Payne Theological Seminary Sponsors Ministry Leaders’ Retreat and Presiding Elders’ Conference

Rev. Dr. Betty Holley, Contributing Writer

Payne Theological Seminary, the oldest free-standing African American seminary in the United States, is at the forefront of re-reimagining theological education and recognizes the challenges that ministers and presiding elders today are having to confront due to the return to Sunday worship, post-COVID. The challenges are numerous: eroding Sunday morning attendance, increasing or maintaining the congregation’s size, local and Connectional church obligation budgets strained and increasing, and the pressure to increase revenue and find alternative sources of income, just to name a few. Our communities are in such disarray, struggling to address gun violence and other matters, so much so that the pressure on ministers, especially, to engage is becoming increasingly complicated.

During the week of March 14-16, 2023, Payne sponsored a ministry leaders’ retreat and a presiding elders’ conference at Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa, Las Vegas, Nevada.

These two events have become part of Payne’s lifelong learning efforts to serve our constituents. The first ministry leaders’ retreat was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, in August 2022, and the first presiding elders’ conference was held in Savannah, Georgia, in March 2022. The uniqueness of this minister le aders’ retreat was the blessing of colleagues from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion, and Christian Methodist Episcopal communions participated. They are participants in our Mapping the Future of Black Methodism Initiative. Funded by the Lilly

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Jarvis Christian University Board of Trustees Names Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt as 13 th President

Jarvis Christian University Board of Trustees has unanimously selected Dr. Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt as the university’s 13th president, effective July 1, 2023. She succeeds Dr. Lester C. Newman, who served as the JCU president for 11 years and is retiring after a 47-year career in higher education.

Dr. Lee-Pruitt brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the university, including higher education administration and academic affairs, having served as second in command and as a member of the executive cabinet since August 2012 as the provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Jarvis. She has been instrumental in increasing student enrollment, increas ing articulation agreements, and establishing the Renaissance Program for adult learners on the JCU campus and the JCU Dallas teaching site. She has also provided leadership in enhancing academic program offerings, which include online degree completion programs and two online gra duate programs.

Previously, she served at Mississippi Valley State University as dean of University College and First Year Experience, director of Community/Service Learning, director of the Renaissance Learning Adult Education Program, and tenured professor in the Department of Social Work.

An ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Lee-Pruitt is a highly sought-after speaker and presenter. She als o is active in campus,

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