Lunch Conversation with Dean Valerie Bridgeman and Bishop Johnathan E. Alvarado

Valerie Bridgeman, dean and vice president for academic affairs at Methodist Theological School in Ohio, will share a lunchtime conversation with Bishop Johnathan E. Alvarado, pastor of Grace Church International in Atlanta. The two will talk from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern Thursday, Nov. 11. Their virtual conversation is presented at no charge by the Theological Commons at MTSO.

Advance Zoom registration is required and available here.

Among other topics, Bridgeman and Alvarado plan to discuss Wesleyan connections to Pentecostalism and the pursuit of justice as a gospel project rather than a political one. They will share in dialogue for 40 minutes before welcoming questions from those attending online.

Bishop Johnathan E. Alvarado is a church planter, theologian, Pentecostal scholar and founding pastor of Atlanta’s Grace Church International, a multi-site, multi-ethnic, multi-generational congregation in three locations. He is a published author in peer-reviewed journals, a chapter contributor to several edited volumes, an academic book reviewer, and a member of several academic societies, including the Society for Pentecostal Studies, the Alliance for Black Pentecostal Scholarship and the American Academy of Religion. He is formerly the dean of the Joint College of African American Pentecostal Bishops.

Alvarado holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Regent University School of Divinity, an MA in Christian Ministry from Luther Rice Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Pentecostal Theological Seminary and Master of Theology in Worship and Liturgics from Columbia Theological Seminary. He is pursuing a Ph.D. (ABD) from Regent University School of Divinity.

Valerie Bridgeman has served since 2017 as dean of MTSO, where she is also associate professor of homiletics and Hebrew Bible. In addition to her work at MTSO, Dr. Bridgeman is the founding president and CEO of WomanPreach! Inc., a nonprofit organization bringing preachers to full prophetic voice. Ordained by the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), she is an advocate and activist for justice, in demand as a speaker and preacher throughout the country.

Bridgeman earned her Ph.D. from Baylor University in biblical studies, with secondary studies in ethics. She received a Master of Divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity University.

Methodist Theological School in Ohio provides theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable and generative world. In addition to the Master of Divinity degree, the school offers master’s degrees in counseling, social justice, theological studies and practical theology, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree.

CONTACT:

Danny Russell, communications director
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322