March 2026 Newsletter
Table of Contents
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Dr. Kathleen Wright 6 Accreditation Reaffirmation 7 Accreditation Survival Tips Dr. Betty Holley 11 Mapping the Future of Black Methodism Dr. Daniel Stevenson 14 Dr. Betty Holley Honored Dr. Kathleen Wright 15 Student Government Association Elections 17 Dr. Charles S. Brown, Expanding the Moral Vision Dr. Kathleen Wright 20 Joint Eucharist Celebration Dr. Betty Holley 21 Doctor of Ministry Spring 2026 Dr. Josephine Harris 25 Heritage Lecture Series Dr. Betty Holley 26 Dear Payne Community Dr. Karen-Louise Walker 27 Thank You 28 The Michael Joseph Brown, PhD Archives
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ACCREDITATION SURVIVAL TIPS byRev.Betty Whitted Holley, Ph.D. Payne Theological Seminary successfully went through its reaffirmation
accreditation process, conducted by a visiting team from the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), September 29-October 2, 2025. The Board of Commissioners met in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, February 2-3, 2026, and included on its agenda Payne Theological Seminary’s comprehensive visit and the resulting report by the evaluation committee. After reviewing the information in light of the pertinent Commission Standards and Policies and Procedures, the Board voted to reaffirm Payne’s accreditation for a period of ten (10) years, until 31 March 2036. As Interim President of Payne Theological Seminary, I had the opportunity to prepare faculty, staff, and board of trustees for this visit. Payne had three major distinctive strengths that were affirmed by the visiting team to include: a) The commitment as the oldest African American freestanding seminary to prepare ministry leaders for the African Methodist Episcopal Church and beyond, in the African American tradition of liberation, reconciliation, social justice, and the dignity of all humankind. b) A campus community of culture and care (Ubuntu)-students, alums, staff, faculty, administration, and board-jointly committed to holistic competence in fulfilling the seminary’s mission. c) An enthusiasm for learning that moves from the classroom into the contextual realities of learners.
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Having led Payne through the self-study process in preparation for our ATS evaluation team visit and would like to offer survival tips to institutions preparing to go through the process.
Step 1: Prepare the Institution (2.5 years (30 months before the visit))
☐ Gather and organize evidence (assessment data, program reviews, minutes, budgets,
policies).
☐ Cross-check that every claim in self-study has documentation.
☐ Create a “one-stop shop” binder or digital folder for quick access.
☐ Conduct mock interviews with faculty, staff, and trustees.
☐ Review accreditation standards and align them with your evidence. Survival Tip : Think of this step as stocking supplies for a journey. The more organized you are, the less scrambling you will do later.
Step 2: Set the Tone (Day 1 of the visit)
☐ Welcome the team with warmth and professionalism.
☐ Provide a simple welcome packet (schedule, campus map, contact list, mission
statement).
☐ Remind all participants: honesty and clarity over defensiveness.
☐ Assign hospitality hosts (students or staff) to guide visitors between meetings. Survival Tip : First impressions matter. Hospitality lowers tension. Step 3: Tell Your Story (During interviews and meetings)
☐ Train faculty and staff to speak in narrative form, not just policy language.
☐ Pair data with testimonies: “Here are the numbers, and here’s what they mean in
practice.”
☐ Use consistent language about mission, goals, and outcomes.
☐ Make sure everyone can articulate the “why” behind the seminary’s work. Survival Tip : Accreditation teams are listening for alignment between mission, evidence, and lived reality. Your story should show that connection.
Step 4: Stay Calm Under Pressure (When hard questions come)
☐ Acknowledge challenges instead of hiding them.
☐ If you do not know an answer: “That is a good question. I will get the documentation
for you by the end of the day.”
☐ Avoid defensiveness; listen carefully before responding.
☐ Show that you already have improvement plans in motion where gaps exist. Survival Tip : The goal is not perfection, but continuous improvement. Teams respect honesty over spin.
Step 5: Involve Everyone (Community engagement)
Students share their formation and growth.
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Trustees speak about governance, policy, and oversight.
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Faculty highlight assessment and curriculum adjustments.
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Staff explain processes that keep the institution running.
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Survival Tip : Accreditation is about the whole institution, not just leadership. Everyone should have a role in showing the seminary is healthy.
Step 6: Follow Through (Exit interview & after the visit)
☐ Take careful notes on commendations and recommendations.
☐ Thank the team sincerely for their work.
☐ Debrief immediately with leadership to assign follow-up tasks.
☐ Draft an action plan to address recommendations.
☐ Share outcomes with the wider community for transparency.
Survival Tip : Surviving the visit means more than getting through it—it means leaving with momentum for growth.
Quick Emergency Kit (Keep on hand during the visit)
Digital folder of all documents.
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Assessment summaries in one-page charts.
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Updated organizational chart.
