Bishop Talbert W. Swan II

Bishop Talbert W. Swan II

Bishop Talbert W. Swan II is a prominent faith leader, civil rights activist, author, and community advocate. He is the senior pastor of the Spring of Hope Church of God in Christ and prelate of the Vermont Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. Bishop Swan serves the Church Of God In Christ as Assistant General Secretary, Clerk of the General Board, and the National Director of Social Justice. A respected voice in both ecclesiastical and civic arenas, Bishop Swan is the longest-serving president of the Greater Springfield NAACP, where he has led significant initiatives in police reform, voting rights, and economic and racial justice. In recognition of his prophetic leadership and commitment to social justice, he has received numerous awards and recognitions. Bishop Swan was inducted into the prestigious Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Preachers at Morehouse College, and received the Civil Rights Advocacy Award from the National Action Network.

Bishop Swan is a scholar as well as an activist. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Western New England University, a Master of Arts from Hartford Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and advanced graduate certificates from Harvard Divinity School. Bishop Swan is a well sought after preacher, author, and media commentator. He is known for blending Black liberation theology with bold advocacy for the marginalized. His voice resonates nationally as he has been featured on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, BET, the Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, and USA Today to name a few. He is the host of the radio talk show, The Spoken Word, where he speaks truth to power on issues of faith, justice, and equity. Bishop Swan has been married for 34 years to his partner in life and ministry, Lady Cynthia Swan. They are the proud parents of 10 children and 15 grandchildren.