Abundance, Trust, and Repair: Black Theological Perspectives on Giving

September 22-24, 2026 | Indianapolis, IN

A collaborative project by Center for the Church & the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Abundance, Trust, and Repair is part of the Philanthropy and the Black Church Project. The Philanthropy and the Black Church project is a multi-decade initiative that began as a collaborative effort to increase mutual understanding and collaboration between Black Churches and philanthropic organizations.

Today, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving at Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy and the Center for the Church and the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary continue this work by convening leaders in philanthropy and the Black church, conducting research, developing resources, and building relationships.

Event Schedule

Paper Presentations & Directory of Writers

Project Leaders

Dr. Reginald Blount serves as the Murray H. Leiffer Associate Professor of Formation, Leadership and Culture and Director of the Center for the Church and the Black Experience at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

A scholar, educator, and thought leader in the field of Christian education, Dr. Blount brings a rich academic and ecclesial background to his work. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Tuskegee University, his Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology, and his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in cooperation with Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His scholarship and teaching are grounded in a deep commitment to the transformative power of faith, culture, and leadership with the Black Church tradition.

Dr. Carlos W. Perkins is a pastor, nonprofit leaders, and nationally recognized voice at the intersection of faith, leadership, and community engagement.

He serves as Senior Pastor of Bethel Cathedral African Methodist Episcopal Church in Indianapolis, one of the city’s most historic congregations, and as Associate Director of Engagement at Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.

With extensive leadership in philanthropy, grant writing, and organizational leadership, Dr. Perkins earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ithaca College, a Master of Education from University of Maryland, his Master of Divinity from Virginia Union University, and his Doctor of Ministry from Payne Theological Seminary. Dr. Perkins works to strengthen the capacity of faith-based institutions to serve as catalysts for transformation in their communities. His leadership is marked by a commitment to bridging church and community, equipping leaders, and advancing innovative approaches to ministry and social impact.

Invited Speakers

Rev. Dr. Karen Jackson-Weaver has been an academic leader in global higher education for over three decades. She is the former Senior Associate Vice President of Global Faculty Engagement and Innovation Advancement at New York University.

She is an expert on educational policy, a historian specializing in religion, ethics, and political affairs, and a former dean-in-residence at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University. Rev. Dr. Jackson-Weaver has also served as an academic dean at Princeton University and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Prior to her leadership roles in higher education, Rev. Dr. Jackson-Weaver served under three gubernatorial administrations as the inaugural executive director of the New Jersey Amistad Commission, during which she edited two volumes of primary source documents: Reconstruction Reconsidered: The African-American Presence in American History and the Amistad Curricular Guide to American History.

Rev. Dr. Jackson-Weaver is a licensed and ordained clergy leader in the American Baptist Churches of America which is an affiliate of the Baptist World Alliance. She is currently an Associate Minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ under the Pastoral Leadership of Rev. Dr. Darrell Armstrong where she serves as the Director of Global Christian Education.

She earned her bachelor’s degree at Princeton University, a master’s degree at Harvard University, and a MA, MPhil, and PhD in American History from Columbia University.

Rev. Dr. Kenneth Sullivan Jr. serves as the Senior Pastor of New Direction Church in Indianapolis, where he has led the congregation for 19 years. Dr. Sullivan is a devoted spouse, parent, published author, business owner, community leader, and educator.

A native of Indianapolis, Dr. Sullivan earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Crossroads Bible College with a double major in Pastoral Ministry and Theology, a Master of Leadership degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from George Fox University (Portland Seminary).

Dr. Sullivan is the author of three books: Prayer Still Works, Love and Verses, and Rules of Engagement. Dr. Sullivan also serves as President of the Indianapolis Urban Pastors Coalition and President of The Nehemiah Project CDC, an organization dedicated to improving quality of life through expanded access to education, employment, health resources, and housing opportunities.

Dr. Sullivan founded S.A.V.E.S., a nonprofit organization that provides educational programs, training, camps, events, and scholarship opportunities for young people and families. Internationally, Dr. Sullivan is co-founder of New Direction’s Better Life Initiative, which has helped build 13 churches in Kenya.

Lady Kiahna W. Davis is a financial executive, community leader, speaker, and lifelong woman of faith whose work sits at the intersection of stewardship, institutional leadership, philanthropy, and the Black church.

A fifth-generation member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kiahna’s understanding of giving was shaped long before she entered the worlds of finance and nonprofit leadership. She learned in the Black church that generosity is not simply an act of charity. It is a practice of faith, survival, institution-building, mutual aid, and collective responsibility.

