FORMER SARASOTA PASTOR ELECTED BISHOP IN THE CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rev. Dr. Clarence Kelby Heath was elected as the 64th Bishop in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church at the 39th Quadrennial Session and the 40th General Conference held in Cincinnati, Ohio on Wednesday, June 29, 2022. The Committee on Episcopacy recommended and the General Conference approved the appointment of Rev. Heath to the Fifth Episcopal District comprising the Florida Region, Birmingham Region, North Central Alabama Region, and Southeast Alabama Region. His appointment also included serving as chair of the board of Miles College (HBCU) and chair of the board of W.Clyde Williams Terrance Apartments (Senior Living Facility), both which are located in Fairfield, Alabama. The Fifth Episcopal District is one of eleven Episcopal Districts of the CME Church.
Bishop Heath was appointed to Bethel CME Church of Sarasota in August of 1996 after serving at Jones Tabernacle CME Church located in Macon, Georgia. He pastored for eight years. While at Bethel, many new and innovative programs were initiated including adding an early service, a summer school program, and several food ministries which benefited the community. Bishop Heath marveled at the close proximity of the church to the community. “We were in the heart of the community,” he said. “Back then, we represented old school ministry – doing every kind of ministry possible,” he said. “The church was open seven days a week with some type of ministry going on.
“We created a fellowship where people could come together and there was something for everyone. Some of those ministries converted to other fellowships within the community.”
After serving Bethel CME, he was appointed to Thirgood Memorial CME Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He has served as pastor of Central Metropolitan CME Church of Jacksonville, Florida, and Greenwood CME Church of Memphis, Tennessee. His most recent appointment before being elected Bishop was at Carter Metropolitan CME Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He has been in the ministry for over 31 years and has pastored churches in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Texas.
As Bishop, his hope for the CME Church is spiritual growth and maturity that’s rooted in discipleship. His vision for the Fifth Episcopal District aligns with the CME Church’s Quadrennial theme: “Be Bold, Face Now, Embrace Next, See New”. “My goal is not to just have CME churches open, but for ALL churches to be open for business,” he said. “We want them to do their best to have some type of presence, through in person worship, on-line, and/or both. We’re being bold and doing new, but if we’re not open, how can we accomplish anything? We must have some kind of balance and ask the question ‘can we do more? We can be “open for business through prayer, patience and practice.”
Bishop Heath holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Management) degree from Augusta University and was Commissioned Army Officer Senior R.O.T.C. He earned a Masters of Divinity (Theology) and Master of Arts in Christian Education at Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center of Atlanta, Georgia. He earned a Doctorate of Theology at the International Theological Seminary of Bradenton, Florida. He also did postgraduate studies in psychology at the University of Sarasota. Dr. Heath is scheduled to graduate in the Spring of 2023 with a Doctor of Ministry from Lancaster Theological Seminary.
Bishop Heath is grateful to his wife, Lakisha of over 28 years, and their two sons Cornelius Kelby and Caled David. He is also appreciative for the leaders, members, and families of Bethel and the Newtown Community. “There are many organizations and people in Sarasota~Bradenton and surrounding areas that I hold dear to heart,” Bishop Heath said..
