Speakers
Featured speakers who will lead and inspire us to Serve Joyfully through worship and plenary sessions.
Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton
Along with presiding over the conference, Bishop Shelton will preach during Opening Worship on Thursday.
Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe
Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe will speak during the Friday morning plenary.
The Rev. Dr. Susan Henry-Crowe is the retired general secretary of the General Board of Church and Society of The United Methodist Church. She has served as the social justice agency’s top executive since 2014 after 22 years at Emory University.
Henry-Crowe serves as the President of The United Methodist Judicial Council, the denomination’s “Supreme Court.” She is the first woman elected president of the Judicial Council and serving a third term.
As Dean of the Chapel & Religious life at Emory University, inter-religious ministry with a highly diverse constituency of 12,000 students and 2,400 faculty members with Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, B’Hai communities was the heart of her work. Additionally, mentoring and vocational formation of a new generation for social-justice advocates highlighted the work of the office.
Ordained an elder in The United Methodist Church, she continues to be a member of the South Carolina Annual Conference. In South Carolina she served in three pastoral appointments, and as associate director and then director of the Conference Council on Ministries.
Recipient of a Master of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory, she also holds Doctor of Divinity degrees from Wofford College and LaGrange College. She has served on the boards of trust for Claflin University, Columbia College and Santiago College.
She has been repeatedly recognized for her work and commitment to social justice and in 2000 was named Chaplain of the Year by the General Board of Higher Education & Ministry.
Rev. Allen Bingham
Rev. Allen Bingham will preach during the Memorial Service on Friday.
Rev. Allen Bingham follows Jesus accompanied by his wife Cindy, daughter Ann, and son William. Bingham is an engineer by training (BS from NC State University) and pastor by calling (MDiv from Drew University). He is an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church and a member of the North Carolina Conference. Bingham served churches in Henderson, Swansboro, Nashville, Pinehurst, Kinston, and Rockingham before being appointed to serve at Haymount UMC.
The Right Rev. Michael Curry
The Right Rev. Michael Curry will preach during the Ordering of Ministry Service on Saturday morning.
The Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry served as the 27th presiding bishop and primate of The Episcopal Church. He was elected in 2015 to a nine-year term as presiding bishop, and the animating vision and message of his ministry is Jesus of Nazareth and his model of radical, sacrificial love. Bishop Curry retired in 2024 following more than 40 years of ordained ministry.