Phelan to headline MC School of Business’ Faith, Service and Ethics Week

Stephen Phelan, chief pastoral officer at Sovereigns Capital in Atlanta and chief spiritual integration officer for Faith Driven Entrepreneur, will give the keynote address at the Mississippi College School of Business Faith and Ethics Luncheon scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, in Anderson Hall in the B.C. Rogers Student Center on the Clinton campus.

The luncheon is the focal point of the school’s 2025 Faith, Service and Ethics Week events. Endowed by Don “Papa” Jordan, a 1951 graduate of the MC School of Business, the week’s activities are themed “Centered on Faith.”

The 12th annual event is an initiative of the school’s Center for Faith, Service and Ethics, which promotes and enhances faith-driven and ethical awareness of both MC students and the business community through a variety of programs.

Billy Morehead, director of the Center, said the week’s activities are designed to help students and friends of the school focus on the responsibilities, opportunities and challenges facing Christian business leaders.

“This is one of the most important events we offer students,” said Morehead, MC professor of accounting. “The activities help students develop a keen sense of ethical awareness and social responsibility grounded in Christian principles.

“With the launch of the Center in 2023, the MC School of Business has stepped up its focus on showing students how to integrate faith in their vocations. Don Jordan gave us the resources and push to be intentional about our role as a Christian University to connect the dots between education, faith and business.”

During the keynote address, Phelan will discuss his efforts to help entrepreneurs build and integrate faith-driven business models. In addition to the keynote, the luncheon will include a panel discussion by four prominent business professionals who will share their experiences living out their faith throughout their careers.

The panel will include Mary Helen Klingen, private wealth advisor at BlueTrust in Houston, Texas; Ryan Pellum, chief operating officer and vice-president for finance at Kemmons Wilson Management in Memphis, Tennessee; Kimarri Whitfield, assurance manager at HORNE, LLP in Nashville, Tennessee; and Mike Highfield, provost and executive vice president at Mississippi College.

For information about attending the luncheon, email Morehead at morehead@mc.edu.

Leading up to Thursday’s luncheon, the MC School of Business will host several Faith, Service and Ethics Week activities, including required ethics training for Mississippi CPAs, a “Rise Against Hunger” service opportunity, and classroom presentations by Christian business leaders.

* “Ethics, Rules and Regulations” continuing professional education for Mississippi CPAs, 1-4:30 p.m., Monday, March 3, Self Hall

Approved by the Mississippi Board of Public Accountancy, this CPE training is $125 per person and includes all required materials. Refreshments will be provided. All proceeds benefit the Center for Faith, Service and Ethics in the MC School of Business. The deadline to register is noon on Friday, Feb. 28.

To register and pay by credit card, visit https://commerce.cashnet.com/CPE. To register and pay by check, visit https://forms.gle/oeegF77AqyExQpPB7.

* “Rise Against Hunger” meal-packaging event, noon-4 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, Alumni Hall

Join more than 600 MC volunteers and guests in this service opportunity to package 10,000 meals for distribution to underserved communities outside of the U.S. Individual donations are also accepted. For more information, visit events.riseagainsthunger.org/MScollege25.

* School of Business classroom presentations, Wednesday, March 5, Self Hall

Approximately 20 business professionals will share the challenges and opportunities of living out their faith through their businesses and careers in an engaging, interactive exchange with MC School of Business students.

Faith, Service and Ethics Week aligns with the School of Business’ mission, “To provide a quality business education in a Christian environment,” and vision, “To be known as a business school recognized for academic excellence and commitment to the cause of Christ.”

“We are intentionally striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we show our students how to live in the world and not be part of the world,” Morehead said. “As believers in Jesus Christ, we all have responsibilities toward fulfilling the Great Commission found in Matthew 28.

“We are to ‘Go and make disciples’ throughout our vocations and lives.”

For more information about the MC School of Business Center for Faith, Service and Ethics, visit business.mc.edu/about/faith-service-ethics.