Dr. Otto Harris to Lead Diversity Initiative

“In our current environment, we need to have conversations about racism and to hear the voices who speak out. It’s also important that we do more than condemn racism when we see it, we need to be in engaged in creative, strategic, and constructive steps in helping to move us forward into a more integrated society,” shared Bishop Leeland. “It’s easy to condemn it. It’s more difficult to pour our energy into doing something about it.”
“In hearing this vision, I believe this is a way the Church can be intentional about leading transformation in our communities to reflect more of what God has for God’s people,” said Dr. Harris.
Dr. Harris is the senior pastor of Saint Mark’s United Methodist Church in Charlotte and is an ordained elder in the Western North Carolina Conference. He has a bachelor’s degree from the North Carolina A&T State University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Hood Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Studies with a concentration in Cultural Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dr. Harris is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. He also serves as an adjunct faculty member of the Hood Theological Seminary along with numerous leadership positions in our conference and denomination.
Nine teams are being formed to address the unique aspects of how we can continue to become a more just and inclusive conference. These teams will work to address topics including educational work around racism, seminary visits, the appointment process, church staff positions, brief internships for seminary students, and changing neighborhoods.
Resources for Vital Congregations
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Books
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Serve Your Neighbor
GBHEM Leadership Resources
Living Faithfully: Human Sexuality and the United Methodist Church
Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations
Ted Talks: The Power of Vulnerability
Ted Talks: The Price of Invulnerability
Meditations on the Ministry of All Christians
DISCIPLE FORMATION:
A Disciple’s Path; A Guide for United Methodist
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Adult Christian Studies from the Wesley Ministry Network
Traveling Together: A Guide for Disciple Forming Congregations
WESLEYAN STUDIES:
Living As United Methodist Christians
Methodist Doctrine: The Essentials
Reclaiming our Wesleyan Tradition: John Wesley’s Sermons for Today
John Wesley Sermons: Anthology
REACHING PEOPLE:
Evangelism & Theology in the Wesleyan Spirit
Fresh Expressions: Dinner Church
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: Reach New Disciples
Lewis Center for Church Leadership: 50 Ways to Reach People
Community: The Structure of Belonging
RESOURCES TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY:
GRANTS:
The Royce and Jane Reynolds Ministry Fund Grants
- Resources