Rev. Vanessa M. Wilson, JD, MBA, STM

Rev. Vanessa M. Wilson speaking at the launch of the Religion and Global Health Forum - Drew University Theological School

Vanessa M. Wilson
​ 
Founder & President 

Pastor.
Author.
Scholar. 
Activist.
Strategist. 
Storyteller.
Conversationalist.
​
Pastor Vanessa, as she is affectionately called,  is the  Senior Pastor of  Magnolia Road UMC, a cross-racial cross-cultural appointment in rural New Jersey and St. Paul UMC,  a historic African American congregation. Ordained in the Interdenominational Church in 2004, she served on the ministerial team of Higher Ground Interdenominational Church.  She has served as a pastor in the UMC since 2013 and has served the United Methodist Church in many other capacities. 

Pastor Vanessa  is currently the Chairperson for the Commission on Religion and Race for the Greater New Jersey Conference. She was one of 35 United Methodists who led a United Methodist National Mobilization to end mass incarceration and has continued to work in that area through advocacy, education and training.  Pastor Vanessa has led Mission U study groups for the Greater NJ United Methodist Women and she wrote the Leader Guide for Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools  for the 2020 Mission U.   She is also engaged in education, legislative advocacy and public testimony for criminal justice reform, economic justice, racial justice and global health for women and girls. 

She is the founder of Vanessa M. Wilson Consulting, where she coaches, trains and provides workshops for individuals, faith-based and nonprofit organizations in the areas of board governance, formation,  intercultural communications, grant writing and  management. She also files incorporations and 501(3)c applications.  She is a keynote and conference speaker.

Pastor Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning and Community Development from Rutgers University, a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers Law School, a Master of Divinity with a focus on Hebrew Bible and Africana Spirituality and a Master of Sacred Theology with a concentration in Hebrew Bible, Global Health and Integrative Care from Drew University School.  She is a Research Associate with the Religion and Global Health Forum. Her other interests include Transgenerational Trauma, and the intersection of Race, Religion, Law and Medicine. She is blessed to be the parent of two wonderful adult sons..

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