Reverend Allison Cannady-Smith: How We All Get Free Series

Join us for Iliff’s Pulpit+ Exchange Series, an inspiring series of in-person and virtual gatherings where clergy, lay leaders, activists, scholars, ministers, journalists, and community organizers come together to wrestle with the most pressing questions of our time. Together, we’ll explore powerful stories of hope, healing, and action—each rooted in a shared vision of justice and liberation.

God's Provision in the Midst of an Ungrateful Nation: An Open Thank-You Note to Black Women Everywhere

On the day following Resurrection Sunday, this talk will explore how Jesus's provision for his Mother Mary at the foot of the cross serves as a reminder of the redemptive power of gratitude. It will call for corporate repentance for the greatest sin of all committed against Black Women and other "least[s] of these".

Reverend Allison Cannady-Smith is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and the proud Pastor of Shorter Community AME Church in Denver, CO - the first woman appointed to the position in the church’s 158-year history. As Pastor of Shorter AME, Rev Cannady-Smith also serves as Lead Pastor, Finance Chair, and Trustee Chair of the broader Mountain Valley District of the AME Church, which boasts 21 churches throughout Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Prior to her appointment to Shorter AME, Rev. Cannady-Smith led Bethel AME Church in Portland, OR, and served as Board Chair of the Bethel Economic Development Council.

In addition to her clergy calling, Rev. Cannady-Smith has a wealth of business development and non-profit management experience. A graduate of the Wharton School of Business, Rev. Cannady-Smith spent more than 30 years in senior non-profit leadership roles where she was responsible for fund development and board governance. She is CEO and Chief Coaching Officer of Cannady Smith & Associates, a consulting and coaching firm she founded with husband Gregory Robert Smith that advises executives and their teams on strategic planning and people development, mainly in the educational and healthcare spaces. Rev. Cannady-Smith received her Master of Divinity from Seattle University and her Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

A firm believer that faith without hand-to-the-plow practice is dormant, Rev. Cannady-Smith has been an active community servant. She is a staunch advocate for health equity and frequently serves as a consultant, facilitator, lecturer, and panelist for nonprofits and medical organizations on the importance of cultural competency in the delivery of healthcare. She serves on the board of Pink Lemonade Project, and was a founding member of FaithHealth in Action and Leaders in Women’s Health, grassroots coalitions of nonprofits focused on addressing the racial, economic, and social determinants of health in the Black and Latinx communities. She is a breast cancer survivor currently working on a book entitled “When God Chooses Medicine.”

5:00 – 5:45 PM (MST): Light meal and connection

5:45 PM: Lecture begins, followed by Q&A and deep discussion

Location: In-person at Iliff or online via livestream. Unable to attend in person? Register to receive the livestream link.

Because change starts in community. This is a space to be challenged and inspired, while meeting others who share your passion for faith-rooted justice, equity, and collective liberation.

Come for one evening or all. Stay for the conversation. Leave with new energy, new insights, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Whether you’re a faith leader, community builder, or someone seeking meaningful connection, this is more than a lecture series—it’s an invitation to be part of a growing network of changemakers committed to building a more just and equitable world.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Iliff School of Theology