Rev. Stephanie Butler Adams is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. She holds undergraduate degrees in Journalism (B.S.) and Dance (B.A.) from the University of Maryland, and post graduate (M.A.Th.) in Theology from the United Theological College of the West Indies. Prior to her transition from professional dance performance and corporate consulting with MCI Communications for Fortune 500 companies, to full-time ministry 15 years ago, Stephanie sat under the tutelage of some of the best choreographers, dancers, and movement analysts across the Nations including the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance (NYC), Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (NYC), Kei Ta-Kei & Moving Earth (Japan), Improvisations Unlimited (Washington, DC), the Laban Institute of Movement (NYC), and more. She has ministered in Sacred Dance alongside a host of renowned Gospel Artists.
Stephanie is the Founder and Director for Spirit of Praise Sacred Artistry, International and Associate Minister at St. James AME Church, 5th Episcopal District AME Church in Los Angeles, CA. Her most recent appointment as International Coordinator of Liturgical Dance for the AME Church under the directive of the Connectional Music and Christian Arts Ministry (MCAM) allows her to create biblically based, technically sound curriculum models for dance & the Arts. She is the creator and Conference Host of “The Dancer in Me: Prophet, Preacher, Poet, Dreamer” Annual Sacred Dance & Outreach Conference.
Through Spirit of Praise International, Stephanie’s work has been recognized worldwide spanning Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, India, and extensively throughout the Caribbean for her in-depth teaching on choreography, dance theology, Arts-evangelism, liturgical worship, cross-cultural outreach ministry, and the preached Word. Her first book, My Body is the Temple: Encounters and Revelations of Sacred Dance & Artistry published in 2002 is a best seller in the category of Christian Arts. Her second published work is entitled, Breathe, Balance, and STRETCH: Movement Meditations & Daily Devotionals for Living, Xulon Press Publications, July 2006. She is the creator of MORNING MEDITATIONS©—a cable television program which focuses on spirituality, fitness, and healthy living. Today she provides long-term consultation, production, and choreography services to 12 additional sacred dance ministries worldwide.
As past Coordinator of Missions & Outreach for the 16th Episcopal District AME Church, Rev. Stephanie was one of the first full-time missionaries to serve in the Sojourners Program of the Women’s Missionary Society of the AME Church, and to date is the longest-serving female African American missionary to serve consecutive terms internationally in the history of the organization. During her missionary tenure, she pastored Frederick Talbot AME Church in Clarendon, Jamaica and facilitated a variety of public events, mission initiatives, evangelistic outreach strategies, and sacred dance ministries throughout Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Windward Islands, London/Holland, Suriname-Guyana.
Her assignment to the region afforded her the invaluable experience to serve on the Episcopal Staff of 3 Presiding Bishops of the AME Church and on the Executive Board of Directors for Kingston City Church under the leadership of Bishop Peter Morgan. Her mentors in life and ministry include Bishop John R. and Rev. Dr. Cecelia
Bryant, Bishop Peter and Dr. Patricia Morgan, Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry, Meriam Rosen, and her beloved mother the late Mary Ernell Butler. Rev. Stephanie is very happily married to Mr. Stephen Adams, President and CEO of the Long Beach Unity Festival, and is the Executive Director of Operations for the organization.
