Cost to Attend

The two-day consultation is $25/per person and is open to the public. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

Consultation Schedule:

Wednesday, February 21, 2023

12:00 pm (ET) - Consultation Worship Service led by Dr. Irie Session (watch live or attend in Caldwell Chapel on the campus of Louisville Seminary)
4:00 pm - Edwards Lectureship presented by Rev. Dr. Tony Barr (In-person delivery; attend in the Winn Center Dining Room on the campus of Louisville Seminary or online: click here to register)
7:00 pm - Black Church Studies Consultation Part 1, where experts of various traditions will share challenges, insights, and hope for the future (online only)

Thursday, February 22, 2023

7:00 pm - Black Church Studies Consultation Part 2. Join Black Church Studies interim director, Dr. Justin Reed, for a moderated discussion of the Future of the Black Church with our expert panelists who will be both on-campus and online. (Hybrid panel discussion. Attend in the Winn Center Dining Room on the campus of Louisville Seminary or online.)

Registration Details/Ticket Types:

If you plan to attend BOTH 7 pm sessions (parts 1 & 2) on Feb 21 and/or Feb 22 ONLINE – select the ticket option: "Feb 21 and/or Feb 22 - Online BOTH days"
If you plan to attend the 7 pm session on Feb 21 ONLINE and/or Feb 22 IN-PERSON – select the ticket option: "Feb 21 (Online) and/or Feb 22 (In-Person)"
Register for the FREE Edwards Peacemaking Lectureship on Feb 21st at 4 pm (ET), separately by CLICKING HERE!

If you have any questions or need help registering, please email bcs@lpts.edu

During the registration process, you will have an opportunity to make an optional donation to Black Church Studies or Louisville Seminary. If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please contact Kassandra Turpin at info@lpts.edu.

About Our Expert Panelists:

(please check back frequently as experts continue to be added to the schedule!)

Dr. Irie will be on campus leading worship at Noon and presenting during the 7 pm consultation on February 21st, as well as participating in person for the panel discussion on February 22nd.

Dr. Irie Lynne Session is an award-winning minister, pastor, author, TEDx presenter, spiritual entrepreneur, transformation strategist, and Womanist practitioner. Raised in the South Bronx and the New York City Housing Projects, she began her service to humanity by ministering to those marginalized in society due to incarceration, addiction, commercial sexual exploitation, prostitution, and HIV/AIDS histories. She has worked as a Parole Officer with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, an Investigator for the Texas Department of Protective & Regulatory Services (CPS), an Adolescent Services Director for Bryan’s House - a Dallas nonprofit serving children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS, and Director of Spiritual Support and Training for New Friends New Life, a non-profit providing services to women seeking out of prostitution and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation.

Dr. Irie’s expertise is working with Black women in ministry and the marketplace to develop strategies for effectively navigating white supremacy culture in church and the workplace. As a Spiritual Entrepreneur, Dr. Irie also guides women in identifying and implementing creative strategies for leveraging their professional expertise, latent creativity, and innovative capacities to transform ideas into income, live their dreams, and make a positive impact in the world.

Dr. Irie is co-author of, The Gathering, A Womanist Church: Origins, Stories, Sermons, & Litanies. She is also the author of Badass Women of the Bible and, Murdered Souls, Resurrected Lives. All are available on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. Her latest Journal article with Luther Seminary’s Word & World is titled, “Sawubona in a Pandemic: Black Women, Embodied
Ecclesiology, and Sacred Spaces in Cyberspace.”

Dr. Irie is the single mother to one daughter, 29-year-old India Liana. Read Dr. Irie's full bio, here.

Dr. Moore will be presenting during the 7 pm consultation on February 21st, as well as participating virtually in the panel discussion on February 22nd.

A native of Michigan Leon C. Moore Jr was born in Highland Park, MI. attended and graduated from the Highland Park public school system. He grew up in the faith at Fews Memorial C.M.E church in River Rouge, Michigan. Relocated to Texas, where he accepted his call of ministry and began preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ at Benson Chapel CME church in Ft. Worth. Currently serving as General Secretary of Evangelism and Missions of The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Pastor of Anderson Chapel CME, Holly Springs, MS.

