Patricia Anne Outlaw, Ph.D., D.Min. is an Associate Professor of Divinity Emerita at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. She is the first African-American woman and the first African Methodist Episcopal clergy person to be appointed to the interdenominational faculty of Beeson Divinity School.

Dr. Outlaw is the author of Soul Food for Hungry Hearts published by Gateway Press, 2005. She also wrote a chapter, “God the Father and Prayer” in Giving Ourselves to Prayer, compiled by Dan Crawford, Released by PrayerShop Publishers, July 2008.

A native of Baltimore City, Dr. Outlaw attended the Baltimore City Public Schools. She received her Associate of Arts Degree (1966) from Mount Providence Junior College; she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree (1968) and Master of Arts in School Psychology (1971) from Towson State University. She earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development (1977) from the University of Maryland, College Park. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Theology (1985) from St. Mary’s Seminary & University. Dr. Outlaw completed her second doctoral degree, the Doctor of Ministry Degree in 2002 from Beeson Divinity School, Samford University and is the first woman to obtain the Doctor of Ministry Degree from that institution.

She is a licensed psychologist (Maryland), and she is one of the original regional trainers certified by the American Psychological Association’s HIV/AIDS HOPE PROJECT. She was a senior psychologist at Spring Grove Hospital Center from 1992 until her retirement from Maryland State Service in 1997. Through her private practice, Outlaw and Associates, Dr. Outlaw served as a ministerial assessment specialist for the Baltimore/Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. In addition, she worked as a clinical consultant to law enforcement agencies. She provided a range of psychological services to women, adolescents, and couples.

Dr. Outlaw served as an adjunct professor of spirituality and pastoral counseling at St. Mary’s Seminary & University, Baltimore, Maryland for fifteen years. She also served as an adjunct professor of psychology, Director of the Study Skills Center and an Associate Dean of Students at Towson State University.

An ordained itinerant elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Outlaw is the current co-chair of the Board of Examiners for Ministers in training of the 9th Episcopal District of the AME Church.

She is a former pastor of Mt. Joy AME Church, Monkton, Maryland. Dr. Outlaw has served as an associate minister at St. John AME Church, Hemingway AME Church, and Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore City until her move to Birmingham, Alabama in January 2001. Dr. Outlaw served as the pastor of St. Paul AME Church-Adamsville from 2004 to 2012. She also served as pastor of Bethel AME Church-Homewood for two years and served as the pastor of Bethel AME Church-Rising for three years until her recent appointment as pastor of Oak Grove AME Church located in Florence Alabama.

Dr. Outlaw has over thirty years of experience working in the field of mental health as a clinical psychologist, consultant, university professor, workshop leader, and administrator. She is a Founding Member of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women-J.S.S. County Alliance, Inc. Outlaw is also a Founding Board Member of Birmingham Faith in Action. In addition, she has traveled extensively preaching and teaching in the USA, Kenya, Bermuda, Guatemala, Israel, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and the Kingdom of Lesotho. She enjoys traveling, swimming, and going to the movies. Her favorite Scripture verse is 2 Timothy 1:7. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind.”