An Elder Shares Hopes for Austin Agape

Who is Roscoe Overton?

He's one of our Elders at University Presbyterian Church.

More specifically. . .


Roscoe along with his wife Johnnie joined UPC during the spring of 1995, a long time Presbyterian from the Memphis Presbytery. While in Memphis he had served on Committee on Ministry and at the Synod level, was chair of the Racial Ethical Council and served a treasurer of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus for six years. He was elected elder for the Class of 2009, and became active with the Mission & Service Committee, currently serve as chair; a Sunday School advocate, he later assumed teacher and developer of the Present Word Class.

Roscoe received his B.S degree from Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas in the School of Industry and the M.S. degree from Tennessee State University, Nashville, Tennessee in Administration and Supervision. Participated in a Seminar on National Certified Investigator Training (21) hours offered by the Law Enforcement Training Institute, University of Missouri-Columbia. His employment began in administration as Executive Director of the Memphis & Shelby County Community Action Agency and ended his working career as an Investigator for the Department of Commerce and Insurance, State of Tennessee. He received many Outstanding Achievement Awards. His current community involvements are many such as--Trustee on the National Presbyterian Church, USA Foundation; treasurer for the Austin Center for Peace & Justice; community council member for KOOP Radio Station member of founder and the executive director of The Overton Group, a non-profit organization designed to promote the teaching of the Spanish Language in Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten.

What does he hope for Austin Agape?

My first service at the UPC was an evening service conducted by the Campus Ministry group. I was inspired by their worship service, and began attending regularly. Since then I have attend at least two Campus Ministry services and was inspired by both. However, on a university campus, where diversity is the order of the day with all of its activities, I would like to see our church Campus Ministry program reflect that same diversity. Therefore, my support in a more diversified group could be counted on. Especially, recognizing that diversity usually comes by intentionally designing a plan of action, which could be an objective undertaken for this year.