The Center for Servant Leadership at the Pastoral Institute is committed to creating and sustaining servant leadership throughout organizations and institutions. The Center for Servant Leadership endeavors to advance the development of a caring and cooperating community, emphasizing services and involvement, a balanced approach to life and work, and a sharing of responsibility and recognition. Its programs and partnerships help develop attitudes and skills of servant leaders among civic and community organizers, business managers and professionals, college students, teenagers, and children. 

In January of 1999, the Pastoral Institute partnered with Columbus State University to launch a unique college-level leadership development initiative. This four-year program is designed to build servant leaders through academic pursuit, personal reflection and community engagement. To date, over 200 college students have participated in the program and have contributed over 76,000 volunteer hours in Columbus and the surrounding region. 

The servant leadership philosophy is transforming our community. For over 25 years, servant leadership has been practiced and increasingly taught in area organizations. William B. Turner, author of The Learning of Love: A Journey Toward Servant Leadership, has truly been the father of the servant leadership movement in the Columbus, Georgia area. Turner has served on the Boards of Directors of W.C. Bradley Co., Synovus Financial Corp., The Coca-Cola Company, and the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. He taught Sunday school to senior high youth for more than 50 years. Turner’s example and philanthropy have had a tremendous impact on our community.

Kelvin Redd is the Director of the Center for Servant Leadership at the Pastoral Institute in Columbus, Georgia. He is the author of the book Stand Tall: Essays on Life and Servant Leadership. Kelvin is a featured leadership facilitator, keynote speaker, Certified Emergenetics Associate, and professional business coach. Kelvin writes a monthly newsletter, Servant Leadership Today and a blog, www.iLead2Serve.com.