Rev. Dr. Lydia Meredith
Curriculum Vitae | Scholar | Speaker | Author | Advocate
Phone: (404) 822-4086
Address: 1012 Courtland Avenue, Macon, GA 31204
Email: info@lydiaMmeredith.com
Website: www.lydiaMmeredith.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lydiaMmeredith
Featured Work
Dissertation
Religious Rhetoric and Rhetorical Theories of Human Engagement & Education: Mitigating Discriminatory Sentiment Against Sexual Minorities
Book
The Gay Preacher’s Wife: How My Gay Husband Deconstructed My Life & Reconstructed My Faith
Featured Media
Video Feature
Tom Joyner Morning Show
The Gay Preacher’s Wife Reveals Sex Scandal that Led to Divorce
V103 | Frank Ski and Wanda Smith
Lydia and Dennis Meredith discuss The Gay Preacher’s Wife
Los Angeles WAVE Newspapers
Book Corner: Love, Sexuality, and Faith Examined in Memoir
Education
Ph.D., Rhetoric and Composition
Dissertation: Religious Rhetoric and Rhetorical Theories of Human Engagement & Education: Mitigating Discriminatory Sentiment Against Sexual Minorities
Master of Public Policy
Major: Nonprofit Policy
Master of Arts
Major: Christian Education
Master of Management
Major: Management
Bachelor of Science
Major: Engineering Science
Teaching Experience
Georgia State University
- English: Rhetoric and Composition 1101 and 1102
- English: Business Writing 3130
- Students enrolled: 15–50
Mercer University
- INT201: Building Communities: Investigating Social Issues
- Students enrolled: 18
Oakland Unified School District
- King Middle School and Oakland High School
- Math and Science
- Students enrolled: 30–90
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Diversity education and training for executive management and staff.
Beacon of Hope, Inc.
Workshop planning, continuing education, family life-skills training, abstinence-sex education, AmeriCorps VISTA coaching, strategic planning, and conference speaking.
Tabernacle Baptist Church
Preaching, curriculum development, authorship, editing, and continuing education for clergy, church leaders, and laypersons.
Certificates & Professional Training
- Certified Diversity Trainer, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, 1991
- National Council Administrator Credential, 1996
- Child Development Associate Credential, 1997
- Cultural Competency Certificate, 2002
- Certificate of Ordination, 2009
- Political Leadership Training Certificate, 2010
Professional Experience
Founder and CEO — Lydia Meredith, Inc. / Beacon of Hope
Advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, conference and event speaking, blog writing, civic leadership, women’s equity advocacy, theology of love and acceptance, nonprofit consulting, and partnership work through The Wilma Group LLC.
Pastor – Administrator — Tabernacle Baptist Church
Established and implemented ministries and community-centered programs tailored to urban needs, including leadership involvement in revitalization efforts in Atlanta.
Founder and CEO — Beacon of Hope, Inc.
Led administrators, teachers, officials, volunteers, and partners in delivering holistic programs for low-income students and families. Oversaw fundraising, grants, implementation, evaluation, and a $2 million operating budget.
Senior Engineer — Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Directed interdepartmental teams to solve complex problems, optimize systems, reduce waste, and conduct mandated diversity awareness workshops for staff.
Research Experience
Doctoral Research — Georgia State University
Completed doctoral coursework and dissertation research in rhetorical theory, religious rhetoric, rhetorical education, social media rhetoric, digital media production, LGBTQ+ stigma research, and grant/proposal writing.
Graduate Research Assistant — Center for Studies on Africa and Its Diaspora
Supported education, research, exhibits, symposia, multimedia campaigns, and partnerships addressing education, economic, and health disparities affecting Africa and its diaspora.
Master’s Project — Georgia State University
Analyzed the cost-benefit of legalizing same-sex marriage in Georgia, including revenue forecasting based on data from states with legalized marriage.
Master’s Thesis — Interdenominational Theological Center
Assessed personal issues affecting LGBT populations across human development domains and evaluated Christian education models serving LGBT communities.
Master’s Project — Vanderbilt University
Surveyed and analyzed cost structures for the Installment Loan Department of First American National Bank to improve long-term profitability.
Publications
Dissertation
Meredith, Lydia. Religious Rhetoric and Rhetorical Theories of Human Engagement & Education: Mitigating Discriminatory Sentiment Against Sexual Minorities. Georgia State University ScholarWorks, 2025.
Book
Meredith, Lydia. The Gay Preacher’s Wife: How My Gay Husband Deconstructed My Life & Reconstructed My Faith. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. (Gallery Books), 2016.
Articles Online
- A Christian Education Model for Helping the Black Church Love and Accept Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Populations, March 28, 2009
- Same-Sex Marriage (SSM): Impact on Georgia’s Revenues, April 28, 2010
Blog Online
- Transcribing the DALN: Part IV: Unveiling the “Best Kept Secret” for Rhetoric and Composition Researchers, May 28, 2021
- God Fallacy, March 29, 2020
- COVID-19: Healing Strategies, March 24, 2020
- Faith that Works, January 5, 2020
- World AIDS Day: Empowering Survivors, December 1, 2018
- Keep Love Alive: What Successful Couples Know, September 7, 2018
Presentations & Invited Lectures
- Abstract Presentation, GSU Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, February 2025
- Paper Presentation, College English Association Conference, March 2024
- Abstract Presentation, GSU Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity, October 2023
- Paper Presentation, American Academy of Religion Annual Conference, March 2021
Media Appearances
Radio Interviews
- Tom Joyner Morning Show
- Karen Hunter Radio Show, SiriusXM
- Frank Ski and Wanda Smith Morning Show, V103
Newspaper & Magazine Interviews
- Los Angeles WAVE Newspapers
- Nomads Magazine, June 2017
- Georgia Voice, May 5, 2017
- The Advocate, July 20, 2017
Academic Honors & Awards
- Dean’s Honor Award
- The Anne Wimberly and Jonathan Jackson Award for Graduating Seniors in the Discipline of Christian Education with Academic Excellence
- The Coca-Cola Scholarship Award
- Georgia Baptist Convention: Durward V. Cason, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Award
- Honor Society of Theta Phi
- Amanda G. Hyatt Fellowship for Leadership, Scholarship, and Community Service
- Phi Alpha Honor Society
- Grant and Proposal Writing course project awarded $25,000
- Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Online Education Thank-A-Teacher Program Award — Three Time Recipient
Community Service & Civic/Corporate Awards
- Fulton County Region 14 DFCS Advisory Board President
- WSB TV, 11 Alive TV, Clear Television News Stories featuring Beacon of Hope’s community redevelopment work
- Atlanta Journal & Constitution recognition
- Atlanta Symphony Hall literacy event coordination and sponsorship
- State of Georgia Assembly – N. T. Randall Servant Leadership Award, 2018
- Atlanta City Hall District 2 – 20 Years Community Leadership Proclamation, 2016
- Outstanding Community Service Award, 2012
- Outstanding Leadership & Service Award, 2010
- Community Service and Leadership Proclamation, 2009
- 10 Years Community Service Award, 2006
- Principal’s Award for Community Service, 2005
- Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative Award, 2004
- Community Service Honor, 2004
- Humanitarian and Community Service Award, 2003
- Early Childhood Hero Award, 2001
- PG&E Wall of Fame Awards, 1990 and 1991
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 1973