2022 Simpson Lectures

About the Simpson Lecture Speakers

Rev. Dr. Rhonda Y. Britton

Dr. Britton is the Senior Pastor of New Horizons Baptist Church, in Halifax Nova Scotia – the first female pastor in the church’s history. She was the first woman of colour to serve as President of the Canadian Baptists of Atlantic Canada; and the first ordained woman to serve at the Second United Baptist Church in New Glasgow, NS. In each role she encouraged and inspired others to meet the challenges in addressing deep-rooted social issues and embrace the opportunities for our churches in community.

In the community, Dr. Britton has served as a Moderator of the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia, Chair of the Richard Preston Centre for Excellence, member of Corrections Canada’s Interfaith Committee on Chaplaincy, member of the Poverty Solutions Advisory Committee in Halifax, and Community Chair of CeaseFire Halifax, a municipal anti-violence initiative. Her ministry has extended to communities beyond our shores with invitations to teach and preach in South Africa, Asia and South America.

In addition to a Doctor of Ministry at Acadia, Dr. Britton earned a Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a Master of Communications and Information Studies from Rutgers University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College in New York.

Rev. Dr. Lennett Anderson

Rev. Dr. Anderson is a graduate of Dalhousie University and Acadia University (MDiv 2000) and was ordained to Christian ministry in 2001. Since 1999 he has served as Senior Pastor of the church in which he was born and raised, which has grown under his leadership into a blended community of worshippers from diverse geographic, ethnic, cultural, and denominational backgrounds.

A retired commissioned Officer in the Canadian Forces where he served as Unit Chaplain for HMSC Scotian, Rev. Anderson has been recognized with numerous awards including the Medal of Excellence from the Navy League of Canada, the Canadian Forces Decoration Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Citizenship and an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from St. Thomas Christian College. Maclean’s magazine named Rev. Anderson as “one of five Canadian pastors who are breathing new life into their communities”. In 2016 he received the ADC Alumni Distinguished Service Award for significant contributions to ministry in his community and beyond. Rev. Anderson has worked tirelessly to promote racial justice with organizations such as the City of Halifax, the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, the Halifax Regional Police, and the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia.

Lennett is married to Dr. Késa Munroe-Anderson. They have three children and live in Hammonds Plains, Nova Scotia.

Robert Wright, MSW, RSW

Robert Seymour Wright is a Social Worker and Sociologist whose 31 year career has spanned the fields of education, child welfare, forensic mental health, trauma, sexual violence, and cultural competence.  A “clinician / academic / administrator,” he has always integrated his work delivering direct practice clinical service to clients with teaching and supervising interns, and promoting lasting systemic change through social policy advocacy.  He also consults, trains, speaks and comments on a wide range of issues.  His extensive pro bono work gave birth to The Peoples’ Counselling Clinic, a non-profit mental health clinic.  His pioneering work with colleagues in cultural competence and conducting cultural assessments has received national attention.