Hurricane response: Our churches are mobilizing. Give to Disaster Relief or find help near you.
Serving the Southeast since 1963
We are a family of Covenant churches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Together we start new churches, strengthen the ones we have, and welcome others into our family.
Who we are
The Southeast Conference is a regional conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, a church family founded in 1885 that now spans many cultures and five continents. Our churches meet in small towns and big cities, in wealthy communities and struggling neighborhoods.
Women and men, young and old, married and single are called and gifted leaders in our churches.
We envision living into the kingdom of God through a prayerful, intergenerational, multiethnic, growing movement of churches, following in the way of Jesus by loving others as Jesus loves us.
Go deeper: read a greeting from our Superintendent, explore six decades of history, and meet our team and Executive Board.
Find a Church
Twenty-four churches and one church plant across five states, every one listed below. Click a church's name for service times and directions.
Don't see a church near you? We're starting new churches across the Southeast, including South Carolina. Learn about SEC Church Planting, or write to us.
Stories
Glimpses from our churches: worship, service, and new beginnings across six states.
Conference Expansion · July 2026
Pastors and members from across the conference gathered to dream about where God is leading next, praying over cities in all six states. Fueled by our SEC 150 campaign, the strategy is simple: plant, partner, parent, and adopt. Join us in praying.
Annual Meeting Celebration
Church delegates from our six states gather to worship, pray, learn, and celebrate! We encourage our Covenant churches to join the fun as the conference gathers as one Covenant family each year!
For our churches
Is your church one of the ones without a website? The conference wants to help you be findable online. Tell us about your church and we'll reach out.
Events
Groups, gatherings, and training. Each event links straight to its registration form.
Small groups that meet with a trained guide to slow down, pray, and listen for God.
"Grateful for this community and the reminder that we can use additional resources to hear from and experience the Holy Spirit at work in us."— Group Spiritual Direction participant
A year of guided workshops where your church's three-person team works out, together, what God is calling your church to do next. Registration has been extended to Tuesday, September 8.
A 10-month online journey helping church members and leaders share their church's vision and inspire every generation to give generously and join the mission.
"The idea of needing different methods to reach all of the generations in our church has been very helpful. To think about what each generation is desiring and how we can use them to tell our story."— Creating a Culture of Generosity participant
Practical training for church leaders and volunteers, from ministry skills to the practical details of running a church well.
"There were many highlights. One of the main ones for me was learning the difference between the IRS forms that need to be given when a donation is contributed, and who counts as a contractor versus an employee."— Church officer training participant
Once a year, our whole church family gathers to worship, do business, and celebrate. Join us for the 64th Annual Meeting Celebration in Savannah.
The Covenant's youth conference, for students entering 9th grade through graduating seniors. Churches register as groups, and registration is open now.
Every date, always current. This is our live conference calendar. You can also add it to your own Google Calendar.
This month
Each day this month, we pray for one of our churches, leaders, or ministries. Find today's date and pray with us.
Ministries
A Covenant-wide effort, led by North Park Theological Seminary, to raise up, train, and support healthy pastors and leaders for the whole church. The Southeast Conference is a partner.
Learn moreWe help your church take an honest look at where it is and plan its next season of ministry.
Learn moreWe start new Covenant churches across the Southeast.
Learn moreClasses and training for people preparing to serve as pastors and ministers.
Learn moreTrained listeners who help pastors and leaders pay attention to God.
Learn moreFriendship, support, and accountability for ordained and licensed pastors.
Learn moreSupport for the volunteers who lead their churches week after week.
Learn more
Give
Giving here isn't a transaction. It's gratitude in action: starting churches, training leaders, and showing up when storms strike our neighbors. Choose the fund that matches your heart.
A team of givers who fuel our shared mission, starting at a dollar a day. The team also supports Covenant mission work in Haiti. We invite you to join us in financing ministry that is changing lives.
Every gift to this campaign is matched, so it counts twice. It fuels the next three to four new Covenant churches across our six states.
Give nowHelp send students from our churches to Unite, the Covenant's youth conference, July 18–23, 2027 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Your gift makes the trip possible for students who couldn't otherwise go.
Give nowAbout
A welcome from Rev. Dr. Catherine Gilliard, Superintendent of the Southeast Conference.
