Rev. Jimmie Ray Hawkins serves as the Presbyterian Church (USA) Advocacy Director of the Washington Office of Public Witness and the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations (NYC).

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies from North Carolina Central University (Durham, NC); a Master of Arts in Christian Education from the Presbyterian School of Christian Education (Richmond, VA); and a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center/Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA).

He served as the pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC, (1996 – 2016).  Between 1992 – 1996, he served as the senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian, Holmes Memorial and Trinity Presbyterian Churches in Virginia (Peaks Presbytery).

He served on the national boards of Church World Service, the National Council of Churches, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, and Union Presbyterian Seminary. He served as a tri-chair of the Washington Interreligious Staff Committee (WISC) and the Heads of Washington Office (HOWO). He chaired several interfaith /ecumenical and non-profit boards: NC NAACP Executive Committee, Durham Congregations in Action, the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, the Religious Coalition for a Non-Violent Durham, Housing for New Hope (homeless advocacy), End Poverty Now, and others.

His community ministry includes being a leader for the Moral Monday Movement in North Carolina and the Poor People’s Campaign. He engaged in four actions of civil disobedience and has been active in justice advocacy throughout his ministry.

His book, Unbroken and Unbowed, was released by Westminster John Knox Press, in February 2022.

He is the son of Elsie L. and the late James P. Hawkins. He is married to Sheinita Hampton Hawkins and they have two children: Kaela Renee and James Hampton.

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