The Reverend Rosalind M. Brathwaite is a
native New Yorker of mixed heritage. She is the wife of
Adolphus Brathwaite, a retired New York City Police
Detective. They have one daughter, Tawanda Prince, and they
are the proud grandparents of two, Javon and Sarah Prince.
Pastor Brathwaite was ordained in the Metropolitan New York
Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on
February 23, 2003. She is a graduate of the Lutheran
Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and is presently
serving as the Pastor of Augustana Evangelical Lutheran
Church in East Elmhurst, New York.
In an effort to adhere to the teachings of Jesus and her
parents, Pastor Brathwaite dedicates many hours in
volunteer service. Some of the areas in which she has
served are: Rape Crisis Intervention Advocate at Mr. Sinai
Hospital, advocate for the visually impaired, volunteer
Chaplain at several area hospitals, Rikers Island and
Arthur Kills Correctional Facility to name a few. She has
been recognized for her dedicated service. The Bronx Lions
Club of Lions Club International has awarded her the Melvin
Jones Fellow Award for dedicated Humanitarian Service. She
is the recipient of the National Sojourner Truth
Meritorious Service Award presented by the Williamsbridge
Club (NYC) of the National Association of Negro Business
and Professional Women’s Club, Inc., and also the recipient
of the 2003 Clergy Award from Bronx Home Care Services in
recognition of her Pastoral Dedication and Service to the
Community.
She is presently serving on the Board of the Bronx Lions
Club (she is also a Past President, twice), and is also a
member of the Bronx Advisory Board of VISIONS/Services for
the Blind and Visually impaired. She is Chairperson of the
Board of Directors for the Bronxdale Tenants League Day
Care Center, Inc. Pastor Brathwaite serves on the
Metropolitan NY Synod’s Assembly Planning Committee, the
Synod’s Hunger Committee, Synod’s Urban Leaders Institute
and the Synod’s Worship Team. She is a member of the
Lutheran African-American Clergy Association, and the
African-American Lutheran Association (AALA). She is a
member of the Executive Board of the Women of the ELCA.
Pastor Brathwaite loves the Lord, and she loves God’s
people. She is a prayer warrior, and an Intercessor, and
participates in a daily telephone prayer ministry. She
believes there is a need for a greater awareness that the
baptismal vocation of ALL Christians is to SERVE. She is
determined to be an instrument of service through the
Spirit of God, sharing the love, peace, joy and Good News
of Jesus Christ at Augustana and wherever she is led.
