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About our Pastor
The Rev. Willard W. C. Ashley, Sr., Doctor of Ministry, Doctor of Humanities
The Reverend Dr. Willard Walden Christopher Ashley is the Director of Field Education and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He is the founder and senior pastor of the Abundant Joy Community Church, Jersey City, New Jersey and the Interim Minister of the Union Baptist Church, Montclair, New Jersey. Dr. Ashley is the chair of The Instituto Latino de Cuidado Pastoral, Inc. in New York City.
He served as the director of the Blanton Peale Pastoral Studies Program in East Orange, New Jersey and the director of pastoral care at Barnert Hospital Paterson, New Jersey, where he set up a clinical pastoral education program for clergy. Dr. Ashley also set up the clinical pastoral education program at the Hackensack University Hospital, Hackensack, New Jersey.
The Reverend Dr. Ashley Willard is a native of New York City. He is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Theory at Montclair State University. Will has a master’s degree in theology and an earned doctorate in leadership development from the Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Will holds an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Natchez College, Natchez, Mississippi. He completed the residency program in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as Pastoral Psychotherapy at the Blanton Peale Graduate Institute, New York City. Dr. Willard Ashley lectured at Princeton and The University of Pennsylvania. He taught at, Drew University, Andover Newton Theological School, and The New York Theological Seminary.
The Rev. Dr. Willard Ashley served as the senior pastor at churches in New Hampshire and New Jersey, since 1982. He has a long history as a community organizer and social activist. Ashley as the co-chair of the Interfaith Community Organization has won four federal lawsuits that total over $1.1 billion dollars to clean up toxic waste in Hudson County. He is a contributor to The Men of Color Study Bible and hosted his own show on Black Entertainment Television (BET). Ashley was the assistant dean of students and director of recruitment at the Andover Newton Theological School. He also worked on Wall Street with senior level executives and major law firm partners as an executive coach. Will was an assistant buyer for J C Penney’s $120 million dollar women’s hosiery department.
Reverend Ashley was a staff psychotherapist at The Riverside Church, New York City and the Montclair Counseling Center, Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He holds associate membership in The American Association of Marriage Family Therapists and the American Group Psychotherapy Association. Dr. Ashley is the past president of the Blanton Peale Alumni Association. He was the Project Director for the Care for the Caregivers Interfaith Program, for The Council of Churches of the City of New York (CCCNY). It was the largest clergy resiliency program in the United States. Later he served as the Director of Pastoral Care for the CCCNY. Dr. Ashley published a book with Rabbi Stephen Roberts, entitled, Disaster Spiritual Care. He has published articles on disaster recovery. Dr. Ashley is working on a new book: Studying Congregations: Strategies for Effective Ministry. Dr. Ashley is the recipient of numerous awards.
Will loves to play basketball, keep fit and cheer on his beloved New York Yankees. He is married to Tanya Pagan Raggio-Ashley, MD who is board certified in pediatrics and preventive medicine. He is the proud father of an adult son Chris.
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