Good Grief: Addressing Six Myths

Dr. Aidsand F. "Rev Ace" Wright-Riggins III, Certified Grief Recovery Specialist, Founder and Principal of "Grief  Recovery of Montgomery County", will be speaking on the topic "Good Grief: Addressing Six Myths."

Biographical Sketch

Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III

Candidate for Mayor of the Borough of Collegeville, PA

Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III is Executive Director Emeritus of the American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS).  For twenty-five years he served as the Chief Executive Officer of this national mission organization. For the last twelve years of his tenure, he also served as the CEO of and Judson Press, the publishing arm of the American Baptist Churches, USA.   His passion for developing leaders, creating community and pursuing  justice equipped him to lead a team of sixteen colleges, nine seminaries, thirty-five regions, scores of Neighborhood Action Centers,  and almost six thousand congregations towards transforming the character and culture of our nation.  Under his leadership, ABHMS advocated for persons with disabilities, children living in poverty and formerly incarcerated persons re-entering society and the workplace.   He led American Baptist Churches USA in distinguishing itself as the leader among Church World Service members in extending resettlement to refugees and hospitality to immigrants.  He continues to serve and represent ABHMS throughout the nation as a voice for social justice. 

Wright-Riggins is the president and principal of AFWR 3 LLC, through which he provides consultancy and coaching to organizations and leaders on matters of leadership, organizational development, change management, conflict resolution, and inclusive community.   He is an associate of “Days of Dialogue”, “Living Room Conversations” the Kaleidoscopes Institute  through which he seeks to enhance community and extend civility in neighborhoods and in congregations.  He serves on the Board of directors for several Not for Profit organizations and institutions, locally and nationally.   Wright-Riggins formerly served as Senior Pastor of the historic Macedonia Baptist Church in Watts, California, as Dean of the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies, and as Director of Peace with Justice with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference.  He has spoken and lectured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.

The Wright-Riggins’ have been a residents of Collegeville since 1991.  They are the parents of three adult children and the grand parents of three.  Aidsand intentionally supports and frequents Borough businesses and champion’s neighborliness across racial/ ethnic, religious, gender, sexual orientation and political differences where he lives in Collegeville Crossing.   He and his bride of 39 years, the Rev. Betty Wright-Riggins (A Spiritual Director and Professor) use their skills as Certified Grief Recovery Specialists to help people suffering due to death, disease, divorce or other forms of loss on their journey towards wholeness.

President Jimmy Carter recently wrote to him, “For decades you have been a tireless advocate for justice and have inspired others to do the same.   Your exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to improve the lives of others is sure to have a positive influence for generations to come.” 

​A lifelong learner, Wright-Riggins holds several degrees and credentials.  He earned his doctorate from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University where he studied Murray Bowen's Family Systems Theory and its application to organizational dynamics and group leadership.  He completed his Master of Divinity degree at the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California where he studied theology and pastoral praxis.  He studied at California State University, Fullerton where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Religions, specializing in the sociology of religions.  He has also studied at Claremont School of Theology and Palmer Seminary at Eastern University specializing in spiritual formation and Christian Education.   In addition to his earned D. Min,  Dr. Wright-Riggins has been awarded honorary doctoral degrees by Benedict College in South Carolina, Alderson-Broaddus in West Virginia and by the American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, California.