lodge #66, and co-director of the male mentoring group Omega 13, Inc. of which his father was a founder. Pastor Williams is a board member and proud member of the West Orange Rotary. He also serves on the board of trustees for Johnson C. Smith Seminary.