Author
Alvin Edwards
Pastor, Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church
The Rev. Dr. Alvin Edwards has been pastor of Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, since 1981. A graduate of Wheaton College, he earned an M.Div. from Virginia Union University and a doctorate from George Mason University.
Edwards is the founder of the Charlottesville Clergy Collective. He has served on the Charlottesville City School Board and as the city’s mayor.
Scholarships available for the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising
Applications for the Thomas H. Lake Scholarship are now open! This scholarship supports participants in the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising (ECRF), a program designed to help religious leaders explore the spirituality of fundraising and gain skills essential for their work.
Applications will be accepted until Monday, August 3, 2026. Applicants should expect to hear a decision by the end of August.
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