Meet Rev. Dr. Jay Augustine | Pastor. Author. Professor.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rev. Dr. Jay Augustine and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rev. Dr. Jay, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Persistence and determination. If nothing else, to accompany whatever God-given gifts I’m blessed to have, I have always been persistent, in perusing success, and determined to succeed.

My persistence has manifested in various ways, as I’ve worked to overcome obstacles and found alternative ways to pursue my goals, in spite of initial setbacks. Quite frankly, my persistence goes hand-in-hand with my faith. I like to always say, “If God brings you to it, God will also bring you through it.” I believe I’ve been successful, through persistence, because I have pursued things that I’ve been led to, through prayer and discernment. Now, the complement to persistence must be determination. Insofar as I use the term “persistence” to imply creative ways of pursue alternative routes in moving toward goals, I use “determination” to mean a dogged willingness to simply not give up, in spite of circumstances. Success is not achieved by the faint at heart.

One of my absolute favorite movies–and I cry at the end, each time I see it–is “Meet the Robinsons,” a 2007 Walt Disney animated film. Lewis, the main character, is an inventor who consistently fails at his inventions. But he coins the phrase, “Keep Moving Forward” as he remains both persistent and determined, and eventually succeeds in amazing ways! He even learns to celebrate his failures, because they are the real learning opportunities that put him on the path to success. “Keep Moving Forward” is the essence of being persistent and determined, two habits that have unquestionably led to my success in life.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a social justice advocate who has the honor of sharing my ideas, as a pastor and professor, as well as a featured author. I’m probably most proud of my publications and the impact I’ve had on many students, simply because those contributions to society will live-on.

Although my work is not easy, it’s a special work to which I have been called. The lens through which I see my work as a minister has been shaped by my work as a lawyer and professor. I’ve been fortunate to be an advocate for those who have been pushed to the social margins, while also enjoying opportunities to express the depth of my thoughts in written form. As a legal advocate, I litigated numerous civil rights and school desegregation cases, while also assisting in voting rights litigation. Indeed, as a member of the bar of the United States Supreme Court, I even co-authored a voting rights brief, in support of increased opportunities to include the voices of more citizens in voting, while maintaining the integrity of the voting process.

Further, over the last two years, I authored two books, “When Prophets Preach: Leadership and the Politics of the Pulpit” (Fortress Press, 2023) and “Called to Reconciliation: How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity and Inclusion” (Baker Academic, 2022), both of which address social divisions, while also proposing solutions to bring people together. In addition to my books, through my service as a professor, I have also written articles published in some of the leading academic journals throughout the United States, including the Southern California Interdisciplinary Law Journal, Louisville Law Review, Connecticut Public Interest Law Journal, Louisiana Law Review, and Howard Law Journal, among others. My research and publications often connect the domains of law and religion, as attempts to bring solutions to sociopolitical issues.

Moreover, while simultaneously serving as the senior pastor of Historic St. James AME Church, in New Orleans, Louisiana, and St. Joseph AME Church, in Durham, North Carolina, I have taught at Southern University Law Center, Jarvis Christian University, North Carolina Central University Law School, and Duke University Divinity School. I have enjoyed shaping students’ perceptions, on fairness and justice, while living out the praxis of concepts and theories I’ve taught.

My work and life’s story seeks to primarily show the world two things: (1) regardless of circumstances, all human beings are equal to one another and deserve to be treated as such, and affirmed for who they are; and (2) the old cliché is true: “That which unites us is far greater than anything that divides us!”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Because I was raised in New Orleans, a place that could also be called the “Seafood Capital of the World,” I am BIG on meals being celebrations of community and celebrating with seafood. Moreover, I’ve also been fortunate to travel extensively through Italy and really enjoy Italian foods, too. Tops on the list for me, therefore, would be both seafood and Italian restaurants.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My success has not been in isolation. It’s instead the result of a divine collaboration of circumstances that have brought me thus far, by faith.

First, I must affectionally acknowledge the indelible impact of my late mother, Mrs. Jeanne C. Augustine. My mother was a career educator with a personal story that epitomized grace under fire. She used every possible thing and occurrence as learning opportunities to enforce the importance of faith in God, as well as persistence and determination, to overcome circumstances and make a contribution to society. In addition to celebrating my mother’s memory, I also celebrate my late father, Mr. Henry L. Augustine, Sr. Daddy enforced a love for learning, in his own way, and also taught me the importance of hard work, financial planning, and resiliency. Life’s circumstances will often knock you down. Daddy taught me how to get back up! For my parents, I am thankful! I am also incredibly thankful to my wife, Michelle Burks Augustine.

I also thank my dear brothers, of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As a native of New Orleans, I was initiated into the fraternity’s historic Beta Chapter, while a college student at Howard University, in Washington, DC. The fraternity’s motto, “Manly Deeps, Scholarship, and Love for All Mankind,” has consistently affirmed for me as a special code of conduct in how I have lived my life, through “ups and downs,” as well as “highs and lows.” It has also provided some of the best role models and mentors ever imaginable. While so many Alpha brothers have deeply impacted my life, in every phase, I am particularly thankful for the example of integrity and affection I have been blessed by, in the gentleman I’ve called my mentor for more than 30-years, Milton Carver Davis, Esq., Alpha Phi Alpha’s 29th general president. Because of his example, I too committed to a lifetime of service to and through the fraternity. As a young lawyer, I was blessed to have served as regional counsel, of Alpha’s Southwest Region. As a minister and pastor, I’m blessed to currently serve as the fraternity’s general chaplain. As a college student, I was fortunate to win the fraternity’s “Belford V. Lawson National Oratorical Contest” and, as an alumni brother, I was blessed to be named “Outstanding Alumni Brother of the Year.” Indeed, I owe so much to the positive influence of my dear A-Phi-A.

Finally, I am also deeply thankful to the academic institutions that have molded me, and the faith communities that have sustained me. I am a proud graduate, and former student body president, of St. Augustine High School (New Orleans), a Catholic institution run by the Josephites. It prepared me both academically and spiritually. After earning an economics degree from Howard, I served as a US Army infantry officer, before earning my law degree from Tulane University. Amid a very successful law practice, I was called to Christian ministry and earned my Master of Divinity, from United Theological Seminary, and later earned my Doctor of Ministry degree from Duke University. In the midst of those academic pursuits, I am also thankful for the faith communities that nurtured me, including Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist Church and Historic St. James AME Church, in New Orleans, and St. Joseph AME Church, in Durham, North Carolina. Indeed, I am deeply thankful to them all.

Website: www.jayaugustine.com

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Image Credits
All image Credits: Gregory Davenport Photography