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A copy of the visit schedule.
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Hospitality supplies (coffee, snacks, water, excellent caterer).
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THRIVING CONGREGATIONS: MAPPING THE FUTURE OF BLACK METHODISM
In 2025, Mapping the Future of Black Methodism continued its vital work of strengthening connections among the African Methodist Episcopal (AME), Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME), AND African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) churches. Hosted by Payne Theological Seminary through the Anderson Ecumenical Institution, this initiative brings together Black Methodist leaders to address pressing challenges, foster resilience, and chart a shared path forward. Through conferences, plenary sessions, panel discussions, worship experiences, and follow-up conversations, the project equips clergy and lay leaders with practical strategies for post-COVID ministry, mental health literacy, economic empowerment, intergenerational engagement, and community partnerships. This year began with a powerful ecumenical gathering in Memphis, Tennessee, on February 25, 2025, at Mount Olive Cathedral CME Church, drawing 110 participants. The participants represented the AME, CME, and AMEZ denominations. Episcopal leadership was strongly represented, including Bishop Harry L. Seawright (AME Church), Bishop Anthony N. Witherspoon (AME Zion Church), and Bishop Marvin Frank Thomas, Sr. (CME Church). The conference theme (A Call to Resilience and Innovation) addressed post-COVID realities and the evolving challenges facing Black Methodist congregations. Major panel discussions focused on technology and digital outreach, health care access, poverty alleviation, economic resilience, and congregational engagement strategies. Plenary sessions included presentations on mental health literacy, intergenerational ministry, and collaborative strategic planning. Participants engaged in breakout sessions to “MAP Our Future Together,” developing actionable strategies for growth and sustainability. The day concluded in vibrant worship, highlighted by music from the Lane College ensemble and episcopal messages calling the church toward renewed mission and unity. A follow-up Zoom teleconference was held on April 29, 2025, and included 56 participants. They reflected on key insights and identified next steps. Attendees described the Memphis conference as “timely” and “informative for a time like this,” affirming the need for continued collaboration. 11
The second conference, originally scheduled for Augusta, Georgia, was successfully held in Savannah, Georgia, on December 2, 2025, at the Kingdon Life Christian Fellowship Center, with 100 participants representing the AME, CME, AMEZ, and other nondenominational members. This conference featured clergy leaders, civic officials, business professionals, and the President of Savannah State University. Dr. Jermaine Whirl emphasized interest in future institutional partnerships with Payne Theological Seminary, signaling exciting possibilities for collaboration. The first panel was moderated by Dr. Kenneth Cummings, and the clergy leaders addressed: technology integration, health and wellness, social justice, political engagement, and economic empowerment. The midday worship experience included a message from Rev. Dr. Elmer Martin of Greater Allen AME Church in Dayton, OH. In contrast to the first panel discussion, a dynamic final panel moderated by Tia Acker- Moore explored cross-sector partnerships and community transformation to strengthen collaboration among the church, business, education, and community. This panel included Sheryl Underwood, State Representative Edna Jackson, Ray Ingram (Payne Theological Seminary), and local business and financial leaders. This discussion highlighted the vital role of collaboration between faith communities, higher education, government, and commerce in shaping thriving cities. The evening concluded with networking and fellowship, reinforcing the conference’s emphasis on relationship-building and shared mission. As 2026 unfolds, the Mapping for the Future of Black Methodism initiative remains focused on implementing practical strategies identified at conferences, strengthening denominational unity, expanding partnerships with educational and civic institutions, and equipping congregations for sustainable growth. Through intentional dialogue, worship, strategic planning, and collaboration, Payne Theological Seminary continues to position Black Methodist churches as beacons of transformation, justice, and hope for generations to come. Dr. Daniel Stevenson Director of the Anderson Ecumenical Institution
Dr. Daniel Stevenson Director of the Anderson Ecumenical Institution
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At Payne Theological Seminary, we celebrate scholarship that does more than inform—it transforms. Such is the enduring impact of Dr. Charles Brown’s seminal article, “Some Reflections on the Moral Reality of Social Power.” Now, that influential work is gaining renewed momentum. Dr. Brown has been invited by Generis Publishing to expand the article into future research and a possible book-length project. He has also received an invitation from IntechOpen to contribute to the forthcoming volume Social Norms – Foundations, Dynamics, and Contemporary Transformations, edited by Dr. Sandro Serpa and Dr. Carlos Miguel Ferreira. These invitations affirm what generations of students, clergy, and scholars already know: Dr. Brown’s work reframes how we understand power, ethics, and faithful leadership. Expanding the Moral Vision of Social Power By Dr. Kathleen Wright
Charles S. Brown, Th.D Payne’s Distinguished Professor of Christian Ethics
Power as a Moral Reality Dr. Brown’s central thesis challenges conventional sociological and political assumptions. Power, he argues, is neither immoral nor amoral. It is inherently moral because it exists within relationships. Power is not an abstract force to be feared. It is relational influence—embedded in communities, institutions, and lived human interactions. Because it is relational, it carries moral weight. It demands ethical stewardship. This reframing moves us from suspicion of power to responsibility in power. It invites us to see agency as a gift—one that must be exercised with integrity, compassion, and accountability.
