JOYCELYN BROWN

Joycelyn Brown is a singer and performer of the highest standard.  Born in North Carolina before later moving to New York, Joycelyn came from a family where her grandmother, mother, two aunts and a cousin all sang.  Appearing initially as a soloist in church with various Brooklyn Gospel Choirs, Joycelyn’s recording career defines itself, having worked with many of the best soul, raregrove and disco artists, producers and musicians of our time including such stellar names as Luther Vandross, Bette Midler, John Lennon, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, George Benson, Teddy Pendergrass, Culture Club, Masters At Work and many others.

After decades of shared ownership, the unmistakable voice of Joycelyn Brown has grown legendary, and the recent release of her first solo album Unreleased is a worthy testament to her gift.

BISHOP DR JOE ALDRED

Bishop Dr Joe Aldred is well known for his prophetic and challenging public ministry of respect, reconciliation and justice delivered in written or verbal form with the joy and enthusiasm of a gospel singer. That's no surprise really. He used to be one.

Jamaican-born Bishop Joe was a noted singer at his church before he underwent training for ministry. In the 1970s he was co-lead singer with a group called The Spiritual Rhythms.  He even contributed to a Gospel LP – on vinyl of course!

He studied theology at St John’s and Sheffield University from where he earned a PhD in theology.  Bishop Joe is the author and editor of several publications including Respect: Understanding African Caribbean Christianity; Preaching with Power, Sisters with Power, Praying with Power, and Who is my Neighbour – a church response to social disorder linked to gangs, drugs, guns and knives.  He is also credited with being one of the pioneers of Britain’s first Journal of Black Theology launched in 1998 and now called Black Theology – an International Journal.

Bishop Joe has had around 25 years of pastoral experience around the country, including Birmingham, Ashford, Oxford and Sheffield.  In 1989 he was ordained bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy, the third largest black Pentecostal church in Britain.

In the past decade he has majored in local and national ecumenism, community education, health, politics and socio-economic development.  Bishop Joe has been, inter alia, director of the Centre for Black and White Christian Partnership, chair of the Council of Black Led Churches, chairman of the Eastern Birmingham Primary Care Trust, and managing director of Partnership for Achievement.
Bishop Joe, who is married with three daughters, is not afraid to make his views - and the views of the community he represents - known, and he has been vocal on a number of key issues in the national and local press and media.

He also has strong feelings on the issue of slavery and its legacy, launching a five-pronged plan aimed at healing and reconciliation. His recommendations include a £20 million compensation fund, a monument in central London and an unequivocal apology for the slave trade.

Bishop Joe is currently executive director for Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs (MECA) at Churches Together in England; a member of the government’s Faith Communities Consultative Council; a member of the Communities and Local Government’s Programme Board for the REACH Programme; a member of the Trustee Committee of Birmingham City University; a Governor of Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust; an Ambassador for User Network for Sickle Cell Sufferers; a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2’s Pause for Thought; and Presenter of The Perfect Saturday Night Conversation on BBC Radio WM 95.6FM every Saturday evening from 8.00-10.00pm.  The show explores issues of particular interest for the African and Caribbean communities in the West Midlands and beyond.

You can visit Bishop Joe’s website at www.joealdred.com; Listen to him on BBC WM on Saturdays from 8-10PM at 95.6FM, DAB or online at www.bbc.co.uk/wm