Charles R. Stith

Charles R. Stith presented his Letter of Credence as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to the United Republic of Tanzania in September 1998. He served as the Ambassador in the traumatic period after the August 1998 bombing of the United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam. Because of his able and steady leadership the Embassy emerged from the bombing stable and set a new standard for U.S. Embassies promoting U.S. trade and investment in Africa.

After concluding his term in Tanzania, Ambassador Stith was appointed by Boston University’s Chancellor to establish the African Presidential Archives and Research Center (APARC). The Center provides a forum and resources for exchange on political and economic developments in sub-Saharan Africa during this period of profound and historic change.

Ambassador Stith is a graduate of Baker University, the Interdenominational Theological Center’s Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, and Harvard University Divinity School (Th.M.). He is the founder and former National President of the Organization for a New Equality (O.N.E.), which focuses on expanding economic opportunities for minorities and women. Most notably during his tenure at O.N.E., he helped negotiate and broker the first comprehensive community reinvestment agreement in the country. Prior to heading O.N.E., he was the Senior Minister of the historic Union United Methodist Church in Boston. He was an appointee of Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. In addition, he has been an adjunct faculty member at Boston College and Harvard Divinity School. He has served on the National Advisory Boards of FannieMae and Fleet InCity Bank, the editorial board of WCVB-TV, and the Boards of West Insurance, Inc. and the Wang Center for Performing Arts, among others.

He is the author of Political Religion (Abington Press, 1995) and many articles, which have appeared in such publications as the Wall Street Journal, Denver Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Boston Globe, the Boston Herald, USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, New York Times and the Chicago Sun Times.

Ambassadorial Post(s)

Tanzania, (1998 - 2001)

Areas of Expertise