Center for Ministry Staff
Rev. Dr. Ricky James - Director of the Center for Ministry and Dean of the Chapel at Millsaps College
Ricky serves as Director of the Center for Ministry. He is also Dean of the Chapel and director of church relations at Millsaps. Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he is a graduate of Millsaps, Duke University, and Emory University. Prior to his appointment to Millsaps, he served as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Clinton, Mississippi, senior pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson and as associate pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson.
Rev. Sally Bevill - Director of Thriving in Ministry and Associate Chaplain at Millsaps College
Sally serves as director of Thriving in Ministry. She is also the associate chaplain at Millsaps College, providing spiritual care for our community by supporting religious life on campus and facilitating interfaith community building. In her role, she strives to create a safe, accepting, and warm environment where students can explore their spiritual identity, their place in the community, and their moral and ethical convictions. She is graduate of Millsaps College and Emory University's Candler School of Theology
Rev. Beth Miller - Director of Course of Study School and Licensing School
Beth offers oversight and direction to the initial licensing and subsequent theological education for United Methodist part-time local pastors in the Mississippi United Methodist Annual Conference and surrounding states’ Annual Conferences. Course of Study, a five-year program, is the seminary experience for bi-vocational part-time local pastors, many of whom serve in smaller, rural congregations. Her education includes a B.S.; University of Southern Mississippi, M.Ed.,M.S., Mississippi College, Ed.S., University of Southern Mississippi and she is a Graduate of Mississippi Annual Conference Course of Study Program and the Advanced Course of Study Program of Candler School of Theology at Emory University
Rev. Sylvia Blackwell - Director of Soulful Parenting and Caregiving
Sylvia is a native Mississippian and an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Her local church ministry spanned 21 years, and in ministries beyond the local church for 11 years. Her specific areas of ministry are ministry to families and children, pastoral ministry, physical fitness, and hospital chaplaincy. Currently, she serves as the director of the Soulful Parenting and Caregiving Initiative at The Center for Ministry located at Millsaps College.
Ricky serves as Director of the Center for Ministry. He is also Dean of the Chapel and director of church relations at Millsaps. Originally from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, he is a graduate of Millsaps, Duke University, and Emory University. Prior to his appointment to Millsaps, he served as senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Clinton, Mississippi, senior pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson and as associate pastor at Christ United Methodist Church in Jackson.
Rev. Sally Bevill - Director of Thriving in Ministry and Associate Chaplain at Millsaps College
Sally serves as director of Thriving in Ministry. She is also the associate chaplain at Millsaps College, providing spiritual care for our community by supporting religious life on campus and facilitating interfaith community building. In her role, she strives to create a safe, accepting, and warm environment where students can explore their spiritual identity, their place in the community, and their moral and ethical convictions. She is graduate of Millsaps College and Emory University's Candler School of Theology
Rev. Beth Miller - Director of Course of Study School and Licensing School
Beth offers oversight and direction to the initial licensing and subsequent theological education for United Methodist part-time local pastors in the Mississippi United Methodist Annual Conference and surrounding states’ Annual Conferences. Course of Study, a five-year program, is the seminary experience for bi-vocational part-time local pastors, many of whom serve in smaller, rural congregations. Her education includes a B.S.; University of Southern Mississippi, M.Ed.,M.S., Mississippi College, Ed.S., University of Southern Mississippi and she is a Graduate of Mississippi Annual Conference Course of Study Program and the Advanced Course of Study Program of Candler School of Theology at Emory University
Rev. Sylvia Blackwell - Director of Soulful Parenting and Caregiving
Sylvia is a native Mississippian and an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Her local church ministry spanned 21 years, and in ministries beyond the local church for 11 years. Her specific areas of ministry are ministry to families and children, pastoral ministry, physical fitness, and hospital chaplaincy. Currently, she serves as the director of the Soulful Parenting and Caregiving Initiative at The Center for Ministry located at Millsaps College.
