Chris Rice is an award-winning writer, social entrepreneur, and global networker dedicated to fostering social healing and spiritual renewal, grounded in his Christian faith. From grassroots community development in Mississippi to cross-border peacebuilding on the Korean Peninsula and global advocacy at the United Nations, Chris has spent over forty-five years pursuing positive change alongside leaders across the world.

His deep belief is that the difficult challenges of our time can become ground for social renewal and spiritual transformation.

Key Milestones & Leadership

• Institutional pioneer: Co-founder of the influential Duke Divinity School Center for Reconciliation, the Duke Summer Institute for Reconciliation, the Africa Great Lakes Initiative, and the Northeast Asia Reconciliation Initiative.
• Global leadership: Served five years as Director of the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) United Nations Office in New York City, leading global peace advocacy and serving on the Steering Group of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council.
• Cross-border peacebuilding: Guided MCC’s peacemaking and humanitarian engagement on both sides of the divide between North and South Korea for five years.
• Grassroots foundation: Spent 17 years in Jackson, Mississippi, with Voice of Calvary, a pioneer in multi-racial, church-based Christian community development.

Publications & Awards

Chris is the author of four books, including Reconciling All Things and From Pandemic to Renewal, which have won three Christianity Today book awards. An ordained Presbyterian elder, he holds Master of Divinity and Doctor of Divinity degrees from Duke University. He is a recipient of the Seoul Foreign School Outstanding Alumni Award and the Belhaven University Distinguished Service to Mankind Award.

Chris and his wife, Donna, live in Durham, North Carolina, and have three adult children and one granddaughter.

Contact & Invitations

To contact Chris about a speaking engagement, consulting project, or writing invitation, please click below.