BIOGRAPHY

Bishop Alton A. Smith was born in Goldsboro, North Carolinaas the eldest of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Frank Smith.

He was educated in the Wayne County School System and graduated from Goldsboro High School.  He earned a degree in Automotive Technology from Wayne Community College, a diploma in Religious Education from the Goldsboro Disciple Institute School of Religious Education, a Bachelor of Science degree in Theology from the United Christian College, a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Friend International Christian University.  He is a student of the Continuing Education Program of the Hampton University Ministers Conference, Hampton, Virginia. He has completed training and received his Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.) certificate at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville, North Carolina.

He has served on numerous boards and organizations in Goldsboro and the state of North Carolina.

He is retired from the Wayne County Board of Education, Department of Transportation.

Bishop Smith is a member of the Afro Minister Alliance of Wayne County.   He is a member of CLIFF (Clergy Living In Faith and Fellowship).  Bishop Smith is a member of the Goldsboro-Raleigh District Assembly of the Churches of Christ (Disciples of Christ) International.  He serves on the Board of Elders and is the former Chairman.  In February 2003 he was the recipient of A Certificate of Acknowledgement from the North Carolina Governor*s Office.  He was appointed to serve an unfinished term as General Vice Bishop of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in October 2003.  He was consecrated as Bishop on January 31, 2004 by the General Assembly of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ International.  In 2004 he was honored with a Distinguished Service Award from the Goldsboro Disciple Institute for outstanding service.  In May 2005 he was elected to his first full term in the office of General Vice Bishop of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ which consist of over 200 churches.  In June 2005 the United American Free Will Baptist Denomination recognized and honored him as a Fellowship Bishop in the Free Will Baptist Church. In June 2008 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Southern Assembly Church of Christ Eastern District of North Carolina. In November 2008 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Goldsboro Raleigh District Assembly, Disciples of Christ, Inc. On May 23, 2009 in the Twenty-Second Biennial Session of the General Assembly of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, he was elected as the ninth Bishop in succession to the office of General Bishop. In July 2010 he was the recipient of a certificate of acknowledgement from the North Carolina House of Representatives. In August of 2010 he received a Letter of Congratulations from the President of the United States, Barack Obama.

He served as pastor of the Zion Spring Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) in Bunn, North Carolina for eight years.  Since August 1998 he has served as Pastor of St. Mark Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He led St. Mark in publishing its first book, “Pressing Toward the Mark”, in 2008 published by Authorhouse Publishing Company.

He is a servant of God and a strong believer in the family.  His family consists of his wife, Doris Benton Smith and his daughter, Damesha Ashawn Smith. The Smiths reside in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

His motto is Psalms 90:1

“Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.”