Education

• Ph.D. (Brunel University/London School of Theology)
• M.Div. (Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary)

Biography

An ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, Joy Jittaun Moore, Professor of Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota is serving as Visiting Professor of Religion and Chapman-Benson Lecturer at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Alabama.  Dr. Joy is an “Ecclesial Storyteller” seeking 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!).

Dr. Joy focuses her research on understanding the stories behind the sound bites, examining how we use words to narrate the realities of our existence. Examining these interests in biblical studies, practical theology, homiletics, narrative hermeneutics, and social media, she works with words to tell stories with a theological twist!

Prior to coming to Luther Seminary, she established the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA; served as Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning at Duke Divinity School; 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 and written for Sojourners magazine, Christian Century, Good News magazine, and Working Preacher. She can be heard weekly on the Sermon Brainwave podcast.

Moore has focused on cross-racial ministry in urban, rural, and suburban congregations. Currently she is working with the Dialogue on Race and Faith Project. Her last parish, an African American congregation, served as a Help Center in Flint, Michigan during the city’s Water Crisis. As a pastor, she has called local congregations to recognize their vocation of glorifying God as a peaceable community—practicing hope, hospitality, and honesty.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Moore’s desire to teach led her to earn a BA in Education and Mathematics from National College of Education (National-Louis University) in 1982 and an MDiv from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1989. A John Wesley Fellowship (2001-2005) from A Foundation for Theological Education enabled her to work on a Ph.D. in Practical Theology, which she earned from Brunel University/London School of Theology in 2007. She joined the faculty of Luther Seminary in July 2019 and served as the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty from 2020-2022.

Joy grew up in the American Midwest on Chicago’s southside attending Commonwealth Community Church, where she was spiritually formed and experienced a call to Christian Ministry. Professor Moore served as president of the Wesleyan Theological Society from 2020-2022 and an avid fan of books by David Baldacci and John Hart. 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!).