Dr. Moore has served Hughes Chapel C.M.E church in Mineral Wells TX., St. James C.M.E Gainesville TX, Carter Metropolitan C.M.E. in Ft. Worth TX., (associate), Carter Chapel C.M.E. in Lubbock TX, St. James CME, Columbus, GA, Shy Temple CME, Atlanta, GA., Hickory Grove C.M.E., Dahlonega, GA. Pleasant Hill C.M.E. Conyers, GA, currently Anderson Chapel C.M.E in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Dr. Moore was appointed Presiding Elder over the Abilene, Wichita Falls, Amarillo District in the West Texas Annual Conference and appointed Presiding Elder of the Elberton Gainesville District in the North Georgia Annual Conference.

Dr. Moore also served as chaplain at John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth TX, and University Medical Center in Lubbock, TX. an adjunct professor at Ohio Christian University, Morrow, GA campus. Along with serving on several boards including Phillips School of Theology, Breeding Montgomery Bile College (Nigeria), World Methodist Evangelism, and Sabri Capital.

A graduate of Texas College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Tyler, TX. A graduate of Tyndale College Community Confidence Center with a Master in Christian Counseling, Ft Worth, TX. Graduated from The Phillips School of Theology at The International Theological Center with a Master of Theology, Atlanta, GA. the Doctorate of Ministry degree at United Theological Seminary, Dayton, OH.

He is the founder and President of New Life Faith Ministries, a non-profit organization committed to the well-being of the Elderly and Children in oppressed communities. He enjoys sports, reading, and learning.

Leon is married to the former Tiffany Reed; they have five children Jeffery, Alexus, Ashton, La Quethia, and Asia three grandsons Kennedy Jr, Ismail, and Julius.

Dr. Merriweather will be presenting during the 7 pm consultation on February 21st, as well as participating virtually in the panel discussion on February 22nd.

Reverend Dr. Eleazar Merriweather was born in Demopolis, Alabama. He is a graduate of John Essex High School, Demopolis, AL; Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (1981); a graduate of Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, TN where he received a Masters of Arts in New Testament Studies and Preaching Exposition (1997) and he received a Doctor of Divinity, Livingstone College, May 2011.

Reverend Dr. Merriweather is very active on all levels of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (A.M.E Zion Church) Connection, local community, and the city of Detroit. He served as the Administrative Assistant to the Presiding Bishops, Dean of the Rochester-Brown School of Ministry for the Malawi and Mozambique Annual Conferences; Director of the Mid-West Episcopal District Leadership Training Institute, Conference Secretary of the Michigan Annual Conference, and the Southeast Regional Advisory Board for Hospice of Michigan., and the International Director of Discipleship Formation.

Reverend Dr. Merriweather served as Pastor of the Lomax Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Knoxville, TN (1990-2000), where he led the congregation in building a new Church, St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church, Grand Rapids, MI (2000-2009), and currently the St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Detroit, MI (2009-); there he led the congregation in paying-off major debt.

In addition to his pastorates, Reverend Merriweather served as Presiding Elder of the Western Michigan District for one year, and he currently serves as Presiding Elder of the Trinidad District, Trinidad & Tobago Conference.

On July 31, 2021, he was elected a General Officer as the Executive Director of Church Growth and Development of the A.M.E. Zion Church Connection. God has tremendously blessed the ministry, and thus all three Churches under his leadership has experienced rebirth, renewal, and restoration. Reverend Dr. Merriweather is a dynamic teacher, preacher, and leader.

Before receiving his call to pastor, Reverend Merriweather was employed at Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (1981-2001), Oak Ridge, TN. During his tenure there, he held positions of Systems Manager for the Emergency Power System, Site Energy Conservation Manager, Acting Division Training Manager, Group Leader, and Field Maintenance Engineer.

