Dr. Battle has been a successful administrator for some of the nation's finest institutions of higher education including Chicago State University , Virginia State University, and Hampton University, where he was also pastor to The Hampton University Memorial Church and concurrently served as Executive
Secretary/Treasurer of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference, the nation's largest interdenominational conference among African American clergy. He served for 20 years as a Chaplain in the United States Army Reserve, and after key assignments from Battalion to Division Level, retired with many military honors and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1997.
Currently, Dr. Battle is leading the ITC in a ten year Strategic Plan that is giving direction to the total operation of the institution to 2014. As the institution celebrates its 50th Anniversary and a Half Century of Ecumenism in Action, the plan has accelerated and is already evidencing change that is enlivening the learning and workplace experiences of the students, faculty, and staff as ITC lives out its mission to educate Christian leaders for ministry and service in the Church and the global community. The campus is more vibrant with three institutional foci to include
TheoEcology®, blending faith with environmental conservation, producing a greenconsciousness toward creating a new “ Eden ”; efforts to address the genocide in Darfur, Sudan; and creating more open conversation among people of faith to effectively address HIV/AIDS and its effects on the African American
community.
Among many notable achievements, Dr. Battle has to his credit serving as Vice President of the American Committee on Africa from 1994-1998, participation as an Election Observer in 1994 for the first Free Election in South Africa , and liaison between the Hampton University Ministers' Conference and The South African Council of Churches. He currently serves as chair of The Robert W. Woodruff Library of The Atlanta University Center, is a member of the UNCF Institutional Board of Direc tors, the Atlanta Rotary Club, 100 Black Men of Atlanta, and the Historically Blac k Colleges and Universities Congressional Forum Steering
committee. He holds positions on the Atlanta Regional Council of Churches, Atlanta Urban League, the Atlanta Fulton Family
Connection; member of the 2008 Class of Leadership Atlanta, member of the CF Foundation Board of Advisors, and serves on the Board of Commissioners for the Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Among his numerous awards and honors are being selected a 2004 Historymaker and induction into the Martin Luther King Jr. Board of Preachers of Morehouse College; the 2006-2007 M. Agnes Jones Salute to Greatness Hero; and, received the 2007 President's Award from Concerned Black Clergy of Metropolitan Atlanta, Inc.
Dr. Battle has authored books and publications on topics related to ecumenism and the Black church. Among them are:
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“Hampton and Black Ecumenism” ; The African American Pulpit; “The Historical Significance of The Hampton University Ministers' Conference”; “Because”: A Devotional Commentary on Psalms 40; The African American Devotional Bible; “Unity Assures Strength”; From One Brother To Another; “The Dynamic Tension In The Black Church”; Heritage: African American Readings for Writing; The History of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference: An Experience in Interdenominational Cooperation; The African American Church at Work; “How Far Have We Come Since King”; The Journal of Black Sacred Music; “The Kerygmatic Ministry of Black Sermon and Song”; The Journal of Black Sacred Music; Voices of Experience; and “Liberation According to Martin Luther King and James Cone.” He was contributing author for “What Does It Mean to Be Black and Christian; Introduction to Wisdom of the Sage: Conversations with the A.C.D. Vaughn Senior Statesmen, 1996-2005 Hampton University Ministers' Conference; and contributing writer for The Unique Issues for Racial/Ethnic Presidents in A Handbook for Seminary Presidents, editors G. Douglass Lewis & Lovett H. Weems Jr.
Dr. Battle is married to the former Linda Ann McClure. They have three grown children, Michael Jr. (Shaunte), Lisa Angela, and Martin Luther (Melissa), and three grand children.
Visit the ITC website at: www.itc.edu |
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