Dr. Clarence E. Wright serves as the Senior Pastor of the Love Zion Baptist Church, and as President and Clemens Professor of Missional Theology at Missio Seminary, both in Philadelphia, PA. His life has been devoted to public service including community economic development, homeless advocacy, anti-violence initiatives, and international missions on 5 continents.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in religion and urban studies from Temple University, and master’s degrees in Missional Theology (MA) and Divinity (MDiv) from Biblical Theological Seminary (now Missio Seminary) where he received the MDiv award for outstanding academic achievement and the President’s award for exemplifying the mission of the school. He earned his Doctor of Ministry in Transformative Leadership and Prophetic Preaching at the historic Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School where he received the Gene and Jean Bartlett Preaching Prize. His book, The Sunday After: Preaching in Moments and Movements(Judson Press, 2023) exemplifies his research in relevant 21stCentury Ministry.
After completing his doctoral studies, he returned to his alma mater Missio Seminary as a resident faculty member, and in 2023 was unanimously voted by the Missio Board to be the 5thPresident (the first Black President in school’s 50+ year history). Additionally, in 2024 Dr. Wright was named the inaugural Fellow in Theology and Ministry at the Fred Rogers Institute of St. Vincent College in partnership with Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
In addition to his church and seminary leadership Dr. Wright has held numerous ecumenical leadership positions in the Philadelphia region and in the Progressive National Baptist Convention where he has served on the executive board since 2018.
Outside of the pulpit he is a published poet, an accomplished gospel organist and an active member of the Rho chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. He is the devoted husband of Corinne R. Wright, a software engineer and licensed minister, and the proud father of Clover, Lael and Elliott. Most importantly he is a follower of Jesus Christ.