Ethics in Practice Not Just Principles
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From Dissertation to Community Transformation Dr. Brown’s insights were not born in abstraction. His doctoral research, “Negro Protest and White Power Structure,” examined community power dynamics at a time of intense racial struggle. That research did not remain confined to academic discourse. Instead, it led to concrete community organizing and development work in Dayton, Ohio. Scholarship became strategy. Theory became action. This integration—what Dr. Brown models as action-reflection—remains a defining feature of his work. Social ethics is not merely a discipline to be studied; it is a practice to be lived.
The Ethics of Racial Equality
The Black Church as an Authentic Source of Power Dr. Brown emphasizes that Black churches have historically functioned as authentic centers of social power. They have driven movements toward inclusion, diversity, and equity—not from political ambition, but from theological conviction.
This is power grounded in moral purpose. Power that bridges the sacred and the social. Power that refuses to separate faith from justice.
Such leadership requires both strategic clarity and compassionate action. It requires pastors and congregations to recognize that serving Christ and serving community are not parallel missions—they are one integrated calling. Pastoral Leadership as Constructive Christian Ethics During nearly three decades as pastor of Bethel Baptist Church, Dr. Brown embodied the ethical integration he teaches. The mission was clear: Share Christ Show compassion Serve the community This was not rhetoric—it was structured practice. It reflected a theology that insists faith must move beyond principles into participation. Constructive Christian ethics, in Dr. Brown’s work, does not remain theoretical. It organizes ministries. It shapes leadership formation. It guides congregational engagement with real community needs.
Expanding the Moral Vision of Social Power Continued
Blessing of Payne Seminary
The Unfinished American Revolution In reflecting on America’s moral trajectory, Dr. Brown speaks of an unfinished revolution —one in which Black communities have been indispensable drivers toward a more just and inclusive society. His scholarship reminds us that the struggle for racial equality is not peripheral to Christian ethics. It is central to it. Through teaching, writing, and mentoring at Payne Theological Seminary, Dr. Brown continues to equip leaders to carry forward this unfinished work—leaders who understand that moral leadership must operate within real social power structures. Carrying the Legacy Forward As Dr. Brown expands “Some Reflections on the Moral Reality of Social Power” into future research and a potential book, the implications are clear: Power must be ethically formed. Leadership must be relationally accountable. Faith must move from reflection to action. The Church must recognize itself as a moral agent within society. At Payne Theological Seminary, we celebrate scholarship that bridges classroom and congregation, research and reform, theology and transformation. Dr. Brown’s work calls us to see ourselves not as observers of history, but as participants in an ongoing moral movement—stewards of influence in communities still pressing toward justice. And that is power rightly understood.
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Doctor of Ministry Program Update – Spring 2026 Spring 2026 Doctor of Ministry Intensive
The Spring 2026 Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) Intensive at Payne Theological Seminary was held virtually via Zoom, January 26–30, 2026. Each semester of the D.Min. Program begins with a required week-long Intensive, a cornerstone of students’ academic, spiritual, and ministerial formation. The Intensive opened on Monday, January 26, with student orientation, a program overview, and evening worship. Orientation sessions were led by Mrs. Maryjo Lewis, Registrar; Ms. Lynn Ayers, Library Cataloguer; Dr. Betty Holley, Interim President and Dean; and Dr. Josephine L. Harris, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. From Tuesday through Thursday, January 27–29, students gathered daily for morning worship, plenary teaching, core phase sessions, and peer cohort meetings. The week concluded on Friday, January 30, with morning worship, the fourth and final plenary session, and an overview of program next steps led by the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. For some doctoral candidates, this Intensive marked their sixth experience; for others, it was their first. Payne was pleased to welcome both new and continuing students into a shared learning community characterized by rigorous scholarship, theological reflection, and vocational discernment. The Intensive remains an integral component of the D.Min. curriculum and the formation of reflective practitioners in ministry. Pre-Intensive Preparation To support student preparation, Dr. Betty Holley and Dr. Josephine L. Harris hosted a Doctor of Ministry Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2026. The session provided essential guidance regarding expectations for the Intensive and allowed students to ask questions and receive clarification. Ms. Charlisha Rankin, Executive Assistant to the President, provided technical instruction and navigational support for the virtual format, ensuring that students could fully participate through the Zoom platform. Dr. Kathleen Wright, Director of Communications, facilitated community engagement by live-streaming the opening worship service and the plenary sessions throughout the week. Attendance was strongly encouraged for all Doctor of Ministry students.
