A global faith leader, peacemaker, and trailblazer in ecumenical and interfaith work passes peacefully, leaving behind a powerful legacy of compassion and justice.
The Charter for Compassion mourns the loss and celebrates the extraordinary life of Reverend Dr. Joan Brown Campbell, who passed away peacefully on March 29, 2025, at the age of 93. A global faith leader, tireless advocate for justice, and a true pioneer, Reverend Campbell served as the first President of the Charter for Compassion’s Board of Trustees, offering wise counsel and moral clarity at a pivotal moment in the organization’s history.
Born in November 1931 in Youngstown, Ohio, Joan’s life was rooted in conviction and community. After graduating from the University of Michigan, where she was recognized as the top woman debater, Joan married Paul Barton Campbell and began raising a family in Cleveland. There, her deep Christian faith propelled her into grassroots activism—her home becoming a hub for those advocating for racial justice, peace, and the end of the Vietnam War. Among her early accomplishments, Joan played a vital role in the historic 1967 election of Carl Stokes, the first Black mayor of a major American city.
After her divorce in 1974, Joan answered a new calling—ministry. At age 49, she was ordained by the National Baptist Church, and subsequently by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the American Baptist Church. She quickly became a trailblazer for women in religious leadership: the first woman to hold senior leadership roles in numerous major religious institutions, including the Greater Cleveland Interchurch Council, the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, and the World Council of Churches. She later served as Director of Religion at the Chautauqua Institution, continuing to break barriers and bridge faith traditions.
Reverend Campbell’s work brought her to the heart of major global events. She presented a new edition of the Bible to Pope John Paul II, accompanied President Bill Clinton to the funeral of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, and—alongside her friend Reverend Jesse Jackson—traveled to Belgrade to negotiate the release of American soldiers. She worked with the Serbian Orthodox Church, the Cuban churches, and global governments to bring peace and protection to the vulnerable. She stood beside leaders like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, both of whom counted her among their trusted allies.
Tutu once called her “a woman of courage and compassion. She helped put an end to the evil of apartheid.”
Reverend Campbell was also an environmental champion, co-founding the National Religious Partnership for the Environment with scientist Carl Sagan. She was present in South Africa as an election observer during the election of Nelson Mandela, and was the only woman in a procession of over 200 clergy at Desmond Tutu’s enthronement as Archbishop.
Throughout her life, she received numerous accolades, including the Walter Cronkite Faith and Freedom Award, induction into both the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame and the Ohio Civil Rights Hall of Fame, and 14 honorary doctorates from institutions around the world.
Her leadership extended with heartfelt dedication to the Charter for Compassion, where she helped build the foundation for a global movement inspired by Karen Armstrong, the Charter’s founder. Joan and Karen shared a deep belief that compassion must be the driving force of humanity’s future. Reverend Campbell’s partnership with Armstrong ensured that compassion would be not only a spiritual ideal but also a guiding principle for action in education, healthcare, politics, and social justice.
“Joan brought her faith to life in ways that transformed others. She never wavered in her commitment to compassion, and she guided the Charter with unmatched grace and wisdom,” said Charter founder Karen Armstrong.
Though her public life was marked by history-making achievements, those who knew Joan best remember her joy in simple things—gathering with family and friends around a dinner table, cooking, laughing, and celebrating life’s moments big and small. She was a woman of deep purpose, boundless passion, and profound love.
Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched and the institutions she shaped. The Charter for Compassion—and indeed, the world—is better because she lived.
