SOC President Announces Call of Designated Southern Conference Minister

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! [Psalm 133:1]

Photo (left) : Rev. Edward S. Davis has been called by the SOC Board to a position of Designated Conference Minister.

A stranger sat central to a gathering of SOC Board members, amidst round tables in a Burlington church fellowship hall.  At a November 5th meeting, that very stranger was introduced to the Conference Board as Rev. Edward Smith Davis.  This thoughtful, soft-spoken, optimistic person rose to address the assembled body.  “I don’t like to talk a language of scarcity because I serve an abundant God,” he offered.  “Build on your strengths.”  “Build bridges for your weaknesses.”   Davis reflected on his Southern roots, having been born in Mississippi to a mother who later moved her family to Chicago.  He always turned the conversation back to a future orientation however, suggesting,  “God will get us as far as we can see.”   And what about the theological diversity of this conference? ”I’m just a believer that the Gospel calls us to love everybody.  We have to come together over things that unite us, not divide us.  We’ll come together, not to be fractured, but to love one another.”

SOC Leaders Meet with Action Group Coordinators

A meeting on Friday the 13th of January gathered Action Group coordinators with the new Designated Conference Minister. Don Flick reports that it was a "good meeting [with] lots of sharing and good ideas...the Conference minister will now work with the Action Group Facilitators." [Photos by Don Flick]

Formal Reports of The eight Action Groups wi;; be made to the Conference Board at a meeting in Burlington on January 28.

Creating Covenant Community (draft c)
Creating Covenant Community (Powerpoint

From Lilton J. Marks, Sr.: The Board of Directors of the Southern Conference is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Edward Davis has been called to be the Designated Conference Minister of the Southern Conference. By reading the attached biography you will find out a little about Rev. Davis and why he was chosen to lead our conference. His background in finance, pastoral experience, doctoral work in collaborate leadership, and time as an interim associate conference minister are enough to recommend him highly. What you cannot see on paper is that Rev. Davis' references spoke highly of him as a person of great faith able to be a peaceful presence in the midst of strife. The search committee especially noted his ability to connect with individuals and his gifts for working toward unity of mission in a diverse setting.

We do not expect Rev. Davis to fix all of the problems in the Southern Conference or to have all of the answers. What we do hope for is inspired leadership to help guide and facilitate the transformation that is underway in the Southern Conference. We look forward to being in ministry with Rev. Davis over the next three years and invite all members of the Southern Conference to offer their support to our new leadership and to work with him in revitalizing the ministry of the conference, associations, and local congregations.

Details of his start date and the transition will be forthcoming. Read Davis' Bio