Featured Guests and Worship Leadership (January 26–30, 2026)
The Spring 2026 Intensive was enriched by the presence of distinguished leaders in ministry and scholarship.
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Doctor of Ministry Program Update – Continued
Opening Worship Preacher Dr. Ronald Slaughter, Senior Pastor of Saint James AME Church in Newark, New Jersey, proclaimed the opening message during evening worship on Monday, January 26. The service also featured musical leadership by award-winning and internationally acclaimed gospel recording artist Mr. Ernest Pugh and Mrs. Margaret Chambers, a graduating Master of Divinity student at Payne Theological Seminary. Plenary Teaching Rev. Dr. Rosalynn Brookins served as plenary speaker for the week, presenting a compelling series of lectures under the theme “Prophetic Seers in a Chaotic World,” grounded in Mark 8:22–26. Drawing from the text’s movement from blurred vision to clarity, she guided participants through a rich exploration of prophetic discernment amid contemporary turbulence. A graduate of Payne Theological Seminary’s Doctor of Ministry program and currently a D.Min. cohort mentor, Dr. Brookins brought both scholarly rigor and pastoral wisdom to the sessions. Her teaching offered substantive theological depth alongside practical insight for ministry leadership and doctoral Each cohort led morning devotions during its assigned plenary day. Devotions included scripture, prayer, and testimony, connecting the seminary’s formation process with the lived ministerial contexts of the students. Looking Ahead As Payne Theological Seminary continues to strengthen its commitment to forming reflective and transformative ministry leaders, the Doctor of Ministry Program is preparing to launch the new Colloquium Model pathway. This interdisciplinary option will complement the traditional cohort structure by providing students with structured flexibility, broader scholarly engagement, and earlier integration of the doctoral project within the three-year program. Together, the Cohort and Colloquium pathways reflect Payne’s ongoing dedication to academic excellence, practical ministry application, and the formation of leaders equipped to serve faithfully in a rapidly changing church and world. The Doctor of Ministry Program remains a vital expression of Payne’s mission to prepare clergy and ministry professionals for thoughtful, effective, and prophetic leadership in congregations and communities. ***** research formation. Morning Devotions
Doctor of Ministry Program Update – Continued
Candidacy Review Process (Phase IV) Students in Phase/Semester IV of the Doctor of Ministry Program will participate in the Candidacy Review Process during the Spring 2026 semester. This process is a significant academic milestone that affirms a student’s readiness to advance to the final doctoral project phase. The review process includes written submissions, sustained faculty mentoring, and both oral and written evaluations conducted by a Candidacy Review Committee. Successful completion of candidacy review confirms a student’s preparedness to move forward with the doctoral project and the final stages of the program. Quality Control and Final Examination (Phase VI) Students in Phase/Semester VI, the final semester of the Doctor of Ministry Program, will engage in the Quality Control and Final Examination (Oral Defense) process during the Spring 2026 semester. This culminating phase includes: Submission of the completed doctoral document for quality control review Committee evaluation and required revisions, if applicable Scheduling and completion of the final oral defense Submission of the approved final document to the Dean for graduation clearance Students who successfully complete all requirements are eligible for program completion and participation in Commencement on May 8, 2026. ****** Recruitment and Program Innovation As part of Payne’s ongoing commitment to innovation, access, and excellence in theological education, the Doctor of Ministry Program will host a virtual informational session for prospective students: Answering the Call: Exploring the Doctor of Ministry Program Thursday, February 19, 2026 | 7:00–8:00 p.m. (EST) **** Launching of the Colloquium Model (Fall 2026 Enrollment) The Doctor of Ministry Program will launch a new Colloquium Model as an additional pathway for Fall 2026 enrollment. This model complements—and does not replace— the existing Cohort Model, providing students with greater flexibility and choice in their doctoral studies.
Doctor of Ministry Program Update – Continued
The Colloquium Model is designed for: New students entering the Doctor of Ministry Program, and Continuing DMin students entering Semester Two (can choose to stay with current cohort or enter this pathway) This pathway emphasizes structured flexibility, interdisciplinary engagement, and intentional early development of the doctoral project, while maintaining academic rigor equivalent to the cohort model.
A Continuing Commitment Payne Theological Seminary remains deeply committed to supporting Doctor of Ministry students through every phase of their academic and ministerial journey. Through Intensive learning, faculty mentoring, and structured review processes, the seminary seeks to cultivate leaders equipped for faithful, thoughtful, and transformative ministry. For additional information about the Doctor of Ministry Program, please contact: Dr. Josephine L. Harris Director, Doctor of Ministry Program jlharris@payneseminary.edu 937-971-2854
Doctor of Ministry Student Reflection – Spring 2026 Rev. Dr. Karen Bradford
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