Black Clergy Women Leadership Team
Rev. Dawn Hand, President
Rev. Dawn M. Hand is an ordained Elder in the Western North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church. She is serving on-loan as the Pittsburgh District Superintendent in the Western Pennsylvania Conference. A native of Charlotte, NC, she has served in three different conferences. A prominent advocate for social justice, she has led and collaborated in local and national initiatives including immigration reform, alleviating childhood poverty, women’s rights, and more. She is passionate about her work and witness justice ministries. The scripture that guides her is Micah 6:8. Her favorite food is ribs. Rev. Hand loves to laugh and believes God has a wonderful sense of humor for calling her to ordained ministry. She is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Reverend Dr. Geraldine W. McClellan, Vice President
Reverend McClellan received her Bachelor of Arts degree Bethune-Cookman College. She received her Masters of Religious Education and Divinity Degrees from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia. Reverend McClellan was made a recipient of the Honorary Doctorate Degree in 1993 by Bethune-Cookman College.
Reverend McClellan was ordained Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1980 and holds the distinct honor as the first African American woman to be ordained in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. in 1982, she was ordained an Elder. She is a certified clinical counselor and served as a certified clinical chaplain with the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida for 23 years before retiring in May of 2019.
Reverend Dr. Gennifer Brooks, Sage
Dr. Gennifer Benjamin Brooks holds the Styberg chair in Preaching and is the tenured Ernest and Bernice Styberg Professor of Preaching, Director of the Styberg Preaching Institute and the Doctor of Ministry Program at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and Dean of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS) Doctor of Ministry in Preaching program. She is an ordained elder and full clergy member of the New York Conference of the United Methodist Church and pastored local churches in rural, suburban, urban and cross-racial settings. Dr. Brooks holds a Bachelor of Business, cum laude and a Master of Business Administration from Pace University, a Master of Divinity, and a Doctor of Ministry from New Brunswick Theological Seminary, and a Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in Liturgical Studies from Drew University.
Rev. Twanda King, Communications
Rev. Twanda King is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and an elder in the United
Methodist Church. She currently serves at Union United Methodist Church in Upper
Marlboro, Maryland. Rev. King is actively involved in clergy support and leadership,
serving on the Baltimore-Washington Conference (BWC) Clergy Care Intensive team,
chairing the Black Clergy Women of the Baltimore-Washington Conference, and acting
as the Communications Coordinator for the National Black Clergy Women.
In addition to her ministry, Rev. King is passionate about self-care and financial
empowerment. She is an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-trained coach and a
coach facilitator for the Mid-Atlantic United Methodist Foundation and Strengthening the
Black Church.
Rev. King is a graduate of Morgan State University, where she earned a Bachelor of
Science in Accounting, and Lancaster Theological Seminary, where she obtained a
Master of Divinity degree. She also completed Clinical Pastoral Education at York
County Hospital in Pennsylvania. Currently, she is pursuing a degree in Clinical Mental
Health Counseling at Messiah University.
Rev. King is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She is also the author of
Breathe – A Pastor’s Journey to Wholeness, available on Amazon.
Her favorite scripture is Ephesians 3:20:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us.
Rev. Maxine Allen, Historian
Maxine Allen, is the first African-American woman to be ordained an Elder in the UMC in Arkansas. At 43, after returning to school, she earned a BA from Philander Smith College (Little Rock, AR) and then a MDiv from Gammon Theological Seminary (Atlanta, GA). She has served on conference staff, as a pastor, teacher, mentor of young clergy, and Associate Chief Operating Officer and Dean of the Chapel at Philander Smith College. She currently is the Pastor of St. Paul-Maumelle UMC. A fierce advocate for education and social justice for women, children, and those living in poverty; Allen has two adult children, Rev. Danita Waller-Paige and Tufara Waller-Muhammad; and a granddaughter, Leah Paige.
Rev. Staci Current, Treasurer
Rev. Staci Current is a native Californian, born in Hollywood and raised in the Los Angeles suburb of Cerritos. Pastor Staci earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and International Relations from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She is a 1998 graduate of Claremont School of Theology (CST), where she earned a Master of Divinity Degree. Pastor Staci has served as pastor of Oakland's Shattuck Avenue United Methodist Church, and previously served in the North Georgia and Pacific Northwest Annual Conferences. After serving as the senior pastor of Jones Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco she was invited to join the Bishop's Cabinet in 2015 as District Superintendent of the El Camino Real District. In 2017, Current was appointed as the District Superintendent to establish the newly formed Bay District. Upon completion of her eight year term as a District Superintendent, Pastor Staci was excited to return to her first love...serving in the local church! Today, she is joyfully serving as the Pastor of Temple United Methodist Church and Supervising Elder of Park Presidio United Methodist Church, both in San Francisco.
