William E. Pannell Center

The William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies seeks to expand the formation of today's Christian leaders, deepening their understanding of and engagement with the African American church and its contributions to society. Through academic, practical, and spiritual formation opportunities, the center nurtures relationships between the broader church, the Fuller community, and the African American church, community, and culture.

The Pannell Center was birthed in 1974—initially called the Theological Studies Program for Black Ministers—largely through the efforts of former trustee and longtime faculty member William E. Pannell, in whose honor the center was named in 2015. Its founding stemmed from a conviction that the Black church has much to contribute to the seminary experience, a conviction that continues to guide its work today.