About Our Participants
Participants of Sustaining
Pastoral Excellence reflect the broad diversity of Memphis and Memphis
Theological Seminary in terms of denomination, race, age, and gender.
SPE clergy participants come from 13 different denominations
and four neighboring southern states (with the majority living in west Tennessee).
Approximately half of our program participants are African American and half
are Caucasian; half of our participants are women and half are men. About two thirds of the participating
ministers serve in parish settings and the other third serve in differing
community settings, such as hospitals, community centers, and schools. Some
pastors in our program are seminary trained while others are not, but all have served
a minimum of three years in full-time ministry settings and rendered faithful service
to the Body of Christ.