Pastor Staci is married to the Rev. Dr. John D. Current, Sr., a retired Elder in the United Methodist Church. They have three adult children and a grandson. Pastor Staci is a lover of beauty, music, words, laughter, dancing, good food, and all of God's children. You can find her regularly practicing her spiritual gift of 'hanging out!"
Rev. Dr. Jalene Chase, Chaplain
She is the current Chaplain and former Parliamentarian of the National Black Clergy Women of the United Methodist Church and a past chair of the Black Clergy Women, Baltimore-Washington Conference UMC. Currently, she is the chair of the Gender Equity – Commission on the Status and Role of Women (GE - COSROW) team."
Rev. Tiffanie Postell, South Central Jurisdictional
Tiffanie Certrina Postell was born in Americus, Georgia on May 12, 1981. She was baptized as a baby in the AME Church and confirmed at the age of twelve at Ben Hill United Methodist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated Cum Laude from Gammon Theological Seminary in 2014 with a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Tiffanie is an Elder in Full Connection with the Louisiana Annual Conference. She currently serves as Senior Pastor of Hartzell Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in Slidell, Louisiana. She is a servant leader whose Christian philosophy comes from Luke 22:27. She believes that the love of God can be shared to many and by many, one interaction at a time.
Rev. Kimberly Scott, Parliamentarian
Rev. Kimberly Scott is a cradle United Methodist and second career pastor.
She has a passion for doing liberating work of Jesus Christ. Most importantly,
she wants to see ALL of GOD’s children experience the radical hospitality and
inclusion in the Church and as exhibited by Jesus throughout the Gospel.
Pastor Kimberly holds a MDiv. a ThM. MAED in Leadership and a MS. In
Counseling. She was ordained the first openly queer and African American
Female Elder in the Desert Southwest Conference of the UMC in 2020.
She has helped in the grassroots work of Reconciling Ministries Network since
2012 and previously served as Chair of the Board.She is currently working on
a PhD in Practical Theology at the Claremont School of Theology.
Rev. Towanda NT Connelly, Northeastern Jurisdiction
Rev. Towanda NT Connelly is an ordained Elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is on loan as senior pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Desert Southwest Conference. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Towanda enjoys preaching the word enthusiastically to encourage the people’s hearts and ignite a fire-filled passion for serving Christ. Her life scripture comes from Nehemiah 8:10. “The joy of the Lord is her strength.” Before entering full-time ministry, Towanda served God as a licensed clinical social worker advocating for justice for our black and brown students in public school systems. Towanda resides in Arizona with her husband, Mr. Lawton Connelly, Jr., and their fur baby, LuLu Belle.
Reverend Dr. Tara Gay
Dr. Tara Gay is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Presently, she serves at Big Beaver UMC in Troy, Mi as the senior pastor. She is the Vice President of Sacred Sisters, the chairperson of Michigan Conference Nominations Committee and the Chairperson of Black Clergy for the Michigan Conference. Pastor Gay has taught at Indiana Wesleyan Seminary, Ecumenical Theological Seminary and Payne Theological Seminary. During her years in seminary, she served in the United States Air Force as a Chaplain Candidate for Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado and Scott Air Force Bases in Illinois. She just got married to Bryon Gay. She now has four children: Christopher, Luke, Zane and Jake and six grandchildren.
Rev. Tabitha Mock Rankin, South Central Jurisdiction
Tabitha Mock Rankin is an Ordained Elder and has served within the Texas Annual Conference of the UMC for 10 years. She is currently serving as the director of the Texas Southern University Wesley Foundation. Other full time appointments have included Chaplain, Wiley College, Director, Tyler United Wesley Foundation, and Pastor, St. Paul/Pleasant Grove, Huntsville. Tabitha is the mother of six beautiful children. Nyah – 21, Taylor -18, Zora – 15, Isaiah – 8 and twin girls Kennedy and McKenzie 7. She is a graduate of Sam Houston State University, Gammon Theological Seminary and is currently working towards earning an Ed.D in Christian Education Leadership.