Theologian, author, social critic, Rev. Byron Williams is the only pastor/syndicated columnist in the country. Williams writes twice weekly column social/political column for the Oakland Tribune. His column appears in 20 publications and several progressive web sites across the country. He is also the pastor of Resurrection Community Church in Berkeley, CA.   

Princeton professor Cornel West considers Byron’s work “groundbreaking and historic.” The Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. of Allen Temple Baptist Church calls Byron “the Reinhold Niebuhr of his day.”   

Williams is the author of “Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections on the Iraq War,” is a series of essays covering a four-year span in what is arguably America’s worst foreign policy decision. He is also featured in a biographical reference book entitled, “Notable African-American Media Figures,” for Greenwood Press. The book contains 240 biographical entries on individuals who work in the various news media. In addition, several of his articles will be featured in college textbooks for journalism students. 

Williams has spoken throughout the country, including presenting the 2006 keynote address at the University of California African American graduation ceremony.  He has appeared on numerous television and radio news programs, including CNN, ABC Radio, Fox News, and National Public Radio.  He is also a featured writer on Arianna Huffington’s popular blog.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science; his masters’ thesis at the Pacific School of Religion of the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, CA emphasized a theology of liberation in an urban context.  He also speaks French. 

Byron lives in Oakland, CA with his dog Zeus.