Rev. Gwendolyn Marie Wise-Blackman, Ph.D., M.Div.

Rev. Wise-Blackman was ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church as an Itinerant Elder in May 2016. Prior to moving with her family to Cary, NC and accepting her call into the ministry, she served in various Lay functions at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, DE, under the guidance of the pastor, Rev. Dr. Silvester S. Beaman. As a former member of the ministerial staff at Lincolnville AME Church, Raleigh, NC, Rev. Wise-Blackman served in several capacities, including the Grief Ministry, Christian Education, and Health and Wellness. Currently, she serves as Pastor of Union Bethel AME Church in Cary where practicing God’s love is exceptional.

Rev. Wise-Blackman holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a Doctorate of Philosophy in Pharmacology from the University of Virginia and a Master of Divinity from Shaw University Divinity School. She has held numerous positions in the pharmaceutical industry, receiving awards for her dedication and customer focus. Currently, Dr. Wise-Blackman is Owner and Principal Consultant of a biopharmaceutical firm, Gwen Wise-Blackman Consulting. She also serves as State Lead for Million Women Mentors – NC, and represents the Minority Women Health Alliance on the Stroke Advisory Council that advises the Justus-Warren Task Force. She is the Coordinator of WNCC Women in Ministry.

Rev. Wise-Blackman and her husband, Reginald “Reggie” Blackman, celebrated 28 years of marriage in August 2019. They have one son, Justin Baraka Blackman, a graduate student at North Carolina A&T University.

Rev. Wise-Blackman enjoys combining her love of God and God’s people with her love of science. She sees scientific discovery fitting in God’s plan for humanity. As we perform the process of peeling away the layers of creation we will find God in all things. Throughout her life she relied on Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” to be her guide in difficult situations.