The Rt. Rev. Dr. Wayne Burkette Elected Provincial Elders’ Conference President of the Moravian Church – Southern Province

The Rt. Rev. Wayne Burkette was elected to a four-year term as president of the Provincial Elders’ Conference (PEC) of the Moravian Church, Southern Province on Thursday, April 20, 2006, during the Provincial Synod of the Southern Province, Moravian Church in America, held at the Blue Ridge Assembly Center, Black Mountain, North Carolina, from April 19-23, 2006.

The Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer, outgoing President of the PEC, South, stands with the Rt. Rev. Dr. Wayne Burkette who was elected to serve the Southern Province as Provincial Elders' Conference President through the year 2010

The synod is a gathering of clergy and laypersons representing about 20,000 members of the Moravian Church, Southern Province, in North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and Florida. Being culturally diverse the congregations and fellowships in Florida District of the Southern Province consist of Moravians from Nicaragua, Honduras, Surinam, Jamaica, and other islands of the Eastern West Indies and the Virgin Islands.

The PEC is the highest governing board of the Moravian Church Southern Province, providing administrating leadership to congregations and program agencies. In accordance with Moravian practice in electing a new PEC president, candidates are not nominated but elected by silent ballot with a two thirds majority required for election. Election of a PEC President is the first order of business for the Synod which is held every 4 years.

Upon election the announcement of the election results, Burkette declared, “Because I see this as the call of the Lord and the call of the church, and because I love the church and I love the Lord, I accept.”

Burkette, has been serving as the Vice President of Salem Academy and College; Head of Salem Academy, Winston-Salem, North Carolina since 1994. This was just one position he has held at Salem over the years, first coming to the College as the Chaplain in 1990 and serving in that capacity until 1992 when he was appointed Chaplain and Chief Planning Officer.

In his acceptance address held later in the Synod, Burkette said, “Synod can change a person’s life, but beyond the personal, Synod can change the life of the church.” Quoting Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, he said, “We strive mightily, but we eat and drink as friends.” At the Synod, he continued on, “we have been friends around His table, as well as the dining room tables. We have been friends of Jesus and friends of each other. The credit for this goes to the working of God’s spirit.”

The Rt. Rev. Dr. Wayne Burkette addresses the Southern Province Synod as the newly elected President of the Provincial Elders' Conference, South.

The Rev. Burkette replaces the outgoing PEC president, the Rev. Dr. Robert E. Sawyer, who has completed 11 years as president of the PEC, South, beginning at his first election at the Synod of 1995. During his address the Rev. Burkette acknowledged that Sawyer embodies 2 Corinthians 5:20, “an ambassador for Christ” and said, “We are deeply grateful for his work.”

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Burkette received his Master of Divinity degree from Moravian Theological Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 1969. He was consecrated a deacon of the Moravian Church in 1969 at Trinity Moravian Church by Bishop Samuel Tesch. In 1975 he was consecrated a presbyter by Bishop George G. Higgins. In 1978 he received his Doctorate of Ministry from the Union Theological Seminary in Virginia. In 2002, at the Provincial Synod of the Southern Province, he was elected a Bishop of the Moravian Unity and was consecrated as such by the Bishop Graham Rights, Bishop Kay Ward, and Bishop James C. Hughes in July of that year. During his years in the pastorate, he served at Olivet Moravian Church, Home Moravian Church, and Fairview Moravian Church all located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Burkette has been an ongoing and active member in many areas of the Moravian Church serving on the Moravian Archives board; serving as vice-chair of the 1998 Provincial Synod; serving on the Provincial Financial Board; serving as a Unity Synod delegate; serving on the Moravian Seminary Trustees; and serving on the Salem Congregation Board of Elders as Chair, to name a few.

Burkette is also a vibrant member of the community and greater educational system through his memberships on the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools; Southern Association of Independent Schools, Commission on Accreditation; National Association of Secondary School Principles; Home Moravian Church; Rotary Club of Winston-Salem; and the Wachovia Historical Society.

Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Burkette still lives in the town where he was born. He is married to Nancy Ruth Witherspoon Burkette, who serves as the Executive Director of Yokefellow Prison Ministry of North Carolina. The have two adult daughters, Allison Paige Burkette-Tschumper and Amanda Ruth Burkette Grimstead.