Rev. Herman ‘Skip’ Mason Jr. selected as Interim President of Interdenominational Theological Center

The Rev. Herman “Skip” Mason Jr. has been appointed interim president of the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta. Mason succeeds the Rev. Maisha I.K. Handy, who was named the first Black woman to lead McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. Under her leadership, ITC launched an ambitious fundraising campaign to address long standing financial issues.

Mason is a native of Atlanta and currently serves as the senior pastor of West Mitchell Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. He graduated from Morris Brown College and earned a master’s degree in Library and Information Science with a concentration in African American Studies. Mason also holds a master’s degree in divinity and a doctorate from ITC. Mason’s previous roles include serving as the 33rd general president of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and participating on the board of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Foundation. He also serves on the Atlanta Beltline 

In taking on this new role, Mason expressed his commitment to “seeing, listening, embracing, acting, and, more importantly, praying with our community as we journey together toward a future filled with promise.”

ITC, established in 1958, is fully reaccredited until 2032 by the Association of Theological Schools. While ITC currently offers limited in-person classes, more are planned for the coming year. The institution is focusing on redeveloping its campus, which includes efforts to secure funding for affordable housing, new classrooms, and a new chapel. The consortium is also set to receive $25,000 from the national office of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and is part of a $100 million unrestricted grant from the Lilly Endowment, administered through the UNCF. This grant is the largest single contribution in ITC’s history.

ITC has a significant impact on Black churches and communities, with its graduates taking on leadership roles in churches, mainline Christian denominations, chaplaincy, and various nonprofit organizations.