Rev. Emmett Price, III, Ph.D., Executive Director
Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience

Emmett G. Price III is one of the nation’s leading experts on Music of the African Diaspora, Christian Worship and the Black Christian Experience. He has spent much of the past few decades writing, lecturing and conducting cutting edge research on bridging the generational divide. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Dr. Price received a B.A. in music from the University of California, Berkeley and earned both his M.A. and Ph.D. in music (ethnomusicology) from the University of Pittsburgh. He also obtained an M.A. in urban ministry leadership from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Currently, he serves as Professor of Worship, Church & Culture, Founding Executive Director of Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience (ISBCE) and former Dean of Chapel (2016-2020) at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Prior to his current post, Dr. Price served on the faculty of Northeastern University (2001-2016) as associate professor of Music and chair of the Department of African American Studies (2008-2012). He has served as visiting professor at Boston University, Berklee College of Music, Andover Newton Theological School and Brandeis University. He is a former research fellow of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University and Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society.

Jeff Bass, Executive Director
Emmanuel Gospel Center

Jeff Bass joined the staff of EGC in 1991, and was named executive director in 1999. A graduate of Princeton University, Jeff first worked as a consultant for Arthur D. Little, Inc., but left in 1987 to become the business manager of a local church, where he learned first-hand about the inner workings of an urban congregation. In 2014, Jeff was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Gordon College. Jeff is an avid tennis player and wine enthusiast. He and his wife, Ellen have two adult children, and one amazing granddaughter.

Rev. David Wright, Esq., Executive Director
BMA TenPoint

Born and raised in Roxbury, Rev. David Wright is a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law. From 1999 to 2004, David Wright served as the President and CEO of the African American Federation of Greater Boston, Inc., a collaboration of 35 community-based organizations located in inner-city Boston. David has been serving as Executive Director of the Black Ministerial Alliance since October 2007. David loves learning how to play guitar and other instruments.

Rev. Dr. Virginia Ward, Dean
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Campus for Urban Ministerial Education

Dr. Virginia Ward serves as  the Dean Gordon Conwell’s Campus for Urban Ministerial Education and is the Executive Director of the Northeast Region. Virginia’s local and national involvement in the training and development of youth leaders spans three decades. She teaches youth ministry, leadership and urban ministry development courses for CUME.

Dr. Ward comes with extensive experience as an urban pastor, ministry organizer, and youth ministry expert.  After an initial study in Management at Northeastern University and courses at Harvard Extension School, Dr. Ward pursued education in ministry, earning her Diploma in Urban Ministries, Master of Arts in Youth Ministry, and Doctor of Ministry in Emerging Generations, all at Gordon-Conwell.  A third-generation minister, Rev. Ward is an Associate Pastor at Abundant Life Church where her husband Bishop Larry Ward is the Senior Pastor.