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Christian Methodist Episcopal Church |
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Dr. Jerry L. Christian, Sr. Kirkwood has been blessed to have Dr. Jerry L. Christian, Sr. as our visionary pastor in charge. Dr. Christian is a native of Booneville, MS, and a 1975 graduate of the University of Mississippi where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Studies and Psychology. His graduate studies included Psychology studies at Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi. He received the Master of Divinity from Memphis Theological Seminary in 1987 with specialization in Homiletics and Pastoral Counseling. He then earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in 1994. In addition, Dr. Christian is licensed as a Certified Counselor.
Dr. Christian is an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, and has pastored Kirkwood since 1994. Under his inspired leadership the Temple has developed and strengthened internal as well as outreach ministries. The bus transportation ministries ensure members are able to attend worship events, and the scholarship ministries include stipends for our youth attending college as well as serving DISD's Phyllis Wheatly Elementary as mentors and tutors. Dr. Christian has pastored tirelessly in the C.M.E. Connection. From 1991 to 1994 he was the senior pastor at Mt. Olive C.M.E. Cathedral in Memphis, TN, and added 105 new members. From 1984 to 1991 he pastored at Poplar Springs C.M.E. in Shannon, Mississippi and added 290 new members. And from 1982 to 1985 he served at New Chapel, St. Paul and McGlown Chapel C.M.E. Church Smithville, Fulton and Amory, Mississippi. Dr. Christian has also held offices within the C.M.E. Connection, having served as Chair of the Joint Board of Finance for the East Mississippi, the West Tennessee and currently the Dallas Fort Worth Annual Conferences. As president of the Board of Christian Education for the East Mississippi Annual Conference, he set up curriculum and educational programs for the conference. He has also served as president of the C.M.E. Minister's Alliance of the Greater Memphis Area, and a C.M.E. Convocation Seminar instructor. He was also a delegate to the World Methodist Council in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ever busy, Dr. Christian currently serves as President of the Greater North Texas C.M.E. Minister's Alliance and Vice President for Educational Development of the DFW African-American Pastors Coalition. He is also a member of the Religious Task Force for the Dallas Independent School District, the Episcopacy Committee of the C.M.E. Church, Texas Advisory Committee on Religion, and the Trustee Board at Texas College. Some of Dr. Christian's accomplishments include:
Dr. Christian is also gives of himself to the community at large, having been a member of the Advisory Board for the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Program and Child Abuse Task Force of the Prentiss County Department of Public Welfare. He is also a lifetime member of the NAACP and a member of Who's Who in Business and Professions. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Texas College, the Christian Unity Commission, Texas Conference of Churches and the Religious Task Force for the Dallas Independent School District. Dr. Christian has also been a devotional writer for the African American Devotional Bible and the Lenten Basket. He has authored a manual for new members at Kirkwood and a teaching manual on Spiritual Gifts. He has attended numerous seminars and workshops including: Dr. Christian is married to the former Doretha Lemuel, and is the father of three, Jerry Jr., Charity, and Jerryon.
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