Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones - Theologian and Activist

Dr. Elias Farajaje-Jones, a theologian and activist is a bisexual of mixed heritage (African & Native American, Tsalagi/Cherokee), specialized in African Religions at the University of Bern in Switzerland. Formerly divinity professor on the faculty of Howard University.

Dr. Farajaje-Jones describes religious education as "a global holistic process where we are all radically engaged in healing the universe." Race, class, gender, geography, sexuality, and spirituality - all of these intersect, affect each other, and are deeply connected. It is the purpose of religious education, he said, to address these interconnections, change lives, and thereby change the community.

(Reference: www.austinuu.org/sermons/lerne)

Dr. Farajaje- Jones was a founding member and faculty advisor to Howard University's LGBT group Oshala. He is known for challenging the line of demarcation between sexuality and spirituality. He is a professor at the Starr King School of the Graduate Theological Union.