Reverend Reneè Bennett Bethea, serves in the Piedmont Episcopal District as the Pastor of Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church in Rockingham N.C. She pastored churches in Concord, Lincolnton, Rockingham, and Greensboro Districts; served on the Finance Committee for Concord, Lincolnton, and Rockingham Districts and she served as the Secretary of the Rockingham District Conference. She was elected to two terms on the South Carolina Education Association Board of Directors and served as the State’s Budget Chair in the mid-90’s. Presently she works as a Mental Health Specialist for Hoke County Schools and has worked as an Adjunct Professor for Gardner Webb University’s Psychology Department.

She has a BS in Business Administration from Gardner Webb University and was selected as one of Gardner-Webb’s Distinguished Alumni in 2003 for her work with children. She has a master’s in counseling from Webster University and attended Hood Theological Seminary. She did her graduate internship as a chaplain at Womack Army Medical Center and is presently a volunteer Chaplain for First Health Hospital. She is a member of the World Methodist Order of The Flame and the NC State Resilience Community Advisory Group.

She is married to James Bethea. They have two children and some amazing grandchildren.