Kelvin Sauls Named as Director of Congregational Development

The Rev. Kelvin Sauls, formerly the senior pastor at Downs United Methodist Church in Oakland, California, was named July 1, 2006, to the position of Director of Congregational Development for the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Kelvin was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He brings to the office of congregational development years of experience in — and passion for — congregational revitalization and community organizing in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa and The United Methodist Church in the U.S.

Kelvin earlier served as associate pastor at Jones United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Before moving to California, he served as the student pastor at the Charles Wesley United Methodist Church in Abingdon, Virginia; as pastor to youth and globalization at Omega Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio; as the associate director of the Wesley Community Center in Dayton, Ohio; and as a member of the campus ministry staff at The University of Dayton. He has been active as a leader in the youth and student movements both in South Africa and the United States. In the U.S., he served on the Steering Committee of the United Methodist Student Forum, and later as its president.

Kelvin is an ordained elder in the California-Nevada Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Within the annual conference, he provided leadership to clergy and laity in areas of spiritual leadership development, congregational development, community/economic development, and diversity. He was one of the clergy-mentors with the conference board of ordained ministry. In addition, Kelvin serves on several other boards and committees in the Bay View District, the California-Nevada Annual Conference, and in national denominational agencies. With a passion for congregational revitalization, Kelvin is looking forward to partnering with annual conference leaders, clergy, and laity for the redevelopment of vital, vibrant, intergenerational congregations on fire with the redemptive good news of Jesus Christ for the transformation of individuals, families, communities, and — indeed — the world.

Kelvin may be reached at 615-340-7066 or toll-free, 1-877-899-2780, ext. 7066. His e-mail address is ksauls@gbod.org.

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