J. Alfred Smith Sr.

The Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. is the Distinguished Professor of Preaching and Christian Ministries at American Baptist Seminary of the West and the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California. He is additionally Pastor Emeritus at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, California. For 40 years, he served as the Senior Pastor of Allen Temple. Today, Allen Temple is one of the largest churches in Oakland with roughly 5,000 members. The church has a national reputation for its ministry of black liberation and empowerment. Smith has also served as the President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Al Sharpton has referred to Smith as "the Black Pope," and Cornel West describes Smith as his "intellectual Godfather in the ministry." Martin Luther King, Sr., the father of Martin Luther King, Jr., once asserted that J. Alfred Smith, Sr., was one of his sons in the ministry.

Smith's most recent book is "Sounding the Trumpet: How Churches Can Answer God's Call to Justice." The book provides an intimate view of social justice ministry through an exchange of letters between Smith and the Rev. Dr. Brooks Berndt. Cornel West has described the book as "a masterpiece...with deep spiritual truths." Additional praise has been received from Congresswoman Barbara Lee, anti-apartheid leader Allan Boesak, and the renowned preacher Otis Moss III.

Smith's autobiographical writing is contained in his book "On the Jericho Road: A Memoir of Racial Justice, Social Action, and Prophetic Ministry." Smith is the author of over 15 books.