Dr. David A. Anderson's Biography
Dr. David Anderson, founder and President of the BridgeLeader Network (BLN), is one of the world’s leading authorities on building bridges across the deep divides of race, faith, culture and wealth.
His global work has brought hope and healing to communities, families and people in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America including work in Ferguson, Missouri, and Baltimore, Maryland, during the civil unrest around issues of race and police brutality.
Wherever there is a divide, Anderson seeks to build a bridge through relevant and intelligent conversation. His insight, vision, and passion have made him a widely sought speaker, writer, and consultant for major national and international events and policy initiatives.
He has appeared on ABC, CNN, FOX, BET, TBN and C-SPAN television networks, and has been interviewed on more than 2,000 radio stations worldwide. Anderson is the bridge-building voice in the Nation's Capital as host of the daily radio talk show "RealTalk with Dr. David Anderson" on WAVA (105.1 FM) – the most listened to Christian talk station on the east coast and the 2nd most listened to in the nation. Dr. Anderson also hosted “Real Talk with Dr. David Anderson” on ABC2 in Baltimore, Maryland, for 4 seasons.
Dr. Anderson earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2001 from Oxford Graduate School's American Centre for Religion and Society Studies in the US, while studying and defending his essays at Oxford University in England. Anderson currently serves as the Chancellor of Oxford Graduate School.
As the founder and senior pastor of Bridgeway Community Church located in Columbia, Maryland, Dr. Anderson reaches a dynamic, multicultural congregation of over 5,000 weekly attendees from more than 52 different nations, and the services are viewed online in over 100 countries. Dr. Anderson is the author of several books on race and diversity, including Letters Across the Divide (Baker, 2001) and Multicultural Ministry (Zondervan, 2004), the award- winning Gracism: The Art of Inclusion (IVP, 2007), and I Forgrace You: Doing Good to Those Who Have Hurt You (IVP, 2011). In 2010, Dr. Anderson edited and co-authored the acclaimed Multicultural Ministry Handbook: Creatively Connecting to a Diverse World (IVP, 2010). His newest book, How to Think Like a Gracist, along with all of Dr. Anderson's resources, are available at EmbraceGracism.com. You can learn more about Dr. Anderson and his work at AndersonSpeaks.com.
Dr. Anderson and his family reside in Bowie, Maryland.