Raquel Lettsome

The Reverend Raquel St. Clair Lettsome is the Professor of New Testament and Womanist Biblical Interpretation at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. She is also the esteemed Founder & President of RSL Ministries, a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to guiding faith leaders and laypersons in the effective interpretation of Scripture for preaching, teaching, and daily living. As a practioner of what she preaches and teaches, Dr. Lettsome has garnered national recognition for her captivating preaching, impactful teaching, compelling writing, engaging online courses, and enlightening webinar experiences. She is a sought-after preaching coach and ministry consultant, renowned for her ability to assist pastors in honing their skills for interpreting scripture, creating sermon prep and weekly schedules that accommodate their individual lives, and training Christian education leaders. Her engaging preaching style and profound insights have graced prestigious platforms such as the Distinguished Preachers Series at Riverside Church in New York City, the George A. Crawley Women in Ministry Preacher at Hampton University Ministers Conference, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, the Festival of Homiletics, The Craft of Preaching, Battell Chapel at Yale University, and Duke University Chapel.

Dr. Lettsome is a respected member of the Society of Biblical Literature, the largest professional organization for Biblical scholars in the nation. She serves on the steering committees for the Womanist Biblical Interpretation and the Minoritized Criticism and Biblical Interpretation program units within the organization. Additionally, she has been inducted into the Martin Luther King Jr. Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College, showcasing her commitment to scholarly excellence. Dr. Lettsome has shared her expertise as a lecturer at the Hampton University Ministers Conference and instructor at esteemed theological seminaries and national conferences. As a published author in the fields of homiletics, biblical studies, womanist biblical interpretation, and Christian spirituality, her groundbreaking work, Call and Consequences: A Womanist Reading of Mark’s Gospel, was the first womanist biblical interpretation monograph to be published. Her latest publication, Breakthrough You! 30 Daily Devotions to Move You Forward, achieved #1 New Release status in Religion & Spirituality Short Reads on Amazon.

Having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Yale University and a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rev. Lettsome made history as the first African American to obtain a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2005. Her impactful ministry extends beyond the classroom and pulpit as she serves as the chaplain of the New Castle County Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Above all else, she is the wife of Rev. Lydell C. Lettsome, M.D., and the mother of Tiffany and Luke.