This year we revive our Lenten sermon series with five guest preachers who will reflect on our Lenten theme, “treasure in clay jars.” Our guests will also join us at coffee hour for continued conversation.

Biography

Reverend Tracy Johnson Russell was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and came to Connecticut at the age of 13. She attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991. She graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1995 with a Master of Divinity. She received her Master of Arts degree in Teaching from Quinnipiac University in 1997. She is certified to teach History/Social Studies in grades 7-12 and taught full-time in the New Haven Public School system as a high school history teacher from January 2002 to June 2009. Reverend Johnson Russell was ordained to the Priesthood in July of 2004. She served as Vicar to St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in New Haven, Connecticut. She served this community of faith for 23 years, as their Seminarian, Ministry Intern, and Deacon. From 2011-2014, she served as the Chaplain and Director of Religious Studies at St. Thomas Episcopal Day School, also in New Haven, Connecticut. In January of 2015, Reverend Johnson Russell was called to serve as Priest-in-Charge at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church, in Hartford Connecticut, where she is the first African- American woman to serve in this capacity. In November of 2017, she was called to be their 5th Rector. In July of 2008, Reverend Johnson Russell Co-Founded, Your Place Youth Center, a youth outreach ministry of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the organization. In recognition of her tireless efforts with and on behalf of youth affected by gun violence in Newhallville and Greater New Haven and was awarded the Clinton R. Jones Award in May of 2014 conferred by Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford, CT. In June 2016, Reverend Johnson Russell launched Your Place Hartford, housed at St. Monica’s Episcopal Church to serve the youth of Greater Hartford. She also serves as a Lecturer in Homiletics (2019-Present) and a Practicum Instructor for the Office of Supervised Ministries at Yale Divinity School (2013-Present). In June of 2021, she joined the staff of Hartford International University as the Coordinator of the Howard Thurman Center for Transformational Ministry. Reverend Johnson Russell served as the President of the Standing Committee, Counsel of Advice to the Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Connecticut [2014-2020]. She is the Convener of the Clergy of Color of the Episcopal Church of Connecticut. She and the congregation of St. Monica’s are founding members of the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance. Rev. Johnson Russell has been a member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Clubs, Inc., for over 25 years. She has served the organization as past President, 1st Vice President, District and National Chaplain. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, Theta Tau Omega Chapter and serves as a board member of the Polished Pearls Foundation. Reverend Johnson Russell is married to Fitzroy Johnson Russell. They are the proud parents of Thaeyer Charles Johnson Russell and the guardians of their nephew, Rommell Lopez-Burrell.