📍 Update on The Collegiate Church & Call to Congregational Meeting Pray Gather Engage Give Pastors & staff Write to Pastor Bridget Rev. Bridget Anthony Minister of Engagement — Bridget fell in love with the church when she was 12 years old. Growing up, hearing the 23rd Psalm from her grandmother as she tucked her in each night, and following her grandmother to Vacation Bible School at her South Side of Chicago Baptist Church, Bridget later came to sing in the choir and to serve as an usher before leading small groups as a young adult. “My faith was nurtured by Black women.” Bridget’s faith is still guided by her grandmother’s love and her mother’s wisdom—the women who cared for and encouraged her. While at Union Theological Seminary, Bridget felt a call to ministry specifically to Black women and to the LGBTQIA+ community. Seeing how religion has been (mis)used to employ a denigrating “love the sinner, hate the sin” theology, Bridget has dedicated her ministry to providing a positive and affirming counterpoint to such destructive practices. At the West End Church, Bridget engages the congregation and surrounding community in contemporary and creative conversations and actions, widening both biblical and theological understandings, and offering new experiences of being church. In addition to her ministerial call, Bridget is an actor and playwright with a BA in Theatre from Marymount College, and an MA from New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study in Playwriting and Performance, as well as an M.Div from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. While at Union, Bridget focused on Worship and the Preaching Arts, and was the recipient of the Karen Ziegler Feminist Preaching Prize (awarded to those who represent the highest ideals of feminism and liberation theology), and the William H. Hudnut Award (awarded to those who show the greatest promise for preaching ministry). Bridget is also an adjunct lecturer at the City College of New York where she has taught Public Speaking and Acting 101 for the last 10 years. She lives with her son, Mikai, whom she describes as, “the purest example of God’s love that I know. He came into this world loved, and loving.” An avid gamer, Mikai is a successful actor in his own right, having earned roles at the Public Theater as well on TV and in film. Mikai also finds time for puzzles, music, and playing Battleship with his Mom. Fun fact Bridget is a proud Trekkie and sci-fi/fantasy aficionado. She attends Comic-Con in New York City every year, and takes cosplay very seriously. Don’t be surprised if you hear references to Star Trek, Star Wars or Black Panther in her sermons, or in any of the classes she’s leading for Spirit Talk or Adult Education. Pastor Bridget’s sermons Recent thoughts Be Opened Sep 5, 2021 Unexpected Grace Aug 29, 2021 Speaking the Truth Aug 8, 2021 Searching Jul 25, 2021 New Day Coming Apr 11, 2021 It Takes a Village Feb 28, 2021 There is bread in our midst and we have everything that we need Jul 26, 2021 “Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground.” Jun 14, 2021 A Mother’s Day like no other May 10, 2021 Now what? Apr 5, 2021 Finding new ways to connect Mar 1, 2021 COVID-19 Vaccine Talk Jan 31, 2021 Our Arts Week Festival is here! Jan 25, 2021 Intentions for the New Year Dec 28, 2020 We need your photos for Christmas! Dec 7, 2020 “How did you become a minister?” Oct 25, 2020 Join Newsletter 245 West 77th Street, New York, New York 10024 — (212) 787-1566 Website (em)powered by Vandersall Collective