Rev. Dr. Alise D. Barrymore

Rev. Dr. Alise D. Barrymore
Lead Pastor

A native of Detroit, Michigan, the Rev. Dr. Alise D. Barrymore attended Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where she received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in African & African-American Studies, with an emphasis in history. After years of faithful service in the Church of God in Christ (COGIC), she answered her call to ordained ministry and earned a Master of Divinity (MDIV) degree from McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago. She completed a Doctor of Ministry degree program, exploring the connections of African American spirituality and the Emerging Church Movement. Her academic honors include: The John Randall Hunt Prize for Outstanding Doctor of Ministry Thesis and Academic Record, the Jesse Haley Award for Imagination in Preaching, Ellen and James Taylor Award in Preaching, Arthur A. Hays Fellowship in Church History. She has contributed to the books, What Can Happen When People Pray, The Women of Color Devotional Bible, The Justice Project, and the journal, The Covenant Companion. In addition, she has been quoted in the New York Times and Sojourner’s Magazine; named one of the “Twenty to Watch” in the African American Pulpit Magazine; and, featured in both the Kyria Digizine and Who’s Who in Black Chicago, Inaugural Edition.

Prior to serving as one of the founding pastors of The Emmaus Community, Rev. Barrymore served as the Dean of University Ministries and Campus Pastor at North Park University, an intentionally Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church. In this capacity, she was responsible for the weekly chapel services; provided pastoral care for the undergraduate population and larger academic community; and, contributed to the academic life of the campus through writing and adjunct lectures. Moreover, Pastor Alise, as she is also known, is currently preparing workshops and retreats that challenge believers to new levels of spiritual discipline. To this end, she has preached and lectured in various venues and settings, as far-reaching as the Roman Catholic and Pentecostal denominations, and in specialized retreats for adults, women and youth. She has also served as the Midwest Regional Chaplain, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In addition to vocational ministry, she has travelled extensively, with her most recent journeys to Australia, Italy and South Africa. She enjoys running and has completed the Chicago Marathon. However, her greatest pride and joy is her preschool daughter. Simply stated, Dr. Alise D. Barrymore is committed to creating a safe place for people to seek and see God.