International Educators Lunch Set for General Assembly
The Church of God Division of Education will conduct the International Educators Luncheon, a long-standing tradition where the Distinguished Educator Awards will be presented. Tickets are still available for the Wednesday, July 29 event to be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Since 1976, the Church of God has conferred the Distinguished Educator Award to recipients who have made a significant or unique contribution to education in the Church of God around the globe. This year, the Church of God Division of Education will be presenting the following: Faculty Award: Dr. Terry Cross; Leadership Award: Dr. Francisco Ortiz Ocasio; and Lifetime Achievement Award: Dr. Paul Conn.
Dr. Cross is the Dean of the School of Theology and Ministry and Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Lee University. He has served on the Lee faculty since 1997 and been Dean since 2002. On August 1 he will step aside as Dean after 24 years of administrative service and plans to retire in 2027 after 30 years of teaching at Lee.
Dr. Ortiz Ocasio is president of Universidad Teológica del Caribe (UTC) in Puerto Rico. In 1974, he entered the Bible Institute Program in Caguas at the Pentecostal Bible College (now Caribbean Theological University), earning the Ministerial Missionary Diploma. In 1995, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a concentration in Pastoral Studies from the Pentecostal Bible College, and in 2005, a Master of Divinity from the Evangelical Seminary of Puerto Rico. In June 2018, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the South American Seminary (SEMISUD).
Dr. Conn has dedicated more than five decades of his professional life to Lee University, shaping its identity and trajectory more than any other individual in its history. After serving as president for 34 years (1986–2020), he transitioned to chancellor, a role he held for nearly four years before serving one additional year (2024–2025) as both president and chancellor. Under Dr. Conn’s leadership, Lee University experienced extraordinary growth in enrollment, academic offerings, campus development, and national reputation. During his presidency, the university’s enrollment and campus size increased fivefold, the annual operating budget grew tenfold, and more than 30 major construction projects were completed.
A more extensive tribute will take place for the three recipients at the luncheon, along with responses from each. They will also be featured in the July 29 issue of General Assembly TODAY, the daily publication of the Assembly.
The deadline to register for the luncheon is Thursday, July 9. Please click here to register.
