Dr. Marcia Riggs

Professor Emerita, Columbia Theological Seminary

Dr. Marcia Y. Riggs has an undergraduate degree in religion from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School and a PhD in religion/ethics from Vanderbilt University. Her teaching career began at Drew University Theological School in Madison, New Jersey; she joined the faculty of Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA in 1991. In April of 2006, Dr. Riggs was inaugurated as the seminary’s first J. Erskine Love Professor of Christian Ethics and retired as professor emerita on August 1, 2024. The Marcia Riggs Commons, a residential hall and space for communal gatherings, was dedicated on the campus of the seminary in 2022. Her 20 years of ordained ministry were served in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.

She is engaged as a lecturer and has published articles and books on womanist ethics, sexual- gender justice, moral education, public discourse, and public policy. Some of her publications are: 'Awake, Arise, and Act! A Womanist Call for Black Liberation'; 'Can I Get a Witness? Prophetic Religious Voices of African American Women', an Anthology; 'Plenty Good Room: Black Women versus Male Power in the Black Church', and she is a co-editor of 'Ethics That Matters: African, Caribbean, and African American Sources'; 'Ruth and Esther' (Belief Commentary Series), release date, April 2025.

Dr. Riggs was awarded a 2017-2018 Henry Luce III Fellowship from the Luce Foundation and the Association of Theological Schools; her research project was: “Envisioning and Practicing Beloved Community in the 21st Century.” This research project is the basis of a forthcoming book in which she develops her ethical theory and practice called religious ethical mediation. Religious ethical mediation prepares 21st century leaders to address religion, conflict, and violence in a transformative manner.