Carolyn Custis James (B.A. Sociology, M.A. Biblical Studies) is an activist, blogger, and award-winning author. Her books include Finding God in the Margins, Malestrom, Half the Church, and The Gospel of Ruth. Her first book, When Life and Beliefs Collide, demonstrated the importance of theology for women and has been influential in encouraging women to pursue seminary education.

Carolyn blogs at www.carolyncustisjames.com and as a Leading Voice at Missio Alliance. She has also published articles for Huffington Post/Religion.

She was founder and president of the Synergy Women’s Network for women active in or preparing for ministry occupations. She is a consulting editor for Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament. She speaks at church conferences, colleges, and for other Christian organizations both in the US and abroad and is a frequent guest lecturer at various theological seminaries.

Carolyn is a member of Evangelicals for Justice and serves on advisory boards for:

• Logia – an initiative of the LOGOS Institute at the University of St. Andrews, UK committed to seeing Christian female scholars become more visible and valued in the academy and the church.
• 4word Women – an international organization for Christian professional women in the workplace.
• Institute for Bible Reading – dedicated to facilitate and energize a twenty-first century Bible reading movement.
• Evangelicals 4 Justice – an eclectic network of evangelical thought leaders and activists dedicated to making broad cultural impact through prophetic witness to the whole church.

Her work focuses on the intersection between Christianity and twenty-first century cultural issues facing women and men globally and has earned her recognition by Christianity Today as one of “50 Evangelical Women to Watch.”