ABHMS remembers American Baptist leader and author Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr. for a lifetime of prophetic ministry
VALLEY FORGE, PA (10/02/2025)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) mourns the passing and celebrates the life of Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Sr. (1931–2025), a prophetic preacher, courageous pastor, and prolific author whose influence extended far beyond the pulpit. Pastor Emeritus of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, California, and Professor Emeritus at the American Baptist Seminary of the West, now Berkeley School of Theology (BST), Smith embodied the belief that authentic Christian faith must always lean toward justice.
Born on May 19, 1931, in Kansas City, Missouri, Smith was raised by his mother, Amy, and his grandmother. Together, they instilled in him a powerful sense of Black dignity, reinforced through repeated readings of the book of Exodus. He often credited their influence, along with the shaping power of his home church and the harsh realities of segregation, with cultivating resilience and a lifelong passion for justice. He earned degrees from Western University College, the Missouri School of Religion, and Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, and later served in leadership roles that spanned both church and society.
In 1971, Smith became senior pastor of Allen Temple Baptist Church, a historic congregation planted by American Baptist missionaries. Over more than three decades of his pastoral leadership, Allen Temple grew into one of Oakland’s largest churches and became a community anchor, offering affordable housing, educational opportunities, and health ministries. Under Smith, Allen Temple ordained women, welcomed new generations of leaders, and challenged theological institutions to expand beyond Eurocentric frameworks. His tenure made Allen Temple a beacon of prophetic witness.
Smith’s influence also extended across the country. He served as president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the American Baptist Churches of the West, and the Missouri chapter of the NAACP. His advocacy ministry reflected his theological foundation rooted in the work of Howard Thurman, Walter Rauschenbusch, Reinhold Niebuhr, J. DeOtis Roberts, and Gayraud Wilmore. As one colleague noted, “[Smith’s] voice and actions for justice and dignity are trademarks that others strive to emulate and cherish.”
Alongside his preaching and pastoral leadership, Smith left a lasting legacy through Judson Press, the publishing ministry of ABHMS. As an editor and author, he blended prophetic vision with pastoral care, offering encouragement to clergy and laity alike. Each of his books, including “Speak Until Justice Wakes,” “Outstanding Black Sermons, Volume 1,” and “No Other Help I Know: Sermons on Prayer and Spirituality,” bears witness to his conviction that faith must walk hand in hand with justice.
Even in the twilight of his life, Smith remained active. He convened the Barnabas Partners, a cohort of clergy dedicated to social justice. He kept writing, studying, and supporting emerging authors, encouraging them to see rejection or revision not as failure but as part of growth. “Stay green and you grow,” he often said. He also remained committed to teaching and mentoring, a legacy now reflected in the lives of countless pastors and faith leaders he inspired. Former students recall how Smith did not merely lecture but truly pastored: preaching, praying, and anointing with wisdom and compassion.
The J. Alfred Smith Institute was established at BST to carry forward his work of prophetic justice. “The earth mourns; the heavens rejoice. A mighty oak has fallen,” wrote Rev. Dr. James E. Brenneman, president of BST, upon announcing Smith’s passing to colleagues. “Already, we miss his slow, steady, strong, and wise voice, now left to blessed memory.”
ABHMS Executive Director Dr. Jeffrey Haggray added, “As a wise sage, senior pastor, and conscience for the Christian church, Dr. Smith challenged us to wed our preaching with justice, our prayers with action, and our faith with a love that never fails. His life is a testament to the Gospel lived boldly.”
Smith is survived by his children and a host of extended family, colleagues, and communities touched by his ministry. ABHMS extends heartfelt condolences to them and to Allen Temple Baptist Church in this season of grief.
In remembering Smith’s life and accomplishments, ABHMS recommits itself to the vision he embodied, a Beloved Community marked by faith, justice, dignity, and hope. His prophetic witness challenges us to remain courageous in love and steadfast in service, until justice reigns and God’s kingdom comes.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
