Be sure to visit Rev. Seawright's other websites:

Union Bethel A.M.E. Church

HLS Consulting

 

 

 

Innovative Vision for Ground-Breaking Ministry

Background and Family

  • Born March 16, 1956, Native of Swansea, South Carolina
  • Son of the late Joe Nathan and Mary L. Seawright, youngest of eight children
  • Member of Prodigal AME Church, Swansea, South Carolina
  • Married to Reverend Sherita Moon Seawright, February 27, 1982
  • Father of Shari Nicole and Harry Matthew
  • Grandfather of Cameron Isaiah

Education/Academic Accomplishments

  • Early Years of Education – Lexington and Calhoun County Schools
  • Graduated from St. Matthews High School, St. Matthews, South Carolina, 1974
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Benedict College, 1978
  • Master of Divinity, Howard University School of Religion, 1981
  • Doctor of Ministry, Howard University School of Divinity, 1995
  • 2004 Round Table Fellowship, St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, Oxford, England
  • Member, Alpha Phi Omega - National Service Fraternity
  • Guest Lecturer – Howard University School of Divinity, Washington, DC and Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia
  • Attended University of the District of Columbia (Mortuary Science) 1984-85
  • Received the award “Student Most Likely to Excel in Pastoral Ministry,” Howard University School of Divinity, 1981
  • Received the “Doctor of Ministry Student of the Year Award”, Howard University School of Divinity, 1995 for Outstanding Dissertation “A Pastor’s Role in a Church Construction Project”
  • Student in the National Black Pastors Fellowship Program by the Congress of National Black Churches 1994-95, Fellowship Program with Partners for Sacred Places, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ministry

  • Accepted the call to ministry (1976) and Admitted to the South Carolina Central Annual Conference 1977 by Bishop Frank M. Reid, II
  • Interim Pastor, St. Stephen AME Church, St. Matthews, South Carolina, 1978
  • Staff Minister at Reid Temple AME Church; Assistant to the Pastor at Pilgrim AME Church, Washington, DC, 1978-81
  • Ordained Itinerant Deacon by Bishop Henry W. Murph, April, 1979, Washington Annual Conference
  • Ordained Itinerant Elder by Bishop John H. Adams, April, 1981, Washington Annual Conference
  • Over 30 years of committed pastoral service to the African Methodist Episcopal Church
  • Over 20 years of pastoral leadership at Union Bethel AME Church, Brandywine, Maryland, 1986-present
  • Pastor, Hemingway Temple AME Church, Washington, DC, 1983-1986
  • Pastor, Payne Memorial AME Church, Jessup, Maryland, 1981-1983
  • Founder, CEO & President, Union Bethel Intergenerational Center (IGC) houses a Daycare,
    Before/After Care/Kindergarten, Banquet Hall for up to 300 people, 2nd Worship Site, Computer Lab and Community Outreach Offices
  • Founder & Past President, Bethel House, Inc. (Non-Profit Outreach Ministry Organization)
  • Founder, CEO & President, For Our Children Unity School (FOCUS) Educational Outreach Ministry
  • President, Unity Economic Development Corporation
  • One Church in Two Locations - Started July 10, 2001
    6810 Floral Park Road, Brandywine, Maryland
    3231 Brinkley Road, Temple Hills, Maryland
  • Over 50 Ministries established under his leadership
  • 43 persons have accepted the call to ministry under his leadership
  • New sanctuary built and dedicated July 14, 1991, at a cost of $1,600,000
  • Through land acquisitions the church expanded from 4 ½ acres of land to 55 acres with several buildings for ministry
  • Membership grew from 200 to 1,500 active members; over 2,500 people have joined during his 20 years at Union Bethel
  • Between the church and its non-profit organizations the budget increased from $44,000 to $3,200,000
  • Church and 501(c)(3) organizations employ 75 people in full and part-time positions
  • Community Thrift Store - Proceeds assist those in need of rental assistance, food, medications, etc.
  • Planned 80,784 sq. ft. Community Recreational Center with gym, pool, youth activities and community outreach rooms; received $l, 000,000 from the State of Maryland in bond bill grants to assist with this project

AME Leadership

  • Treasurer, Washington Annual Conference, 1998-present
  • Treasurer, 2nd Episcopal District of the AME Church, 2002-present
  • Past President and member of The AME Ministerial Alliance of Washington, DC & Vicinity
    Treasurer, 2nd Episcopal District Religious, Education and Charitable Non-Profit Board (RED, Inc.)
  • Member, Board of Examiners, Washington Annual Conference (Served as Dean 1992-2002)
    Served as Chief Accountant in the AME Church Finance Department, Washington, DC for
    12 years under the leadership of the late Dr. Joseph C. McKinney
  • Delegate to General Conference since 1996
  • 2nd Episcopal District Director of Evangelism, 2000-2004
  • Preliminary Inquiry Committee, 2000-2004
  • Trustee, Washington Annual Conference
  • Instructor of Homiletics, Washington Conference Board of Examiners
  • Chair, Presiding Elder Goodwin Douglas’ Salary and Upkeep Committee

Author

  • More Than Bricks and Mortar—Building a Church Without Losing Your Mind, 1996
  • Contributing Author – African American Devotional Bible , “Quality Leadership”, 1997
  • Contributing Author – The Pastor’s Manual, “The Pastor’s Role in Church Construction”, 2000

Community Leader

  • Trustee Emeritus, Prince George’s Community College (Served 6 Years)
  • Delivered opening prayer before the 102nd United States Congress, June 4, 1992
  • Member, Collective Banking Group
  • Treasurer, Prince George’s County Clergy Support Group
  • Prince George’s Roundtable Citizen’s Advisory Committee

Businessman

  • Founder, CEO, President, HLS Consulting, Inc. (Specializing in Church Construction Consulting,
    Financial Management, Leadership Development Community Outreach and 501(c)(3) Ministry Development)
  • Founder & CEO, We Kleen, Inc. (Commercial Cleaning, Landscape and Handyman services)
  • Founder, CEO & President, Prestigious Realty, LLC

Foreign Mission and Ministry Travel

  • Bermuda; Johannesburg, South Africa; Zambia; Botswana; Zimbabwe; Uganda; Kenya and the Caribbean
  • The World Council of Churches Meeting, Zimbabwe as a guest of Bishop Vinton R. Anderson (1998)
  • Preached and taught on a mission trip to Kenya and Uganda, 2004
  • Conducted workshops across the United States on Church Construction, Stewardship, and Leadership Development
  • Conducted workshops at the AME Church Growth and Evangelism Conference; Stewardship Conference 2nd, 7th, 8th and 10th Episcopal Districts; The Institute for Church Administration, Atlanta, Georgia and several other denominations and numerous local and national churches