Rev. Steven R. Smith
Steve Smith is Associate Rector for Mission at St. James’
Church in Manhattan, New York City. At St. James’, Steve coordinates the
parish’s outreach, peace & justice and global mission activities, including
Africa Action Study Group and Partners in Mission-Africa. St. James’ has
been committed to working with its African brothers and sisters for many
years, a commitment that became full-fledged during the years of apartheid
in South Africa and the effort to divest U.S. holdings in that country. In
Africa, St. James’ currently supports mission projects in Sudan, Malawi,
Sierra Leone, Liberia and South Africa. St. James’ advocates on many issues
related to Africa, including its on-going promotion of the United Nations’
Millennium Development Goals and the humane treatment of those fleeing
conflict in places like Darfur, Sudan. Steve Smith first came to love Africa
when he was a legal fellow in the late 1980s at the Kenya School of Law in
Nairobi. He has returned to Africa several times, both on mission trips for
the church and for personal pleasure.
Steve holds graduate degrees from Boston University School of Law, Yale
Divinity School and the General Theological Seminary. Steve is a member of
the bar of California, and he worked as an attorney in the areas of
employment, intellectual property and business litigation for 10 years in
Los Angeles. Steve left the practice of law when he received his call to
ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. Steve was ordained to the
priesthood in 2003. In addition to his work at St. James’, Steve is a member
of the Episcopal Diocese of New York’s Congregational Life and Global
Mission Commission, which, among other things, guides the diocesan mission
work in Africa.