About

A native of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Earle J. Fisher graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1996, earned an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts in 1999 from Lake Michigan College, a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Computer Science in 2003 from LeMoyne Owen College and a Masters of Divinity Degree in May 2008 from Memphis Theological Seminary. As a dually ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and Missionary Baptist Church denominations Earle is a PhD student in the Rhetoric, Politics, Society area.

Rev. Fisher serves as Adjunct Instructor of Contemporary Theology at Rhodes College. Pastor Earle is also the Senior Pastor of Abyssinian Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. Most of Rev. Fisher's work focuses on the African American Religious Rhetoric, Contemporary Rhetorical Theory, Black Liberation Theology, and the prophetic persona of Albert Cleage, Jr.

Education 

Masters of Divinity - Religious Studies, Memphis Theological Seminary
Bachelors of Science - Computer Science, LeMoyne-Owen College
Associates of Arts - Liberal Arts, Lake Michigan College

Experience 

Christian Brothers University, Memphis TN August 2015 –Present
Adjunct Instructor of African American Theology

Rhodes College, Memphis TN August 2011 – Present
Adjunct Instructor of Contemporary Theology

Strayer University, Memphis TN July 2010 - Present
Adjunct Instructor of Humanities and Religion (Shelby Campus & Thousand Oaks Campus)

Memphis Theological Seminary, Memphis TN January 2010 – December 2011
Adjunct Instructor/Formation for Ministry

LeMoyne-Owen College, Memphis TN August 2008 – August 2010
Adjunct Instructor of Religious Studies

Honors & Awards 

 

First Generation PhD Fellowship 2014-2018 funded by the State of Tennessee to the University of Memphis to provide financial assistance to graduate students who are underrepresented in their respective disciplines and who will become the first person in their immediate families to earn a doctoral degree.

FTE Doctoral Fellowship 2017-2018 funded by the Forum for Theological Exploration to provide financial support for doctoral students of African descent who have completed the course work stage of their Ph.D. or Th.D. program in religion, theological studies or biblical studies.

United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Hall of Honors 2012 Inductee, The UNCF National Alumni Council honors alumnus who have been selected by their respective UNCF alma maters to receive the UNCF-NAC Hall of Honor award. These individuals have made significant contributions to their alma mater, their professions and the community.

Research

African American (Religious and Prophetic) Rhetoric
Contemporary Rhetorical Theory
The prophetic persona and rhetoric of Albert Cleage, Jr.

Teaching

"The Politics of Truth" in Split Ticket: Independent Faith in a Time of Partisan Politics. Eds. Amy Gopp, Christian Piatt, and Brandon Gilvin. Chalice Press, 2010.

The Negative Effects of Abusive/Legalistic Christian Religion: A Call to Prophetic and Covenantal Theology. Testamentum Imperium. Vol 3 (2011) 1-17

A.E. Johnson and Fisher, E. "But, I Forgive You": Mother Emanuel, Black Pain and the Rhetoric of Forgiveness." Sean O'Rouke and Melody Lehn (eds). Was Blind, But Now I See. Lexington Books (Proposed Publication Date: Fall 2017)