HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP EXPANDS PATHWAYS FOR PENTECOSTAL LEADERS Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School is honored to announce the signing of a historic Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops. The agreement was signed during the Joint College of Bishops Congress 2026 in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 18, 2026. This groundbreaking partnership represents an important step forward in strengthening relationships between theological education and Pentecostal leadership across the United States. Through this agreement, registrants of the Joint College of Bishops Congress will be eligible to receive graduate-level academic credit from Colgate Rochester Crozer for their participation in the annual conference.
Participants may earn up to nine graduate credits, equivalent to three elective courses, that can be applied toward any program at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. These courses are designed to deepen the theological reflection and ministerial formation already taking place through the annual Congress while creating a pathway for continued academic and vocational development. In addition, participants will be invited to apply for matriculation into Colgate Rochester Crozer degree programs. Approved by the Executive Board of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops, the MOU will take effect during the 2026–2027 academic year and will remain in place for an initial three-year period. The agreement was formally signed during the Joint College of Bishops Congress by Rev. Angela D. Sims, Ph.D., President of Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School; The Most Rev. Emilio Alvarez, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School; Archbishop David Michael Copeland, Metropolitan of the Joint College of Bishops; and Bishop Liston Page Sr., Chief Executive Officer of the Joint College of Bishops. Reflecting on the significance of the partnership at the conclusion of the signing in St. Louis, President Dr. Angela D. Sims, stated: “This moment represents the very best of ecumenical collaboration. For more than two centuries, Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School has been committed to forming leaders who are learned, pastoral, and prophetic leaders prepared to serve the church, the academy, and the wider society. This partnership with the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops reflects the power of relationship and shared mission. Together, we are cultivating a learning community that honors tradition, engages critical inquiry, and forms leaders who love God with heart, soul, and intellect. At such a time as this, we give thanks for the opportunity to deepen our collaboration and to prepare leaders equipped to serve a world that is ever changing.” This historic agreement signals a shared commitment to reimagining theological education for a changing world—one that recognizes the wisdom of lived ministry, strengthens the voices of Pentecostal leadership, and expands opportunities for faith leaders to deepen their theological formation while continuing their work in communities across the nation and world. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean, The Most Rev. Emilio Alvarez, Ph.D., added: “Partnerships such as this remind us that theological education is never the work of a single institution alone, but a shared endeavor between the academy and the church, between tradition and lived ministry. The Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops represents a vibrant stream of church leadership whose wisdom, spiritual vitality, and pastoral experience enrich the broader theological community. By creating pathways for these leaders to engage in graduate theological study, we not only honor that tradition but also strengthen the future of theological education, ensuring that our classrooms remain places where the church’s many voices, histories, and experiences learn from one another for the sake of the Gospel and the world.”
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