Bishop Alton A. Smith

Bishop Alton A. Smith was born in Goldsboro, North Carolina. He is the eldest of five children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Frank Smith. Bishop Smith was educated in the Wayne County School System and graduated from Goldsboro High School. He earned a degree in Automotive Technology from Wayne Community College, a diploma in Religious Education from the Goldsboro Disciples Institute School of Religious Education, a Bachelor of Science degree in Theology from United Christian College, a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Studies, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Friends International Christian University. He is a student of the Continuing Education Program of the Hampton University Ministers Conference, Hampton, Virginia. He has completed training and received his Clinical Pastoral Education (C.P.E.) certificate at Pitt Memorial Hospital, Greenville, North Carolina. In 2007 he received certification from the International Board of Christian Counseling as a certified pastoral counselor.

He is retired from the Wayne County Board of Education, Department of Transportation.
Bishop Smith is a member of the Afro-American Ministers Alliance of Wayne County. He is a member of CLIFF (Clergy Living In Faith and Fellowship). He is a life member of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and a member of the International Alliance of Bishops of North Carolina. He serves on the Board of Directors of Rebuilding Broken Places Community Development Corporation, Goldsboro, North Carolina. Bishop Smith is a member of the Goldsboro Raleigh District Assembly Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ International. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Elders. He served as an instructor at the Goldsboro Disciples Institute, Goldsboro, North Carolina from 1996 - 2003.
He was appointed to serve an unfinished term as General Vice Bishop of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in October 2003. He was consecrated as Bishop on January 31, 2004, by the General Assembly of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ International. In May 2005, he was elected to a full term as General Vice Bishop of the Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ which consists of over 300 churches.
In October 2005 the United American Free Will Baptist Denomination recognized and honored him as a Fellowship Bishop in the Free Will Baptist Church and he was awarded as an Honorary Member of the Original Freewill Baptist Conference.
In June 2008 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Southern Assembly Church of Christ Eastern District of North Carolina. In November 2008 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from the Goldsboro Raleigh District Assembly Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ International. On May 23, 2009, in the Twenty-Second Biennial Session of the General Assembly of the Church of Christ Disciples International, he was elected as the ninth Bishop in succession to the office of General Bishop. In May 2013 he was re-elected to a second term as General Bishop and in May 2017 he was re-elected to a third term as General Bishop.
In February 2003 he was the recipient of a Certificate of Acknowledgement for his service to the community and state from North Carolina Governor Mike Easley. In July 2010 he was the recipient of a Certificate of Acknowledgement from the North Carolina House of Representatives. In August 2010 he received a Letter of Congratulations from the President of the United States, Barack Obama. On September 11, 2011, he was honored as an honorary member of Pleasant Grove Church of Christ, Fayetteville, North Carolina. In April 2012 he received the Community Service Award from the Eastern District Funeral Directors and Morticians Association. In December 2013 he traveled to Ghana, West Africa where 30 churches were affirmed. He served as the Chief Consecrator to set apart the Bishop for Ghana. In 2017 he was honored with the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Epsilon Phi Omega Chapter Community Service Award. In 2018 he was honored with the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Theta Omicron Lambda Chapter Exemplary Service Award and in 2018 he was honored with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Phi Alpha Chapter Life Time Achievement Award.
He served as pastor of the Zion Spring Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in Bunn, North Carolina for eight years. Since August 1998 he has served as pastor of St. Mark Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Since he became pastor the church has grown in numerous ways. In 2002 a renovation project was completed. In 2012 he led the church through a total renovation and expansion of the church. Also, 14-plus acres of land were purchased for the future Family Life Center of Goldsboro. He led St. Mark in publishing its first book, “Pressing Toward the Mark” in 2008. In January 2012 he authored and published his book, “Order In The Church: Proper Church Etiquette and Protocol”. He co-authored, "The Bishops of The General Assembly, Chirch of Christ, Disciples of Christ" in 2017. His latest book, " In Times These...DAILY DEVOTIONALS" was published in 2023. His books were published by AuthorHouse Publishing Company.
He is a servant of God and a strong believer in the family. His family consists of his wife, Doris Benton Smith, and daughters, Damesha Ashawn Smith and the late Merissa D. Smith. The Smiths reside in Goldsboro, North Carolina.