The Stan Greenspon Center for Peace and Social Justice is thrilled to welcome Reverend Willie Keaton as a Justice Organizer to our team. Reverend Willie J. Keaton Jr, comes to Charlotte and the Charlotte Presbytery as Pastor of Mt. Olive Presbyterian Church.

Rev. Keaton was born in Brooklyn N.Y., but his roots extend to Waugh, Alabama and East Arcadia North Carolina where he spent significant time growing up.

Rev. Keaton was ordained December 6, 1997 as a Minister with the National Primitive Baptist Association. However, Rev Keaton followed the Lord’s call and was affirmed as a Teaching Elder July 29, 2014, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia.

Rev. Keaton has served faithfully as a Supply Pastor at Thomas M. Thomas Presbyterian Church in Chester, PA, as a Temporary Supply Pastor at Bethel Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, PA, and as Designated Pastor at Claremont Lafayette United Presbyterian Church in Jersey City NJ.

Additionally Rev. Keaton has served as a Strategy Team Member for Jersey City Together and as Chair of the Labor and Industry Committee of the Jersey City NAACP.

Rev. Keaton has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree from Cairn University, a Master’s of Science in Organizational Leadership from Cairn University, a Masters in Theological Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary, and a Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary. In addition Rev. Keaton received his Doctorate of Ministry from Drew Theological Seminary (December 2018) with a research focus on Mass Incarceration of African Americans.

Rev. Keaton has a passion for Justice of and a heart for communities existing on the fringes of society due to oppression and racism.