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Dear John,
Rev. David Bigsby, a revered pastor, tireless advocate for social justice in Chicago, Illinois, and dedicated Gamaliel Board Member, passed away on April 27, 2025, at the age of 78. At Gamaliel, we were honored to walk alongside Rev. David Bigsby as he lived out a deep commitment to faith-based community organizing and justice. His life's work embodied our shared mission to empower ordinary people to shape the political, environmental, social, and economic decisions that impact their lives.
Rev. Bigsby's leadership was marked by a deep commitment to building strong local organizations and cultivating powerful grassroots leaders. Serving as the president of the South Suburban Action Conference [[link removed]] , a Gamaliel affiliate, he led impactful local campaigns while also contributing to the growth of leaders nationwide.
His advocacy extended to education reform, where he championed initiatives to end racial inequities in the education system and leverage greater resources for community schools and early-childhood education. Rev. Bigsby's efforts contributed to significant victories, such as securing funding for early-childhood education and implementing restorative justice programs in schools.
As a dedicated member of Gamaliel’s National Board, longtime Chair of the Council of Presidents, and active participant in the National Religious Leaders Caucus [[link removed]] , Rev. Bigsby helped shape both the spiritual and strategic direction of our vision. His consistent presence at Gamaliel trainings inspired and equipped a new generation of organizers committed to faith-rooted social change.
In 2021, Gamaliel established the Rev. David Bigsby Religious Leaders’ Development Fund to honor his legacy by cultivating and training future faith leaders in our network. You can learn more about the fund here [[link removed]] .
Rev. Bigsby’s unwavering commitment to justice continues to guide our work. May we honor his legacy by deepening our resolve to build the beloved community he envisioned.
If you feel led, please consider supporting Rev. Bigsby’s family by contributing to the GoFundMe [[link removed]] campaign.
In faith and solidarity,
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Ana Garcia-Ashley
Executive Director
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Gamaliel Network
5416 S Cornell Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
United States
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