Skip Navigation
Press Releases and News

Nation’s Noted Theologians to Speak During HT’s ‘Transformation Ministers’ Conference’

Ministers' Conference

AUSTIN, TX 3.5.14 — Some of the nation’s most profound theologians and preachers will address pastors, youth ministers, and youth workers during Huston-Tillotson University’s Transformation Ministers’ Conference, scheduled Tuesday through Thursday, May 20-22, 2014. The conference will be held on the HT campus in King-Seabrook Chapel, 900 Chicon Street.  Clergy and lay leaders will conduct sessions ranging from “Structuring Your Church for Success,” “Social Media in Youth Ministry,” to “Vocal Techniques for the Laity and the Clergy.” Conference speakers include: Rev. Dr. Zan W. Holmes, Jr. former senior pastor, St. Luke “Community” United Methodist Church, Dallas, TX, and retired professor of homiletics at Perkins School of Theology; Dr. Jimmy D. Hunter, pastor, Toliver Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Waco, TX; Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, senior pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Ill; Rev. Dr. Maurice Watson, senior pastor, Beulahland Bible Church, Macon/Warner Robbins, GA; Dr. David White, professor at Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin, TX; Rev. Dr. Claudette Copeland, pastor, New Creation Fellowship, San Antonio, TX; and Rev. Dr. Christopher David, senior pastor, St. Paul Baptist Church, Memphis, TN.

Musician Dr. Gloria Quinlan will conduct praise and vocal sessions designed to demonstrate how singers or preachers can present or perform at high vocal levels while preserving and protecting their voices. Quinlan joined the HT faculty in 1998 and serves as Professor of Music.  She is the conductor of the Huston-Tillotson University Concert Choir.  She received the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Texas Southern University, the Master of Music in Voice from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO and the Doctor of Musical Art degree in Voice from The University of Texas at Austin.

The conference is designed to uplift Jesus Christ, encouraging men and women to grow in their relationship with God while understanding His love through the value He gives them. “As a faith-based historically black institution, this inaugural ministers’ conference seeks to honor Huston-Tillotson University’s commitment to connecting and building strong relationships with local and national religious communities,” said University Chaplain Donald Brewington.  “As such, the conference is designed to assist local and state clergy in strengthening their local church ministries for a more profound impact and transformation of lives for the sake of Christ”.

Huston-Tillotson University, Austin’s first institution of higher education, has a history dating to 1875 and two church denominations. Tillotson College was founded by what is now the United Church of Christ and Samuel Huston College was founded by what is now The United Methodist Church.  The 1952 merger of the two institutions created one of the largest black Protestant church-related colleges in the country at that time.       

The opening worship service begins Tuesday, May 20 at 7 p.m., followed by the plenary session, workshops, and evening worship later in the week. Attendees will understand how to work with church dynamics in order to address the changing congregational needs while maintaining biblical doctrine. 

Registration is open now for $130 until April 1.  From April 2 through May 19, the cost is $150 with onsite registration at $170.  Registrants may secure their hotel reservations by calling the Holiday Inn Townlake, located at 20 N. Interstate Highway 35, Austin, TX  78792.  The telephone number is 512.472.8211.

For more information about the conference, visit https://htu.edu/ministers-conference or contact Brewington at debrewington@htu.edu or 512.505.3054.