E163: Reverend Kaji Douša - A Vessel for Faith and Change

Pastor Kaji Spellman Douša (pronounced “doe-sha”) is the first
woman to serve as the Senior Pastor of her 212-year-old
congregation, the Park Avenue Christian Church, in Manhattan. The
Park is known as a congregation of fearless activism in New York
City. 


 


For the better part of 12 years, Pastor Kaji served as Chair of
the New Sanctuary Coalition. Founded in 2007, the New Sanctuary
Coalition (NSC) was a grassroots, immigrant-led,
multi-faith-based organization that creates support systems for
and empowers people navigating the immigration system. Pastor
Kaji is known for her work in building networks of thousands of
immigrant-led advocates across the country. For her ministry on
the US border with Mexico, Pastor Kaji was targeted and
surveilled by ICE and CBP, the subject of her lawsuit Douša
v. DHS. She has emerged as a key voice in finding a way forward
for migrants.


 


In the summer of 2020, Pastor Kaji helped to lead many of the
rallies and marches organized in response to the murders of
Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. In the midst of the uprisings,
Pastor Kaji and a group of Black clergy women built a new,
member-based organization called Daughters 4 Justice (D4J) to
constructively work with and hold to account lawmakers and the
NYPD in order to re-envision public safety in NYC. D4J’s basic
premise is that a city structured around the safety of Black
children will be safe for everyone. 


 


Pastor Kaji is known for her particular ministry in service to
the spiritual needs of Black excellence. Many national and world
leaders – particularly Black women – call on her for prayer,
support, care and discretion.


 


She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and of Yale
University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude
and a Master of Divinity degree, respectively. Pastor Kaji
completed her term as President of the Yale Divinity School
Alumni Association in 2020. Her other nonprofit board roles
include Planned Parenthood’s Clergy Advocacy Board, where she
served on the 2020 U.S. Presidential endorsement committee for
the Action Fund. Planned Parenthood regularly invites Pastor Kaji
to speak at national rallies, events and press appearances on its
behalf.


 


Pastor Kaji’s advocacy expertise helps to build the public and
policy imaginary beyond intractable discourse. Her clear moral
leadership brings her to a number of venues – from the pulpit to
news broadcasts, editorial pages and policy rooms. 


 


 


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