Our services are funded by your generous support of the World Service Fund, through the sale of products & services, and through individual gifts. Learn more about our stewardship.

Content reproducible for church use with our permission. Learn How

News

Kelvin Sauls Joins GBOD as Director of Congregational Development

The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church has tapped the Reverend Kelvin Sauls as its Director of Congregational Development. Sauls joins the Conference Leader's Team in the Discipleship Ministries Division, where he will focus on congregational revitalization.

"We are delighted to have Kelvin share the diverse caliber of leadership with which he has led local congregations in their revitalization efforts join us in ministry at the Board," said Karen Greenwaldt, top executive with the General Board of Discipleship.

"We respect the leadership that he brings in congregational development and discipleship formation."

Sauls most recently served as senior pastor of Downs United Methodist Church in Oakland, California, where he pastored for seven years. Downs is in the California-Nevada Annual Conference. Sauls was ordained a Deacon in the Holston Conference.

"Kelvin will assist annual conferences in building the spiritual expectations and leadership skill levels as well as appropriate and possible models for the revitalization of local congregations," said the Rev. Vance Ross, Associate General Secretary of The United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship.

Sauls describes his ministry while senior pastor of Downs UMC as connecting faith formation with congregational revitalization efforts for community transformation.

"Personal faith formation for members and how that enhances renewing the congregation and how that impacts the community is key to congregational and community transformation," says Sauls.

While pastor of Downs, he established a Neighborhood Watch, converted an old firehouse into seventeen housing units for seniors, and established the church as a center of wellness.

"In order for the community and world to be transformed, you must have community development, congregational development, and personal formation. Individuals have to be renewed spiritually," said Sauls.

In addition to serving as senior pastor of Downs UMC, Sauls served as associate pastor of Jones UMC in San Francisco; associate director of Wesley Community in Dayton, Ohio; and campus minister at the University of Dayton in Ohio.

Sauls has been active in community and professional development activities, serving on the boards of the Pacific School of Religion and the San Francisco Foundation's Faith-Based Initiatives, which sought to build partnerships for community development, a critical link for establishing community development foundations.

Sauls' community involvement also includes work in HIV/AIDS prevention, immigration, interfaith issues and dialogue, and work in public health.

Sauls received a master of divinity degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton; a B.A. in religion, sociology and political science at Emory and Henry College in Emory, Virgina; and he completed undergraduate studies at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee.