Dr. Alton E. Sumner is a biblical studies instructor at Calvary Bible Institute. He teaches two 16-week survey courses covering the Old and New Testaments, BS101 and BS102. He is a former secondary school principal, an inspiring speaker, minister, author, and family man. After teaching high school and college students for 20 years, he spent the next two decades serving as a middle and high school principal in Montgomery County, Maryland. In that capacity, he promoted social justice, cultural and racial understanding, and educational salvation inclusive of critical staff introspection and soul-searching. His doctoral dissertation, The Influence of Sustained Professional Learning on Teachers’ Cultural Responsiveness and Middle School Students’ Engagement, addressed the lack of equity in education, particularly for Black and Brown children.

At the Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church (GMCHC) in Washington, D. C., under the leadership of Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr., Senior Pastor, and Co-Pastor Susie Owens, Dr. Alton is an elder and serves as leader for a team of fifteen ministers on the Ministerial Alliance. He and his wife, Dr. Betty Sumner, serve as Chair and Co-Chair, respectively, of the Sick and Shut-in Ministry at GMCHC. In this capacity, they play a vital role in ministering to the sick and visiting them in their homes as well as in hospitals and nursing homes. They bring a sense of hope and comfort to individuals who are struggling with physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges. Through their visits, they provide a listening ear and encouragement to those who need someone to talk to, and offer prayer and communion for those who are unable to attend church.

Dr. Alton holds a Bachelor’s and a Master of Arts degree in history and a Doctor of Ministry degree in strategic leadership. He and his loving wife, Betty, have been married for more than three-and-a-half decades. They have two amazing adult children, Jonathan and Nichelle.