Oasis - REST: Sabbatical in a Bag

Return to REST "where ministers find the space they need to be grounded in God"

Presenter Bio: Rev. Kaylan B. Walker

Reverend Kaylan Brian Walker is the eldest son of Reverend Rosie C. Walker and the late Cornelous Walker. Reverend Walker grew up in the red hills of northern Louisiana. He matriculated in the Claiborne Parish School system graduating as Senior Class president and Salutatorian of the 1987 class of Homer High School.

Reverend Walker has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Public Administration from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, a Master of Public Policy degree in Social Policy Analysis from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and a Master of Divinity degree with honors in Sociology of Religion from the Phillips School of Theology of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, GA. Upon graduation from ITC, the “ Exceptional Promise in Ministry and Service” award was bestowed upon him. Currently, he serves as a Trustee Board member of the Philips School of Theology of the ITC and as Parliamentarian of Presiding Elders’ Council of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

During his time at ITC, Reverend Walker was elected president of the Theta Phi Honor society, appointed to the Executive Board of the Student Christian League, and served as the student representative to the Interdenominational Theological Center’s Board of Trustees. He also received numerous awards and scholarships including the Bishop Othal H. Lakey Preaching Award, the Milner L. and Harriet G. Darnell Memorial Commitment Award , Who’s Who of American Colleges and Universities, the Taggart Honor Award, the Robert B. Shorts Pastoral Award , the Alvin B. Dobson Memorial Campus Leadership Award, and the Bishop U. Z. McKinnon Memorial Service Award, and the Bishop Yancey Bell Scholar Award. This year, Reverend Walker was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award by the Claiborne Parish Branch of the NAACP.

In June, 2007, Reverend Walker became a certified Spiritual Director by finishing a year long intensive program in Spirituality and Spiritual Direction at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership (ISL) located in Chicago, Illinois. After these advanced studies were completed, he also participated in a ten-month internship at ISL.

Reverend Walker was licensed to preach at the Mt. Pisgah Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in June, 1996 by former Presiding Elder John W. Jackson of the Minden District. He received ordination as a Traveling Deacon in July, 1998; ordination as a Traveling Elder in July, 2000; and granted Full Connection Status in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in July, 2002. This servant-leader has spent over fifteen years providing pastoral guidance of congregations in Louisiana (Springhill and St. Rest CME Churches), Georgia (Mt. Zion CME Church), Mississippi (Sanders Chapel CME, Holly Springs CME, and Grays Chapel CME Churches), Illinois (Bray Temple CME Church, Chicago) before becoming the spiritual leader of the Lewis Temple CME Church of Grambling, LA. In July 2010, Reverend Walker was appointed by Bishop Thomas L. Brown, Sr. to serve as the presiding elder of the “Mighty Miraculous” Monroe District of the Louisiana Region of the 4^th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

During Reverend Walker’s tenure in the 3^rd, 4^th, and 6^th Episcopal districts of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, he has been involved in several ministerial endeavors. He has been appointed as a member of the Committee of Ministerial Examination of the Mississippi-South and Southeast Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin Regions; the Board of Christian Education of the Mississippi-South Region; the “Empowering Us to Help Us” Committees of the Mississippi-South and Louisiana Regions; Assistant Dean of the Mississippi Leadership School; Assistant Episcopal Director of Christian Education (4^th Episcopal District); and as member of Board of Trustees - Louisiana Region, 4^th Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Before entering full-time parish ministry, Reverend Walker served as a legislative aide for three years to former U.S. Senator J. Bennett Johnston (D-La). In that position, he advised the Senator on matters involving the Budget, Banking/Finance, Interior, and Medicare. He has also taught middle school mathematics, social science, and religion for seven years. Reverend Walker is also a lifetime member of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity and has been inducted into Mortar Board, Phi Eta Sigma, Alpha Lambda Delta, Gamma Beta Phi, and and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership and honorary societies.