Dr. Carlton W. Veazey 

The Reverend Dr. Carlton W. Veazey has been President and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice (RCRC) since 1997 and is a minister of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A. Reverend Veazey is recognized as a leading Christian spokesperson for reproductive health, rights and justice based on religious and theological principles. He is founder of the Coalition’s celebrated National Black Church Initiative, which assists African American clergy, laity, and youth address teen childbearing, sexuality education, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and reproductive health issues within the context of African American religion and culture. He is an advocate for public funding of comprehensive sexuality education and for expanded access to family planning services.

Reverend Veazey is a graduate of Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. He is the recipient of the United Church of Christ/Howard University School of Divinity James F. Jenkins Pillar of Faith Award and a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Meadville Lombard Theological School.

Reverend Veazey’s long and distinguished career in the ministry and public service and his commitment to social justice brought him to the presidency of the 35-year-old coalition of religious groups from 15 denominations. Active in domestic and international issues, Reverend Veazey introduced the Black Church Initiative to churches in Cape Town, South Africa, in 2001. He was a member of the 2003 interfaith delegation to China that called on the United States to resume funding the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Reverend Veazey is the third generation in his family to serve as a Baptist minister. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff as well as Howard School of Divinity. From the earliest days when he ministered to migrants on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Reverend Veazey has been an advocate for social justice. In 1982, he ordained the first female minister in the Baptist churches in the Washington area. During his 33-year ministry at the historic Zion Baptist Church in Washington, DC, he developed and implemented numerous programs for children, teens, and senior adults and provided spiritual support to a number of incarcerated young men in preparation for their release from the prison system.

From 1989 to 1992, Reverend Veazey was chairman of the prestigious Theological Commission of the National Baptist Convention U.S.A., an organization of more than 7 million members, which is considered the world’s largest Black organization. He is currently pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Washington, DC.

Among the numerous awards Reverend Veazey has received, the Ms. Foundation in 1999 presented him with its prestigious Gloria Steinem Award for his visionary leadership of the Black Church Initiative. In 2001, Reverend Veazey received the Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington Champions of Choice Community Partnership Award. In 2002, he received the Voters for Choice Reproductive Freedom Award. In 2005, he was named one of “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” by Women’s E-News—the only man so honored. His board memberships include Advocates for Youth, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, Exhale, and Political Research Associates. He is a member of the Trojan Sexual Health Advisory Council, which is chaired by former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders.

The Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, founded in 1973 by clergy and laity, is a non-partisan education and advocacy organization. In all programs, the Religious Coalition seeks to give clear voice to the reproductive health issues of people of color, those living in poverty and other underserved populations.

For additional information:
Marjorie Signer
Director of Communications
Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
1025 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 1130
Washington DC 20005
office 202-628-7700 ext 12
cell 202-341-5559
msigner@rcrc.org