A Light to the World: Student, Shepherd, Living Legend Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin Jr. (MDiv ’68, DMin ’75, Hon ’94)
Christian Theological Seminary has honored one of its distinguished alumni, Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr. (MDiv ’68, DMin ’75, Hon ’94), with the inaugural Living Legend Award for Dedication to Theological Education. The award was presented by CTS President David M. Mellott during the 2025 Legends of Leadership Breakfast on April 22, recognizing Bishop Benjamin’s remarkable ministry and his enduring impact on theological education. During his 43 years of continuous service as pastor of Light of the World Christian Church in Indianapolis, he guided more than 50 students through CTS’ Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degree programs.
Bishop Benjamin’s journey to CTS was, as he puts it, “God directed.” A native of St. Louis, MO raised in Cleveland, Ohio and a childhood member of Fifth Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Benjamin had originally planned to attend Crozer Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania following in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s footsteps. Encouraged by his pastor to consider CTS — a major seminary of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) — Benjamin visited Indianapolis and immediately felt at home. At just 22 years old, he found a welcoming spirit that confirmed his decision. “I equate intelligence with kindness,” he recalls. “Dr. Bradshaw, the director of field education, walked me around and talked to me like a father would to a son. I said, ‘Well this is where I need to be.’”
Bishop Benjamin went on to earn both his Master of Divinity (1968) and his Doctor of Ministry (1975) degrees at CTS, participating in one of the seminary’s first-ever DMin cohorts. “They had formed one of the early DMin programs across the country at CTS,” he shares, his voice tinged with pride at being part of such a trailblazing initiative. In 1994 CTS presented him with an Honorary Degree of Divinity.
Throughout his student years, he collected experiences that left a lifelong impact. Among his most vivid memories is the visit of Robert F. Kennedy Sr. to campus. “I introduced him in Shelton Auditorium and was his host for the rest of the day. He was so impressed with CTS! The experience here was life changing,” Bishop fondly recalls.
Those transformative experiences at CTS unfolded against the backdrop of a nation in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement. He was a follower of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. while in college, but seminary shaped his focus. He recalls,
I think it’s important to know that everything like this is in context. It was during that time that I developed the social justice mentality. When I came here, we had just passed the Civil Rights bill. I didn’t find any antagonism here in this school, but just prior to that I was an intercollegiate varsity tennis player at St. Louis University. I experienced the kind of thing that changes your perspective on life. We were traveling as a team. We played at the University of Kansas, and we drove on a bus up to Kansas City. Outside of Kansas City, we pulled up to a restaurant. As we got ready to go in, they said, ‘Oh, no no no – you guys can come in, but not him.’ The team got on the bus and left. Then the same thing happened in Louisville, Kentucky. The same year. This was before the Civil Rights bill. That helped to put the steel in my spine, and I said, ‘I’m never going to let anybody demean me again, and I will always resist oppression, I will always champion inclusion, and I will always speak truth to power.’ And that has been my ministry.
CTS was known for promoting social justice, civic action, healthy dissension, and inclusion. Bishop Benjamin believes that was particularly attractive to young theologians coming into a movement. His experiences at CTS all became a part of his energy and passion.
It was also during this season of formation that Bishop Benjamin began a connection with the congregation that would define his pastoral career. As a student completing field education, Bishop interned at Witherspoon Presbyterian Church. Within a year, he was invited to serve Second Christian Church, the congregation that would later become Light of the World Christian Church — a name change he helped lead to better reflect its mission and vision.
Over his tenure as pastor of Light of the World Christian Church in Indianapolis, Bishop Benjamin became known not only as a faithful pastor and shepherd, but also — in his words — “a good troublemaker,” inspiring generations of clergy to boldly engage issues of justice and inclusion. He was affectionately called “the City’s Pastor.”
He retired from Light of the World in 2012 and was named Senior Pastor Emeritus. The church continues to be both a literal and figurative light on the hill at Cold Spring and Michigan Road in Indianapolis. “Success demands a successful successor,” Bishop notes with pride, celebrating the leadership of those who have followed him at Light of the World, a congregation whose name he helped choose to symbolize the hope and light they bring to the community.
Thirteen years after retirement, Bishop’s legacy continues to shine brightly. That legacy was celebrated again on April 23, when more than 200 people gathered at Light of the World to express their gratitude. Patiently waiting for a personal moment with Bishop and Lady Benjamin, the crowd reflected the deep and widespread impact of a man whose life’s work has been to turn broken beginnings into living testimonies of resilience and faith. “You can come from a broken home,” Bishop Benjamin has often said, “but you don’t have to live a broken life.”
Throughout his ministry, Bishop Benjamin consistently encouraged students to pursue theological education — particularly at CTS. Asked why he so passionately referred potential seminarians to CTS, Bishop says, “It’s because it was a good experience. I was very sensitive at that point to discrimination and racism because of those experiences I shared with you, and I didn’t find any of that here – not even a tinge of it.”
He credits his wife Beverly, whom he married during his second year at CTS, with helping to affirm the positive environment. “My wife, who I listen to often about what’s good and what’s bad, felt CTS was a good place,” he says.
Beyond the welcoming spirit, Bishop Benjamin found his intellectual world expanded.
“I realized that it was changing the way in which I thought… This whole business of critical thinking. It helped me to line up my passion with my purpose.”
Because of those transformative experiences, Bishop felt a responsibility to urge others into seminary education. “You’ve got to get in there and be challenged,” he says. “Iron sharpens iron.”
Light of the World and CTS have shared a beautiful partnership over the decades. Whenever Light of the World underwent renovations or construction — whether downtown, at 38th Street, or the current building on Michigan Road — the congregation found a welcoming home at CTS. “We’re kind of joined at the hip,” Bishop Benjamin says with a smile.
Much of what Bishop Benjamin celebrates about CTS echoes the reflections of many alumni: a place that teaches not what to think, but how to think; fosters authentic relationships with faculty; and welcomes theological diversity while pushing each student toward their truest calling.
“I wanted to make sure that every minister put in my care understood that an educated minister leads to an elevated community,” Bishop Benjamin explains. “If you are being charged with caring for folks’ souls, shouldn’t you be excellently trained for that? I’m not judging your calling, but if you’re going to come under my covering, seminary is a requirement.”
When asked what advice he has for young pastors stepping out into ministry and seminary training, Bishop offers this simple but profound reflection: “I didn’t plan my ministry. I had no idea where God was going to lead me. I never saw this, but God saw this. God planned it, and I simply walked in it.” In the words of his mentor, the late, great, Howard Thurman, Bishop endorses the idea “that when you and Jesus become one, all of life’s resources begin to flow toward you.”
May we all be as faithful as Bishop Benjamin in taking the next step God sets before us — walking with purpose, humility, kindness, and the light that only faith can ignite.
On April 22, 2025, at the Annual Legends of Leadership Breakfast, Christian Theological Seminary awarded Bishop T. Garrott Benjamin, Jr, the inaugural Living Legend Award for Dedication to Theological Education. The award recognizes extraordinary individuals whose unwavering commitment and profound impact on CTS has inspired and nurtured the spiritual and academic growth of countless students. Below are photographs from the morning.
