"The State of the Church: Courageous Conversations in Remembering Our History and Seeking a Hopeful Future" will be the topic of discussion during the 25th Granville Hicks Leadership Academy for Laity and Clergy at Claflin University. The academy will take place Thursday, February 2 through Friday, February 3, in the James and Dorothy Z. Elmore Chapel at Claflin University.
Heading the list of distinguished speakers are Bishop James Swanson, Resident Bishop of the Mississippi Conference; Bishop Woodie White, Bishop in Residence at Candler School of Theology; Rev. Susan Henry-Crowe, general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society; Dr. William "Bobby" McClain; professor emeritus at Wesley Theological Seminary; and Bishop L. Jonathan Holston, Resident Bishop of the South Carolina Conference.
The Granville Hicks Leadership Academy honors the Rev. Dr. Granville A. Hicks, a 1957 Claflin graduate who has been recognized for his leadership as a pastor and district superintendent in the South Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Hicks was instrumental in creating programs to improve race relations, education and leadership development at the conference. It began as a lecture series before evolving into a leadership academy that emphasizes connections between the academy, Claflin University, and The United Methodist Church.
The purpose of the Granville Hicks Leadership Academy is to equip laity and clergy for ministry and leadership within the church. It works to empower individuals with biblical knowledge, intellectual growth and theological reflection that will enhance church development, renewal and mission outreach.
In 2015, Claflin was awarded a $100,000 grant from The United Methodist Church's Young Clergy Initiative Fund to encourage and support young individuals answering the call to the ministry. The grant supports a recruitment effort and programs at the University that are centered on introducing rising high school seniors to the ordained ministry in the UMC, as well as foster partnerships with Claflin and faith communities across the region.
For more information contact Rev. Kevyn Amos at (803) 531-5150 or
kamos@claflin.edu. Click
here for a list of activities.