President
Dr. Carlton P. Byrd
Dr. Carlton P. Byrd is the President of the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh day Adventists (SDA) with headquarters in Dallas, TX and Lead Pastor of the Dallas Project SDA Church. In his role as Southwest Region Conference President, Dr. Byrd is overseer of the Seventh-day Adventist Churches and Schools in the Southwestern Region (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas) of the United States.
Dr. Byrd is a graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL with dual degrees, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. He is also a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN, where he earned the Master of Business Administration Degree, and a graduate of Andrews University in Berrien Springs, MI, where he earned both the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry Degrees.
In his 31 years of pastoral and administrative leadership in the states of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas, Dr. Byrd has baptized over 23,000 persons, constructed and renovated churches and schools, and served on numerous denominational and community boards.
A very active participant in the community, Dr. Byrd, during his pastorate at the Berean SDA Church in Atlanta, GA, founded the Berean Outreach Ministry Center in Atlanta, GA, which housed a food pantry, clothes’ closet, barber shop, hair salon, and fitness center. Additionally, under Dr. Byrd’s leadership during his pastorate at the Berean Church, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded a $5.2 million grant to the church, and the church constructed a 50 apartment Senior Citizens’ Housing Facility for church and community Senior Adults alike.
Post his pastorate at the Berean Church in Atlanta, and just prior to his appointment as Southwest Region Conference President, Dr. Byrd served as the Senior Pastor of the 3,000 member Oakwood University Church on the campus of Oakwood University in Huntsville, AL. During his pastorate at the Oakwood University Church, over 800 individuals were baptized, the church was completely renovated, and two new buildings were constructed, namely the Oakwood Adventist Academy (Kindergarten through Grade 12) building, and the 22,000 square foot Oakwood University Church Family Life Center housing a vegetarian food market, barber shop, health clinic, gymnasium, commercial kitchen, classrooms, and community service areas.
From 2010 to 2021, in addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Dr. Byrd also had the privilege of serving as the Speaker/Director of the Breath of Life Television Broadcast, one of the legacy television ministries of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. During his tenure at Breath of Life, nearly 20,000 persons were baptized (inclusive of the aforementioned 23,000 total), four churches planted, six national holiday television specials produced, and financial assets increased by 1,000%.
Since his tenure began as Southwest Region Conference President in 2021, major growth has taken place in the conference. In his first four years as President, the conference has averaged a nearly one million dollar annual tithe gain! Also, baptisms have greatly increased in the conference as over 2,500 individuals have given their lives to Jesus during this period! Tangible conference debt has also been eliminated during Dr. Byrd’s tenure, coupled with major physical plant construction and renovations occurring at the conference campground including the construction of a new 400 seat chapel, three hotel lodges, health food store, office building, an amphitheater, and “Kids’ Kingdom” – a playground inclusive of a water splash pad, rock climbing wall, obstacle course, gazebo, and playground equipment.
The recipient of numerous honors and achievements, Dr. Byrd received the coveted & Chosen Pastor Award" for Atlanta’s Gospel Choice Awards in 2007, was selected as the Oakwood University Alumnus of the Year for 2008, was inducted into the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta in 2008, was selected as the 2016 Pastor of the Year for the Alabama NAACP – Huntsville/Madison County Branch, was named the South Central Conference of SDA Pastor of the Year in 2012, 2018, and 2019, was the recipient of the prestigious 2019 North American Division Lifetime Achievement Award for Evangelism for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and was listed among “Who’s Who in America” in 2020. In 2021, Dr. Byrd was invited and now serves as a member of the United Negro College Fund’s National Faith Initiative Advisory Council, and was also selected as Honored Alumnus of the Year for Andrews University.
Dr. Byrd is also the author of three books, Contemporary Evangelism for the 21 st Century, Free: Revisiting God’s Plan for Oppressed People, and Gone: A Healing Word for a Hurting World, and a regular columnist for Message Magazine.
Dr. Byrd is happily married to his wife of twenty-seven years, the former Danielle Mounter, and they are the proud parents of three daughters, Christyn, Caileigh, and Carissa.