Professionally, Kiahna brings nearly three decades of experience in finance, accounting, operations, governance, and nonprofit leadership. She currently serves as Supreme Tamiouchos, International Treasurer, of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, where she helps steward the financial resources and fiduciary responsibilities of one of the nation’s most historic Black institutions. She is also the founder and CEO of MYB Accounting, Tax, and Consulting.

Her civic and philanthropic work has included leadership within the African American Legacy Fund, church and community organizations, nonprofit boards, and initiatives focused on strengthening Black institutions and expanding economic opportunity.

Kiahna is particularly interested in the relationship between faith and money: how communities build trust around resources, how Black institutions sustain themselves across generations, and how giving can move beyond charity toward repair, agency, ownership, and lasting community power.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Indiana University and an MBA in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University. Above all, she believes stewardship asks a deeper question than “How much did we give?” It asks, “What did our giving make possible?”

Invited Coaches

The Reverend Dr. Tiffany Benisha Bennett-Cornelous is a scholar, associate pastor, and community leader whose work bridges faith, education, and service.

A native of South Carolina and a lifelong servant of the church, she is an ordained minister and serves as Pastor of Worship, Arts & Media at Macedonia New Life Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Bennett-Cornelous earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, equipping her to lead with both academic rigor and spiritual depth.

She teaches practical ministry, church worship, and faith-based nonprofit leadership at Shaw University, and is a trusted mentor for students pursuing vocational and ministry pathways. Since January 2025, she has served as an adjunct faculty member with Lake Insitute, part of the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University.

She also manages faith-based projects in healthcare, collaborating statewide to strengthen communities. A co-author of a best-selling book on religious leadership, Dr. Bennett-Cornelous is widely respected as a transformational leader, preacher, musician, and advocate for faith-driven community impact.

Rev. Dr. Susan Buckson Ephraim is a gifted pastor, preacher, educator, and author committed to Spirit-led ministry, community transformation, and the holistic development of God’s people. Appointed in 2019 by Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, she serves as the first woman pastor of the historic Allen Temple A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Ephraim answered her call to ministry in 1999 at Waters AME Church in Baltimore under the leadership of the Rev. Ronald E. Braxton. She has served the African Methodist Episcopal Church at local, district, and conference levels, equipping congregations and ministry leaders for innovative and practical kingdom work.

A devoted educator for nearly three decades, Dr. Ephraim previously served in Baltimore City Schools and Atlanta Public Schools, where she earned recognition as the APS System-wide High School Teacher of the Year and a Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award.

She is the author of The Lenten Experience: A 40-Day Revival and My Praise Is My S.W.A.G., a biblical curriculum for youth and young adults.

Dr. Anthony L. Heaven is an Assistant Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, where he brings a wealth of experience from over a decade in the philanthropic sector.

Before joining the Lilly Family School, Dr. Heaven held roles in donor relations, fundraising, and philanthropic consulting, culminating in his position as Vice President and Higher Education Practice Group Leader at Graham-Pelton. His career is marked by a commitment to advancing the discourse on philanthropy and justice, a commitment reflected in his extensive portfolio of conference presentations, panel discussions, and invited lectures.

A proud graduate of Stillman College, a Historically Black College (HBCU), Dr. Heaven earned his Bachelor of Arts in History and Religion/Theology. He went on to pursue advanced studies at The University of Texas at Austin, where he earned both a Master of Education (M.Ed.) and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership.

His doctoral research, which received the Dissertation of the Year Award from the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, offers a critical examination of the lived experiences of African American development officers at predominantly White institutions. Dr. Heaven’s scholarly contributions and leadership continue to influence the field of philanthropy, particularly in advancing equity and justice within the sector.

Dr. Joseph Lennis Tucker Edmonds is an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Africana Studies at IU Indianapolis and the Associate Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and American Culture. He is also affiliate faculty at IU Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.

Tucker Edmonds’ book, The Other Black Church: Alternative Christian Movements and the Struggle for Black Freedom (Fortress 2020), highlights the variety and vibrancy of the African American Christian sphere during the latter half of the twentieth century and it adds to the growing body of work that is addressing alternative Christian traditions in the Black public sphere.

Professor Tucker Edmonds is currently co-leading two grant-funded, community-engaged projects that look at the relationship between Black religion and the engagement of the Black body within Indianapolis-based community organizations.

He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies and Economics from Brown University, his Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and his PhD in Religious Studies from Duke University.