Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis, President & CEO of Gammon Theological Seminary 

Named Featured Lecturer for Paul’s Journey Cruise

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ATLANTA, GA — August 2026 — Educational Opportunities Tours is pleased to announce that Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis, 17th President and Chief Executive Officer of Gammon Theological Seminary, will serve as a Featured Lecturer on Paul’s Journey Cruise, a 12-day educational and faith-based journey through Cyprus, Greece, and Türkiye beginning September 25, 2026.

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A transformational leader, visionary theologian, educator, pastor, and nationally respected denominational executive, Dr. Lewis brings a powerful combination of theological scholarship, ministry experience, institutional leadership, and global perspective to this extraordinary journey. Dr. Lewis’s participation elevates the journey beyond sightseeing, providing travelers with opportunities to engage the biblical, historical, cultural, and theological significance of the places they will visit. Through lectures and conversation, she will help connect the ancient world with contemporary questions of faith, leadership, calling, justice, community, and Christian witness.

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As President and CEO of Gammon Theological Seminary, Dr. Lewis is leading one of the most significant periods of transformation in the institution’s 143-year history. Elected in 2021 as Gammon’s first woman president, she has guided the Seminary through historic milestones, including accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and membership in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).

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Founded in 1883, Gammon is the only Historically Black Theological Institution of The United Methodist Church. The Seminary prepares leaders who understand their vocation as partnering with God to form “a just and generative world for all, for the practice of Christian ministry and public leadership.” That mission aligns closely with the purpose of this journey. Dr. Lewis brings to the tour a commitment to preparing people to see faith not simply as something to study, but as a calling to engage the world, transform communities, and lead with courage and purpose.

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A Lecturer Who Brings the Journey to Life

Paul’s Journey Cruise offers travelers the opportunity to experience destinations connected to the biblical world and the development of Christian faith and civilization. With Dr. Lewis serving as Featured Lecturer, travelers can explore these historic settings through an informed theological and leadership lens.

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Her teaching will encourage participants to move beyond simply experiencing historic sites to asking deeper questions; she asks us to think deeply on “What can these places teach us about faith? What do they reveal about leadership and human community? And how might the stories of the past shape the way we live and serve in the world today?”

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With more than 30 years of ministry and leadership experience, Dr. Lewis has served as a pastor, church planter, educator, denominational executive, consultant, and executive coach. Her ministry has included international preaching, teaching, leadership development, and mission engagement across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

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In 2024, the General Conference of The United Methodist Church elected Dr. Lewis to the University Senate, the denomination’s highest academic governing body.

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A gifted communicator and lifelong learner, Dr. Lewis is known for bringing together faith, scholarship, leadership, and practical wisdom. Her presence on Paul’s Journey Cruise offers travelers a rare opportunity to learn from a theological leader whose work is actively shaping the future of Christian ministry and theological education.

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About Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis

Rev. Dr. Candace M. Lewis is the 17th President and Chief Executive Officer of Gammon Theological Seminary and the first woman to serve as its president. A transformational leader and visionary theologian, she has devoted more than three decades to ministry, theological education, leadership development, and strengthening the Church.

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Dr. Lewis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication from the University of Florida, a Master of Divinity from Gammon Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in Church Leadership Excellence from Wesley Theological Seminary. She is an accomplished author, preacher, educator, consultant, and executive coach.

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About Gammon Theological Seminary

Founded in 1883, Gammon Theological Seminary is the only Historically Black Theological Institution of The United Methodist Church. The Seminary provides academic and degree-granting programs that prepare individuals to understand their vocation as working in partnership with God to form a just and generative world for all, for the practice of Christian ministry and public leadership.

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About The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and Association of Theological Schools (ATS)​

SACSCOC is an institutional accreditor committed to advancing educational quality and strengthening the effectiveness of its member institutions through peer review, accountability, and continuous improvement.

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Gammon Theological Seminary is also a member of the ATS, a community committed to advancing theological education and strengthening theological schools in preparing leaders for Christian ministry, scholarship, and service.

About Educational Opportunities Tours

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Educational Opportunities Tours (EOT) specializes in educational and faith-based travel experiences that connect travelers with significant biblical, historical, cultural, and spiritual destinations worldwide. Through thoughtfully designed journeys and meaningful educational opportunities, EOT creates experiences that encourage discovery, learning, fellowship, and personal transformation. To learn more, click here.