Rev. Kelvin Sauls
Leader for "The Beauty and Courage of Sudan"
The Rev. Kelvin Sauls was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He brings to the office of Congregational Development & Racial Ethnic Ministries 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. Prior to his appointment at the General Board of Global Ministries in 2008, he served as the Director for Congregational Transformation at the General Board Discipleship, Senior Pastor at Downs UMC in Oakland, CA, and Associate Pastor at Jones UMC in San Francisco, CA.
Rev. Sauls completed his undergraduate studies in religion, political science & sociology at Emory & Henry College in Emory VA., and completed his Masters of Divinity at United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. He is currently writing his dissertation in the area of congregational development & revitalization for the Doctor in Ministry at San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, CA.
Rev. Sauls is an ordained Elder in the California-Nevada 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. His other involvement in the Conference include serving on the Immigration Task Force, The Israel/Palestine Taskforce, The Angola Partnership Team & the Board of Church & Society. He provided pastoral leadership for the Red Ribbon Retreat for people living with HIV/Aids. With a vision of the Church as a holistic center of wellness and vitality, Rev. Sauls provided prophetic & practical leadership in both the congregation & community. He serves on the Board of Directors of the following community-based organizations: The Pacific School of Religion (Berkeley), The Koshland Fund of the San Francisco Foundation, The Black Alliance for Just Immigration (Oakland), The Priority Africa Network (Oakland).
Within the United Methodist Church, Rev Sauls currently serve on the national planning team for the Convocation of Pastors of African American Churches (General Board of Discipleship), is a member of the National Policy Committee of the Community Developers Program (General Board of Global Ministries), and participates in the Immigration Taskforce established by the Council of Bishops. Within the Western Jurisdiction, Rev. Sauls serve as the Secretary for Black Methodist for Church Renewal (BMCR).
A published writer, poet and percussionist, Rev. Sauls’ global ministry through missions, leadership & congregational development include: the Caribbean region – Haiti, The Bahamas, The Republic of Dominica, the African continent - South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Cote Voir (The Ivory Coast), Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Senegal, Mali, the Middle East - Israel/Palestine.
With a vision & passion for communities of faith to be and become holistic centers of liberation & transformation, dignity & inclusivity, wellness & wholeness, Rev. Sauls is committed to a progressive, prophetic and global theological consciousness that will intentionally usher in God’s beloved community of just-peace.
Rev. Sauls is blessed in marriage with Rev. Judi Wortham-Sauls, an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church.