“I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”
Psalm 122
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in your sight oh Lord my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
As a clergy person it is my continual desire to honor God by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ wherever and whenever I have opportunity.
A little about my journey.
My Mother’s Journey
I am a third generation preacher, who is also married to a preacher. (I know, I know, we are a preaching family! lol)
My mother, Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Long Cudjoe is a baby boomer who spent twenty years as an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church where she served as the first woman Dean of the Chapel at Paul Quinn College in Dallas, TX, a senior pastor in Conroe, TX, and a staff pastor in Cambridge, MA. She transferred her ordination to the United Methodist Church in the early 2000s and served as an Associate Pastor for many years at a historically black United Methodist Church in Dallas, TX. Prior to her retirement she continued to teach religion at another HBCU, Jarvis Christian College in East Texas. My mom is still preaching the word but now as a happily retired clergy person in Dallas, TX.
My Sister’s Journey
My sister, Rev. Frances Cudjoe Waters, JD is a Generation X, United Methodist Pastor. She’s also a trained lawyer and activist. She met my brother in law James while they were both at Harvard Law School. James is a corporate lawyer who is now in-house counsel for a major bank, but we are pretty sure he’s got a preaching call too!
But back to Frances. She is the Founding CEO of Glory Magazine Inc. and currently serves as the President & Ceo of The Dallas Renaissance - a civic and social organization in Dallas, TX. She recently finished a term as the chair of a city-wide committee where she was appointed by the mayor of Dallas to serve.
My Journey
That brings us to me! I’m a millennial preaching woman who received my call to preach in 2013. I began my ministry as the Co-Young Adult Pastor to The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York Twenties & Thirties Ministry under the leadership of The Reverends Drs. Floyd & Elaine Flake. I served in that capacity from 2013-2018 alongside my husband, Reverend Andrew Wilkes. Before my work in congregational ministry I was a gospel music publicist and event planner. I absolutely loved that work but once the ministry got a hold of me it took over!
So much so that in October 2018, Andrew & I founded and launched a new church called The Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, New York.
Hubby’s Journey
I can’t leave my hubby’s story out. Fun fact. He is the only person in his immediate family who did not practice medicine. Both of his parents and his older brother are all opthamologists! But Andrew knew from a young age that he was called to preach. He received his call to preach at 15, and by age 26 was ordained with his M.Div. My hubby also has a strong passion for public policy. He’s the former Executive Director of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Organization: The Drum Major Institute and he’s currently finishing a PhD in political science! If you can’t already tell: I’m a very proud wife!
Black Lives Matter
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free.” Luke 4:18
These are the words of Jesus at the beginning of his ministry. They are somewhat of a mission and vision statement for the work Christ came to do on the earth. Likewise, I center the case for justice for all black lives at the heart of my ministry. Much of my ministry has included not only the work of the pulpit, but work in the community such as:
The Black Church Pac: Eastern Regional Conveener
The Black Church Collective: Founding Member
The Millennial Womanist Project: Founding Member & Former Conversation Series Cohost
Board Member at Yale Divinity School
Board Member for The Circle of Sacred Fire Preaching Circle
Clergy Appointee to New York City Mayor’s COVID-19 Clergy Task Force.
Contributor: The Vanderbilt Black Religious Scholars Group
Inaugural Member: RISE Together Women of Color in Ministry Network.
Inaugural Fellow: Spelman College Thriving In Ministry Cohort.
WEDDINGS MIGHT JUST BE MY FAVORITE PART OF THIS JOB. OKAY, I HAVE MANY FAVORITES ABOUT BEING CLERGY, BUT WEDDINGS ABSOLUTELY BRING ME JOY!
*I only perform wedding ceremonies for couples I have counseled. If you’re interested in working with me as your officiant, please know that I require you to sit through my pre-marital counseling sessions. I usually co-officiate those sessions with my husband, Rev. Andrew Wilkes.”
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If you’re interested in having Pastor Gabby minister at your church, officiate your wedding, or speak at your conference, complete the below inquiry form.