Leadership |
Dr. Rex D. Matthews Professor in the Practice of Historical Theology and Wesleyan Studies, Candler School of Theology at Emory University Dr. Rex D. Matthews draws upon a range of primary sources, including letters, hymns, sermons and diaries, as well as his abilities as a storyteller, to teach history and theology of Methodism at Candler, where he has taught since 1982. Matthews' research focuses on the life and thought of John Wesley, particularly in his 18th century theological and philosophical context, and on the historical and theological development of Methodism in both Britain and America. His book, Timetables of History for Students of Methodism (Abingdon, 2007), received the 2007 Saddlebag Selection Award from the Historical Society of The United Methodist Church, and was billed as "the best book published during the year on the history, biography, polity or theology of United Methodism." His next project, “Divorce and Remarriage in American Methodism: The Evolution of Church Positions from 1884 to 2012,” has received the Florence A. Bell Research Award from the Drew University Theological School to support his research. | |
Bishop Sharma D. Lewis Resident Bishop, Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church Bishop Lewis is a native of Statesboro, Georgia and a lifelong United Methodist. She is a graduate of Mercer University and the University of West Georgia with an undergraduate degree and masters in biology. Before responding to a call to ordained ministry she worked as a biologist in the academic and corporate sectors. Responding to a call to ordained ministry she entered Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta where she earned a Master of Divinity with honors. Bishop Lewis is the first African American woman elected bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of the UMC and one of few bishops elected on the first ballot. Prior to her election as bishop, and assignment to the Virginia Annual Conference, she served the 8,000 member Ben Hill UMC in Atlanta; Powers Ferry UMC in Marietta; Wesley Chapel UMC in McDonough, Georgia where phenomenal growth was experienced in the numbers of disciples of Christ for the transformation of the world. Immediately prior to Bishop Lewis’ election she was serving as the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District Superintendent in the North Georgia Conference. Her full bio and list of honors and accomplishments can be found at www.vaumc.org/BishopLewis | |
Rev. William H. Lamar IV Pastor, Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Rev. Lamar previously served Turner Memorial AME Church in Maryland and three churches in Florida: Monticello, Orlando and Jacksonville. He is a former managing director at Leadership Education at Duke Divinity. Lamar is a graduate of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and Duke Divinity School. | |
Workshops |