Good afternoon, Morehouse -
I write to share news that marks the end of a remarkable chapter in the life of our institution. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., the founding dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel and professor of religion, has announced his plans to retire, effective June 30, 2026.
Appointed to his role on July 1, 1979, by then-President Dr. Hugh Gloster, Dean Carter will conclude an extraordinary 47 years of uninterrupted service to Morehouse College at the time of his retirement. For nearly five decades, he has been a central figure in shaping the spiritual, moral, and intellectual ethos of the College under the leadership of seven presidents. In his words, the support Dean has received from our community throughout the years has been “superlative,” and true to his servant-leader spirit, he is committed to ensuring a smooth transition in the year ahead.
Dean Carter often reflects on the divine alignment of being recruited to Morehouse by Martin Luther King Jr. himself while he was only in the 10th grade. Since his official appointment, he has stewarded the Chapel as a sacred space for scholarship, global peacebuilding, ethical inquiry, and interfaith dialogue. He has served as a mentor to dozens of our nation’s Black social gospel leaders and has kept alive the Black social gospel tradition that has been vital to the Morehouse mission since its inception.
Undoubtedly, identifying a successor for Dean Carter will be a challenging task as few individuals possess the moral clarity, global vision, and spiritual depth that he brings to this work. The College will soon launch an international search for the next dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, which will be chaired by trustee-alumnus, the Rev. Dr. Delman Coates ’95. Please direct any questions regarding the transition or the search process to Chief of Staff, Dr. TJ Snowden, at thelbert.snowden@morehouse.edu.
Please join me in offering our deepest gratitude to Dean Carter for his unparalleled service and celebrating his enduring contributions to Morehouse College and the world.
In admiration and with respect,
David A. Thomas, Ph.D.
President Emeritus
Morehouse College