Bishop Lewis to keynote Summit on the Black Church in October

NORTH CHARLESTON—Summit on the Black Church: Real Talk for the Black Church will be held in the Lowcountry next month.

Slated for Oct. 25-27 at the Doubletree by Hilton-Charleston Airport, the event will address “What is Vitality” focusing on worship, leadership, stewardship, accountability, spiritual formation and healthy conflict.

Bishop Sharma D. Lewis, resident bishop of the Richmond episcopal area, will serve as keynote speaker.

Lewis became the first African-American woman to be elected bishop in the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church in 2016. Prior to her episcopal assignment, her service in the North Georgia Conference included her 2010 appointment as district superintendent of the Atlanta-Decatur-Oxford District. In 2007, her three-year pastoral leadership at Wesley Chapel UMC led to more than 600 new and restored members and the doubling of worship attendance. While there, her visibility as a strong spiritual and pastoral leader propelled her into numerous leadership roles in the local community, including Hands on Henry County and Many Hearts, Many Hands McDonough. While there, she received the Harry Denman Award for Evangelism and the G. Ross Freeman Leadership Award.

Prior to these roles, Lewis served as the associate pastor and senior associate pastor of the 8,000-member Ben Hill UMC in Atlanta and as senior pastor of Powers Ferry UMC, a cross-racial assignment in Marietta, Ga.

Bishop L. Jonathan Holston will lead the closing session and worship.

Also presenting at the summit are the Rev. William T. Chaney, Path 1, UMC Discipleship Ministries; Dr. Tonya Lawrence, director of spiritual life and chaplain, Clark Atlanta University; and Dr. Henry Masters, editor, By Faith Magazine.

“God and Us: Worship That Connects: will be led by the Rev. Angela Nelson, Rev. Jeannette Cooper and Carolyn Little. “Can We Talk? Panel Discussion on Conflict” will be led by the Rev. Cathy Mitchell, the Rev. Steve Patterson and Cynthia Williams. And the youth session, “It's Your Church Now!” will be led by the Rev. Sh'Kur Francis, pastor, Grace-Lynnwood Charge, Lancaster.

Register online by Sept. 25 at www.umcsc.org

Cost is $125/person (SBC21: $100/person). Youth attend free. Registration includes the banquet.

Fees are non-refundable. The Bishop's Luncheon is $20.

Lodging is extra. Single/Double Rooms are $125, and a two-room king suite is $135. Register for the event first, then you will receive an email with a link to book your hotel room.