The National Convocation – the black church life forum of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) - has elected a new president along with three other top officers.

The board of directors of the intra-church body - meeting in Houston, Texas last week at the Convocation's biennial session - elected Patricia B. Maples as president, the denomination's news service reported.

Maples is a registered nurse, a commissioned wellness minister of the church, and an ordained elder of East Dallas Christian Church.

The board also elected Rev. Jesse Jackson as vice president, Karen Barrett as secretary, and Rev. Dr. Matthew Harris as treasurer.

The new officers were installed with prayer during the closing worship, according to the report on Tuesday.

The election took place during the convocation's 22nd Biennial Session which ran from July 25-29.

The National Convocation came into being in 1969 with the merger of two preceding organizations.

It's purpose, according to its 'Articles of Operation' is "... to provide an instrumentality within the structure of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as a forum for the discussion of pertinent issues related to black church life in the context of total church life; for fellowship, program promotion, leadership training and such other general purposes as shall support and strengthen the congregations involved in the total mission of the church."