God is doing something new across the Southeast. Our vision is simple and bold: thriving Covenant churches in each of our six states, and we are watching it take shape.
Through our SEC 150 campaign, our churches are joining a four-part strategy: planting new churches, partnering with existing ones, parenting new congregations, and adopting churches into our family. We are praying over cities in all six states, and some of those conversations are happening right now.
Whether you are new to the Covenant or have called it home for decades, there is a place for you here. Join us in prayer, and come grow stronger together with us.
In anticipation of miracles,
Rev. Dr. Catherine Gilliard, SEC Superintendent
About
The Southeast Conference story begins before the conference itself, with immigrant families, home Bible studies, and small congregations that reached out to start others.
About
The staff who serve our churches and leaders across the Southeast.
Rev. Dr. Catherine GilliardSuperintendent
Rev. Mark TaoDirector of Conference Expansion & Covenant Orientation
Kathy SoderholmFinance ManagerReach the conference office at 404.768.2514 or office at southeastconf dot org.
About
Elected leaders from our churches who guide the conference's ministry and stewardship.
Ministries · For congregations
Every church has seasons. Missional Vitality is how we walk with your church through them: taking an honest look at where you are, listening for where God is leading, and planning your next season of ministry together.
The heart of the journey is the Missional Vitality Congregational Cohort: a year of guided workshops where your church's leaders work it out side by side with leaders from other congregations.
Ministries · For planters & supporters
We believe the local church is God's plan for reaching every community, so we start new ones. Our vision: thriving Covenant churches in each of our six states.
Fueled by the SEC 150 campaign, our strategy has four parts: plant new churches, partner with existing ones, parent new congregations, and adopt churches into our family. We are praying over cities in all six states, from small towns to major metros, and some of those conversations are underway right now.
Sense a call to plant, or want your church to help parent a new one? Write to us, or visit SEC Church Planting.
Ministries · For those called to ministry
Classes and training for people preparing to serve as pastors and ministers, from first steps toward a call, to ordination, to lifelong learning.
We connect you with Covenant pathways including North Park Theological Seminary programs and conference-hosted courses.
Contact the office to talk about your next step.
Ministries · For pastors & leaders
Ministry is demanding, and leaders need someone who listens. Our trained spiritual directors help pastors and leaders slow down, pray, and pay attention to God.
The monthly A Sacred Space groups are the easiest way to begin: small groups that meet with a trained guide.
Ministries · For pastors & leaders
One-on-one coaching for pastors and ministry leaders, a trained coach in your corner as you navigate real decisions in real time.
Contact the office to be matched with a coach.
Ministries · For credentialed ministers
Friendship, support, and accountability for ordained and licensed pastors across our six states, because nobody should carry a call alone.
The association gathers for fellowship and mutual care, and walks with those pursuing licensing, commissioning, or ordination in the Covenant.
Get connected, and sign up for the Ministerium e-newsletter.
Save the date
Greenville, South Carolina · Wednesday evening, October 21, through Friday, October 23, 2026
We are so excited about being together again with our guest facilitator, Rev. Dr. Max Lee, for our 2026 SEC Ministerial Association & Spouse Retreat in Greenville, South Carolina. We begin with dinner at 5:30 pm ET on Wednesday, October 21, and we will end our time with a fellowship lunch on Friday, October 23, that ends at 1:00 pm ET.
Our theme this year is “Growing Stronger Together,” and we will have so much fun at this resort facility relaxing, sharing stories, praying together, and learning from one another over delicious food and great times together. We need this, and it won’t be the same without you. Plan now to join us.
To be a member of the Southeast Conference ministerium, credentialed clergy must be in good standing. To maintain good standing, a credentialed Covenant minister must do the following:
Hardship Grace. If you need a one-year waiver for your conference and national dues, please put your request in writing to our conference ministerium president, Rev. Dr. Marc Putnam, and send a separate written request to our national ministerium president, Rev. Harvey Drake. The waiver is for one year, and you need to request it from both your conference and national presidents.
Visit the Evangelical Covenant Church Ministerium website for denomination-wide clergy resources.
Visit the Evangelical Covenant Church’s Develop Leaders site for more Ministerium resources.
Ministries · For lay leaders
Support for the volunteers who lead their churches week after week, board members, council chairs, treasurers, and team leads.
Training events like Equip SEC are built for you, and the conference office is a phone call away when questions come up.
