{"id":30398,"date":"2021-07-21T15:56:06","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T15:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cst.edu\/?p=30398"},"modified":"2024-05-05T23:08:43","modified_gmt":"2024-05-05T23:08:43","slug":"alumnus-accepts-new-role-with-california-pacific-annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cst.edu\/de\/news\/alumnus-accepts-new-role-with-california-pacific-annual-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumnus accepts new role with California-Pacific Annual Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

Twenty years ago, Cedrick Bridgeforth was drawn to CST by its commitment to openness, diversity, and scholarship, and he treasures his years at Claremont. \u201cMy time at CST as a Master of Divinity student (1997-2000) and then as Director of Alumni and Church relations (2001-03) exposed me to the great connection our seminaries can have in the life of local churches and in developing a culture of call within our broader culture.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Further, the opportunities Cedrick had to explore beyond Eurocentric and classic theological texts redefined his call as an ordained clergyperson. \u201cDoing work in the intersections of conflicting theologies, warring identities, and yet-to-be-voiced perspectives have become my ministry’s hallmarks,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth has taken on a new role as Director of Innovation and Communication <\/span>for the California-Pacific Annual Conference, and he has a new book, <\/span>Alabama Grandson: A Black, Gay Minister’s Passage Out of Hiding<\/span><\/i> (Precocity Press), being published next month. In his new position, Cedrick looks forward to <\/span>\u201cthe adventure of coming alongside laity and clergy in various communities who have dreams that need champions and voice to bring them to fruition.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He is eager, he said, to share stories of new and innovative evangelism, mission and administration going forward. \u201cThe art of sharing testimonies is deep in my soul, and I see the merging of these roles of innovation and communications as a perfect place to revive and refine that art in our context. We have great stories to bring into being, and we have great stories that need a platform from which to share them. I get to be a part of that process and all the possibilities they bring to the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Resident bishop of the Cal-Pac Conference and CST alumnus Grant J. Hagiya, \u201977,\u00a0 said that as a district superintendent, Cedrick was instrumental in leading the conference through district realignment and formation of mission areas, and in elevating clergy-lay partnerships at every level of the conference. In an email to the conference, he wrote, \u201cThe work Cedrick has done locally and nationally to raise the presence of the gifts of diverse communities, revitalize ministries and organizations with divergent strategies, and re-center purpose in places with dwindling resources will serve him and the conference well as we envision our future, align our messaging and share more broadly a message of hope and vitality in all the places God calls us to serve.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cedrick\u2019s seminary relationships continue to nourish his life and clergy connection. \u201cThe value gained from exploring multiple theological perspectives prepared me for ecumenical and interfaith work and deeper community relations work in urban and rural areas. Being exposed and remaining open to what is before me has made the difference in ministry and in life,\u201d he said. He added, \u201cThe educational tools, social relations and theological exploration gifted to me at CST have served me well. Though the specifics of every situation faced in a local church or extension ministry setting were not addressed, I gained the confidence to know it can be solved and that no matter how I choose to go at it, I am not in it alone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Born in Decatur, Alabama, Cedrick served four years in the United States Air Force. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion from Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama, and a Doctor of Education in organizational leadership from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California.<\/span><\/p>\n

He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a past president of Black Methodists for Church Renewal, and a former district superintendent and dean of cabinet. <\/span>He<\/span> served as pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, Los Angeles, and directed academic programs and outreach at the Ecumenical Center for Black Church Studies, University of La Verne.\u00a0In addition to heading California-Pacific General and jurisdictional conference delegations, Cedrick founded 20\/20 Leadership Lessons Inc. <\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Twenty years ago, Cedrick Bridgeforth was drawn to CST by its commitment to openness, diversity, and scholarship, and he treasures his years at Claremont. \u201cMy time at CST as a Master of Divinity student (1997-2000) and then as Director of Alumni and Church relations (2001-03) exposed me to the great connection our seminaries can have […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":30399,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,21],"tags":[133,134,108,373],"class_list":["post-30398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-alumniae-news","category-news","tag-cal-pac","tag-cedrick","tag-communications","tag-lgbtqia-2"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAlumnus accepts new role with California-Pacific Annual Conference - 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