Lift Every Voice: Navigating Leadership in Challenging Times

Dr. C. Anthony Hunt

Rev. Dr. C. Anthony Hunt is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church, and currently serves as the Senior Pastor of Epworth Chapel UMC in Baltimore, MD. He is Professor of Systematic, Moral and Practical Theology, and Dunning Permanent Distinguished Lecturer at St. Mary’s Seminary and University, Baltimore, and also teaches on the adjunct faculties at Wesley Theological Seminary and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. He is the author of nine books, including: Come Go with Me: Howard Thurman and a Gospel of Radical Inclusivity (2019), Stones of Hope: Essays, Sermons and Prayers on Religion and Race (2017), and Blessed are the Peacemakers: A Theological Analysis of the Thought of Howard Thurman and Martin Luther King, Jr. (2006).

Dr. Candace Laughinghouse

Dr. Candace M. Laughinghouse is a multifaceted scholar, activist, and musician residing in Raleigh, NC. Her innovative research explores the intricate connections between human, animal, and environmental oppression, advancing the field of environmental justice. With an impressive academic background, including a Ph.D. in theological ethics from Chicago Theological Seminary and degrees from institutions such as UC Berkeley, Candler School of Theology (M.Div.), and Duke Divinity School (Th.M.), Dr. Laughinghouse brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her work.

Recently appointed as a professor of Constructive Theology at Gammon Theological Seminary, Dr. Laughinghouse is dedicated to fostering excellence and activism among her students. Her academic contributions span publications and presentations at renowned conferences, including the American Academy of Religion and the Parliament of World Religions. However, she finds particular fulfillment in mentoring and advising students, helping shape Gammon Theological Seminary’s future.

Dr. Pamela Lightsey

Dr. Lightsey brings a special mix of life experience and professional proficiency to the position of Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Associate Professor of Constructive Theology at Meadville Lombard Theological School. Following service in the US Army and work as a civil servant, she received her academic and theological training at Columbus State University (BS), Gammon Seminary of the Interdenominational Theological Center (M.Div.), and Garrett-Evangelical Theological School (PhD). After ordination, she served first as a United Methodist congregational pastor and then as a theological school educator, scholar, and administrator. She continues to serve as UMC clergy — most recently as Interim Site Pastor at Urban Village Church - Hyde Park. Throughout her vocational life, she has been a leading social justice activist, working with local, national, and international organizations focusing primarily on the causes of peacemaking, racial justice, and LGBTQ rights. She currently serves as a member of the mayor of Chicago’s LGBTQ Advisory Council. 

Dr. Lightsey’s publications include the book, Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology (Wipf and Stock) and Transforming Service: Reflections of Student Service Professionals in Theological Education (Pickwick Publications). 

Dr. Cedrick D. Bridgeforth

Bishop Cedrick D. Bridgeforth, Ed.D., is assigned as the resident bishop of the Greater Northwest Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church (encompassing the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho, and Pacific Northwest Conferences), effective January 1, 2023. Bridgeforth was elected to the episcopacy by the Western Jurisdiction in November of 2022.

An ordained minister, author, educator, organizational development consultant, public speaker, and entrepreneurial coach for nonprofits, before his election, Bridgeforth most recently served as the director of innovation and communications for the California-Pacific Conference of The United Methodist Church (UMC). For over 30 years, Bridgeforth has been a trusted leader, offering his gifts and expertise in various pastoral, administrative, and leadership capacities.  

As a spiritual leader, he has served as lead pastor in four congregations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in California. Those pastorates ranged from predominantly African American congregations in the heart of the Crenshaw District to multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-site ministries in the inner-city and suburban sectors of Santa Ana. These pastorates included Grace UMC Los Angeles (2018-2021), Santa Ana UMC (2015-2017), Crenshaw UMC (2003-2008), and Bowen Memorial UMC (1999-2003).  

Dr. Renita J. Weems

Rev. Dr. Renita J. Weems has been an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church since 1985. She currently serves as the Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Gammon Theological Seminary. A proud Atlanta native, Dr. Weems attended Atlanta public schools before earning her Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1989, becoming the first African-American woman to achieve this distinction.

Dr. Weems has had an illustrious academic career, including roles as a Professor of Humanities at Spelman College in Atlanta and as a Professor of the Hebrew Bible at Vanderbilt University Divinity School in Nashville, where she taught for over two decades. Her teaching experience also extends to Howard University Divinity School and Memphis Theological Seminary.

At Gammon, students benefit from Dr. Weems’ profound scholarship and dynamic presence. As a biblical scholar, minister, and author, she brings a wealth of experience and insight into modern faith, biblical texts, and spirituality. Her scholarly work and engaging lectures make her a highly sought-after speaker and writer, enriching the academic and spiritual lives of those at Gammon.

Dr. Candace Lewis

Dr. Lewis is the first female president to lead Gammon Theological Seminary. She is an ordained elder in the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church. From 1997-2009, Dr. Lewis was appointed as the founding pastor of the New Life Community UMC in Jacksonville, Florida. She was then appointed as the Associate General Secretary in the New Church Starts Division and later as the Executive Director of Path1 New Church Starts at the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee. In April oof 2021, Rev. Dr. Lewis came to Gammon after serving as a District Superintendent for 4 years in the Florida Conference. She is a graduate of the University of Florida and Gammon Theological Seminary – ITC where she received her Master of Divinity degree in May 1996. In June 2000, she graduated from the Harvard Divinity School’s Summer Leadership Institute on Faith-Based Community Economic Development. She earned a Doctorate in Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. May 2014.

With extensive experience in church planting, pastoring, and district leadership, Dr. Lewis offers Gammon students invaluable guidance and knowledge, particularly those pursuing ordination within the United Methodist Church. As a faculty member teaching Religious Heritage courses, including United Methodist Polity & History, she generously shares her expertise, enriching the academic and spiritual journey of Gammon students.