The Rev. Madison Shockley, Contributor

Zuade Kaufman / Truthdig

The Rev. Madison Shockley is the pastor of the Pilgrim United Church of Christ (UCC) in Carlsbad, Calif.  Originally ordained in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1979, he has served churches in St. Louis, Denver, Seattle and Los Angeles. Shockley, who was raised in Mid-city Los Angeles, was active in Los Angeles politics before being called to Pilgrim Church in 2004.

Shockley writes commentary on a wide variety of subjects including race, religion, politics, education, reproductive choice and popular culture. His commentaries have been published in papers across the country, primarily in the Los Angeles Times and the San Francisco Chronicle before becoming an original contributor to Truthdig.

He serves on the Executive Council of The Center for Progressive Christianity and is a member of the African American Ministers in Action of People for the American Way. Shockley is also on the board of the Interfaith Community Services of San Diego and the board of directors of ProgressiveChristianity.org.

He pursued higher education at Harvard College, University of Missouri, Union Theological Seminary and Claremont Graduate School. He holds a BA in Political Science and a Master of Divinity degree. He and his wife Gayle have four adult children, and reside in Carlsbad, Calif.