of Ministry (D.Min.) with special studies in Philosophy of Religion and Theology, and the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree. His research has centered upon the theologies of Friedrich Schleiermacher and Howard Thurman. His quest for linking theological studies with community and world mission led him to travel the globe with this focus including serving as Area Director Africa, Europe and the Middle East with International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches USA, Inc. and Visiting Research Fellow, and the Center for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, Edinburgh University, Scotland.

He has had the privilege of serving as Adjunct and Visiting Professor at Shaw University Divinity School, Raleigh, NC, Campbell University Divinity School, Buies Creek, NC, The Apex School of Theology, Durham, NC and the Palmer Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, PA.

His most recent publications are “The Potential for New Selfhood and New Community in Schleiermacher’s Soliloquies,” Ann Arbor: ProQuest, 2015, and “Howard Thurman’s Spirituality and the Beloved Community”, Schleiermacher’s Influence on American Thought and Religious Life, 1835-1920, Vol. 2, Ed. By Jeffrey A. Wilcox, Terrence N. Tice and Catherine L. Kelsey, Eugene, Oregon: Pickwick Publications, 2014.

Dr. Harshaw began his tenure as the 10th Pastor of First Baptist Church, Raleigh, on September 1, 1996. He has led the congregation in fulfilling the vision of being, “A Point of Contact for the Kingdom of God”, which stresses kingdom living, the life of prayer, discipleship, and spiritual renewal with a local and global witness for Christ.

Dr. Harshaw has been blessed with a beautiful family. At his side in ministry is the First Lady of First Baptist Church, Mrs. Sharon Denise Stringer Harshaw, originally of New Orleans, LA, who has walked with him since 1980. Three children, one daughter-in-law, one son-in-law and five grandchildren have enriched their lives.

 studies the impact of targeted interventions on health care behavior and methods for improving informed decision making for cancer screening, specifically prostate cancer. Dr. Ford serves as the Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator on several multi-institution training grants with HBCU’s across the state including SCSU. She has mentored over 30 individuals including undergraduate students and faculty members to develop a cancer education pipeline of scholars to address cancer disparities research and care. 

Dr. Ford has authored more than 85 peer-reviewed publications and has served on several boards and committees including the NIH/NCI Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee as a Special Expert Representative in Cancer Disparities Research, the NIH Health Services Organization and Delivery Study Section, the American Association for Cancer Research, South Carolina Cancer Alliance, and the MUSC Faculty Senate.

Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr. was elected the 54th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church on June 28, 2006, in Memphis, Tennessee. Upon his election, the General Conference assigned him to the Fourth Episcopal District which encompasses the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.  At the 2018 General Conference, Bishop Brown was assigned to the Sixth Episcopal District.  He is the Chair of the Department of the Department of Christian Education.

Bishop Brown was born June 21, 1951 in Oakland, Mississippi, the eighth child of Stephen and Lillie H. Brown.  His elementary and secondary education was attained at Walker High School in Oakland from which he graduated as valedictorian of his high school class.  He attended Northwest Junior College, Senatobia, Mississippi; and earned the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) in 1973.  He matriculated at the Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia, from which he earned the Master of Divinity degree, with honors, in 1976.  Bishop Brown also earned, with honors, the Doctor of Theology degree in Pastoral Counseling from the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in cooperation with Candler School of Theology/Emory University and Columbia Seminary in 1991.  He is a member of Theta Phi Honor Society.

The ministry of Thomas Louis Brown, Sr. began during his junior year at Ole Miss when he answered the call to Christian Ministry.  In the fall of 1973, he was admitted on trial in the Mississippi Annual Conference by Bishop Joseph A. Johnson, Jr. and was assigned to pastor Rice Chapel in Durant, Mississippi.  In 1975 and 1976 respectively, Bishop Joseph C. Coles Jr. ordained him Deacon and Elder and admitted him into Full Connection in the Georgia Annual Conference.

Bishop Brown’s itinerant ministry in the C.M.E. Church has been extensive and thorough.  In addition to Rice Chapel, he served Murray Memorial, Covington, GA; St. James, Columbus, GA; Butler Street, Atlanta, GA; and College Park, College Park, GA.  He was the organizing pastor of the Good News Community Church in Lithonia, GA.  From June 1990 until July 2006, Bishop Brown served with distinction as the sixth President/Dean of the Phillips School of Theology at the ITC.  During his tenure, more than ninety-five students graduated.  It was under his leadership in 1996 that the Annual C.M.E. Pastors’ Conference was established.

The 54th Bishop is a noted scholar, lecturer and preacher.  He has served as adjunct professor of CME History and Polity as well as pastoral care; lectured at Candler School of Theology, (Emory University) and Columbia Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary; and regular teacher and preacher with the Institute of Church Administration and Management (ICAM).  He is in national demand as a preacher both within and outside the CME Church.  Moreover, Bishop Brown has represented the church exceptionally well.  He has been a delegate to the General Conference of the CME Church from 1978 to 2006; and was a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Nairobi, Kenya and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.  He was a founding member of Concerned Black Clergy of Atlanta, an advocate for the homeless and persons on death row. Civic participation includes the NAACP, SCLC and Urban League.

Bishop Brown is married to Dr. Louise Baker-Brown.  They are the parents of Charisa Nicole Brown-Jefferson and Thomas, Jr.