Reverend Dr. Merriweather is married to the former Wanda Waiters, they have two daughters; Laquitta and Alesia, and three grandchildren.

Dr. Caldwell-Gross will be presenting during the 7 pm consultation on February 21st, as well as participating virtually in the panel discussion on February 22nd.

The Rev. Dr. Jevon Caldwell-Gross has been a transformational ministry thought leader for almost two decades. Serving in a variety of contexts, ranging from urban cities to multicultural suburban communities, Pastor J is known for his ability to connect with different audiences and to make the gospel accessible and practical.

Pastor J’s journey has brought him to one of the largest United Methodist churches in the country, St. Lukes United Methodist Church, located in Indianapolis, IN. There he serves as the Teaching Pastor and has been instrumental in leading the congregation in redefining and expanding its digital footprint to reach people around the world. He is currently spearheading the effort to establish St. Luke’s first online campus and transition into the role of Online Campus Pastor. As a Pastor, Author, and Professor, his mission is and has always been to equip churches and congregational leaders for relevant and effective ministry in a rapidly changing society.

When he’s not filming a mobile message or designing the next online sermon series, you’ll find him at a coffee shop with something hot in hand.

Dr. Flake will be presenting during the 7 pm consultation on February 21st, as well as participating virtually in the panel discussion on February 22nd.

Long recognized as a powerful preacher, teacher and role model with a gift for reaching worshippers of all ages, the Reverend Margaret Elaine M. Flake has been impacting the many lives she touches at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in New York City, where she served as co-pastor with the Reverend Floyd H. Flake until May, 2020. Upon the retirement of Dr. Floyd Flake, she received an appointment as Senior Pastor. She continues to dedicate her life to the betterment of others by leading in Christian education, evangelistic, and outreach ministries.

Fondly called “Reverend Elaine” by the GAC congregation, she and her husband founded the Allen Christian School in 1982. She was also instrumental in developing the Allen Women's Resource Center, which houses women and children who are victims of domestic violence. Since 1983, she has served as Advisor to the Missionary Department, and many of the other ministries at Allen. She proudly serves as Advisor/Coordinator of the Allen Women's Ministry Department, and each year over 1,000 women from across the country and the Caribbean attend the retreats she hosts. Reverend Elaine has played a crucial role in increasing the membership of The Greater Allen A.M.E Cathedral to over fifteen thousand. She mentors many male and female leaders in the New York City area and is frequently invited to speak throughout the country.

Dr. Flake is the author of the popular book, God In Her Midst: Preaching Healing to Hurting Women and has contributed to The Women of Color Study Bible, and Souls of My Sisters: Black Women Break Their Silence, Tell Their Stories, and Heal Their Spirits. She and her husband, the Reverend Dr. Floyd H. Flake authored two books, Practical Virtues: Everyday Values and Devotions for African American Families Learning to Live With All Our Souls published by Harper Collins and African American Church Management Handbook, published in 2005 by Judson Press.

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. Flake earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She received a Master of Arts Degree in English from Boston University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. She was awarded the Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio. She serves on several community boards, and has received numerous citations and awards throughout her years of service. She is a recipient of Union Seminary’s Distinguished Alumni Award, and in March, 2017, she was inducted onto Morehouse College’s “Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers.” She is also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; The Links, Incorporated; and the National Council of Negro Women. She currently serves as the National Chaplain of the Links, Inc.

Married for more than 47 years to Dr. Floyd Flake, they are the parents of four adult children: Aliya, Nailah, Robert Rasheed, and Harold Hasan. She has one granddaughter, Nia Renee.

*In case of any unforeseen circumstances, minor adjustments may need to be made to the schedule.

**The link(s) you will receive upon completing registration is unique to you. We ask that you do not share the link or post publicly.

***Please note that the 2024 BCS Consultation will be recorded. By registering and participating in this consultation, you understand that your video may be included in the recorded video, and you consent to this recording and its use in any and all media throughout Louisville Seminary and its partners.

"The Future of the Black Church: Trends, Threats, and Promising Paths"

2024 Black Church Studies Consultation