Williams Promoted to Director of Hood Seminary’s Thriving Congregations Initiative

Salisbury, NC. – January 3, 2024 - Dr. Rona M. Williams has been promoted to Director of the Congregational Faith and Learning Center (TCFLC) at Hood Theological Seminary (HTS), Salisbury, NC. She steps into this role following Dr. Vincent W. Howell, who will serve as Hood’s Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program and Adjunct Professor of Leadership Ministry. This appointment is effective January 1, 2024.

The Congregational Faith and Learning Center, which is branded faithlearnthrive.org, has as its goal to provide training and faith engagement directly to congregations in the community by being a place to “educate, empower, and equip” congregations to thrive. Williams previously served as Project Coordinator and Associate Director.

Educationally, Williams earned a B.A. from Winthrop University and earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. Williams was a member of Hood’s 2023 graduating class, where she earned a Master of Divinity degree.

Dr. Vincent W. Howell, the center’s founding director, stated, “I am excited that Rev. Williams has accepted this new role. She has a passion for building stronger churches and brings a strong focus on ministry innovation and creativity; this helps churches not only to relate to all generations and cultures of people but to thrive in a changing church landscape.”

John Everett, MBA, and Hood’s Director of Institutional Advancement speaks of Williams’ leadership in this role, stating, “We are excited that Dr. Rona Williams will assume the role of Director of the Congregational Faith and Learning Center starting in 2024. She has been providing great support and direction in working with Dr. Vincent Howell for the past two years. He is now the Director of Doctor of Ministry program at Hood. Dr. Williams brings a varied background to the position as she is an executive pastor and an attorney and has tremendous technological and marketing skills. She will continue elevating the Congregational Faith and Learning Center in its efforts to support God's churches through faith, learning, and thriving.”

Hood Theological Seminary, located at 1810 Lutheran Synod Drive in Salisbury, NC, is a graduate and professional school sponsored by the A.M.E. Zion Church and approved by the University Senate of The United Methodist Church. Its student body, faculty, and staff are currently comprised of persons from many different denominations. Hood's mission is to prepare women and men for bold and creative leadership for the Christian church in a diverse world.