Despite our changing times, the teachings of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. continue to find application in our day. Join Fr. Joseph Harmon, rector of the American National Catholic Theological Institute, as he hosts a discussion with three other participants as we focus on Martin’s historic Letter from a Birmingham Jail. Ms. Juli Corrigan, a parishioner at Holy Spirit ANCC in Montandon, PA, Fr. Jim Lehman, pastor of Holy Family’s ANCC in Las Cruces, NM, and Dr. Alison Thomas-Cottingham, a professor at Kean College, NJ will participate in a panel discussion via Zoom.
CLICK HERE to view a recording of this event.
Fr. Joseph Harmon serves as the first rector of the American National Catholic Theological Institute. Fr. Joseph joined the ANCC after over 40 years as a priest of the Episcopal Church where he served as pastor of several parishes around the country and in diocesan and national church leadership roles. After practicing as an attorney in a Pennsylvania corporate business firm, he returned to full-time parish work in 2006. An academic at heart, he is delighted to have been tapped to lead the development of the Institute, whose primary role is the theological education of women and men preparing for ordination in the American National Catholic Church. Fr. Joseph earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, the MDiv degree from The General Theological Seminary in New York City, and the Juris Doctor degree from the Widener University School of Law (now Commonwealth Law School) in Harrisburg, PA.
Juli Corrigan is the third of five daughters born to Irish Catholic parents in a small Pennsylvania coal mining town. She received BA and MSEd degrees from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. She worked in public education administration with a focus on nontraditional students including adults, pregnant teens, and children in migrant families. Juli married her spouse, Glynis Carr, in 2014 and they are the proud parents of one son, Jesse. Juli is a member of Holy Spirit ANCC parish in Montandon, PA and until recently was a leading member of its parish council since the parish was founded.
Fr. James Lehman entered the Alexian Brothers, a Roman Catholic Order dedicated to the care of the sick. After leaving the order, he continued working with those struggling emotionally and physically. He was later ordained a Permanent Deacon and for a while he served as Administrator of Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral in Las Cruces, NM. Fr. Jim completed a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from the College of Santa Fe and his theological studies at St. Alban Theological Seminary. He was ordained a priest and founded Holy Family parish in Las Cruces, NM, where he continues today as its pastor. Fr. Jim, who has always desired to serve God and God’s people, especially those struggling emotionally and physically, earned a Master of Social Work degree from Hunter College in New York City. While a pastor, he continues his work as a therapist in private practice and his work at New Mexico State University as a College Assistant Professor. To integrate these various interests, in 2003 he completed his Doctorate in Psychology, examining the psychological and spiritual effects of abuse and neglect.
Dr. Alison Thomas-Cottingham is an associate professor of psychology at Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ. As a clinical psychologist with a specialty in community/health psychology, Dr. Thomas-Cottingham enjoys supporting and inspiring her students in their study of the field. Her current research and clinical interests focus on the health of older adults where she partners with organizations in the public and private sectors to educate older adults about sexual health and promote improvements in community health. Dr. Thomas-Cottingham is the author of the book, Psychology Made Simple and numerous articles on aging and older adults. She serves as a consulting editor for the Journal of American College Health and is a member of various professional Associations including the American Psychological Association and The Association of Black Psychologists. She is a parishioner at Church of the Epiphany and Christ Church in Orange, NJ.
