MEET THE CONFERENCE MINISTER
Rev. Dr. Edward Davis, MBA, CNPM
Conference Minister, Chief Executive
Southern Conference United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Edward Smith Davis is a Servant Leader. He serves as the Conference Minister for the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ since 2011, covering the states of North Carolina and Eastern Virginia. He previously served as Associate Conference Minister of the Illinois Conference of the UCC. He served as Senior Pastor of St. Mark United Church of Christ in Chicago Heights, where he was the first African American pastor in the church’s 50-year history. He is Pastor Emeritus of GCM UCC in Chicago Heights. He served as the Protestant Chaplain for the Chicago Fire Department and The Saint Jude Chaplain for the Chicago Police Department. Dr. Davis was the first recipient of the Distinguished Spirit of Sankofa Award from the Franklinton Center for Leadership and Faith. He currently serves on the Palestine Israeli Network for the UCC.
EDUCATION
Dr. Davis received his Doctor of Ministry degree in “Collaborative Leadership” from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, where he served as an adjunct faculty consultant, providing consultation to Faculty Mentors and Doctor of Ministry students. He holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Chicago Theological Seminary. He earned an MBA in Finance and Economics from Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL, and two bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration, from Roosevelt University. He did his Executive Education in Leadership at Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He is also a Certified Nonprofit Manager. Certification in Fundraising from Indiana School Philanthropy. Executive Certification in Religious Fundraising.
DISTINQUISHED SERVICE
Served, and currently serving on the Board of the United Church of Christ
Past Chair of the Board of UCC Global Ministries. Visiting 23 countries on behalf of the UCC
Past Treasurer of the Board of Trustees for Lancaster Theological Seminary
Served on the Board of the UCC Church Building and Loan Fund
Served on the Board of United Church Fund
Served as Regional Representative for the UCC in the South
Chair of the Church and Ministry Committee for the Illinois Conference, UCC
Served on the Board of United Church Homes and Services
Served on the Board of the Community Renewal Society
Member of The Mankind Project International
Member of the National MBA Association of America
His Southern Conference Accomplishments During His Tenure to name a few:
Wrote the Resolution for The Southern Conference to become and Anti-Racist Racial Justice Conference of the UCC
Co-signer on The International Agreement between the Japanese Christian Church and the
Korean Christian Church in Tokyo, Japan
Moved The Conference to become an Environmental/Climate Justice Advocates
Created the First Health and Wellness Ministry
Helped Passed the Resolution against the Cash Bond System in the Conference and General Synod
Created the Disaster Relief Team Ministry
Co-Created the Mid-Winter Bible Initiative
Created the first all virtual New Church Start
More women have become Senior Pastors of the Churches in the Southern Conference history
Appointed a Justice Minister to serve the Conference
Developed a strategic initiative to address the Black Church and Clergy to reignite and strengthen their participation in the life of the Conference
Established an Environmental/Climate Justice Ministry
Traveled to Germany to strengthen our partnership with the Church of the Rhineland and
Engaged in conversations regarding forming new partnerships with the Church of Africa and the Church in Puerto Rico
Established a Racial Equity Ministry