YACM AME ZION

“Episcopal Candidates Corner”

By

Rev. George William Whitfield

YACM Public Relations Committee Member

Associate Minister at Spradling Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, Louisville KY

Good Afternoon my Zionite Family!

The weekend is upon us and I am glad about it. I pray that you all had a wonderful and productive week.

This will be our last article for the week and we are excited about finishing up the Episcopal Candidates Corner next week. If you know of a candidate and you haven’t seen there article please have them get in contact with me at ame_zion_preacher@hotmail.com. I have been in contact with Revs. George D. Crenshaw and Terry L. Jones Sr. I will be posting there articles next week.  

I would like to introduce to you today’s Episcopal Candidate the Rev. Dr. Derrick R. Anderson. He was born September 16, 1951 in Wilmington, North Carolina, the son of Bishop Herman L. Anderson, Sr. (deceased) and Mrs. Ruth R. Anderson, and the grandson of Bishop and Mrs. Felix S. Anderson, Sr. (deceased). He was baptized as an infant at St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church (Wilmington, NC) and received Jesus Christ when he was sixteen years old.

Prior to receiving the call into the preaching ministry, he was a Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President for Louisville Home Savings & Loan Association in Louisville, Kentucky. He was licensed a traveling minister in 1980, served as a Youth Minister at Soldier’s Memorial (Salisbury, NC), and pastored the following churches: Bethel (Matthews, NC); Sandy Ridge (Landis, NC); East Stonewall (Charlotte, NC); St. Paul (Detroit, MI), and currently Grace (Charlotte, NC). As a pastor, he has lead congregations in building churches, saving souls, transforming lives, and starting new ministries in the church and community.

He earned degrees from: Hampton University (B.A. 1973), University of Louisville (M.S. 1975), Hood T. S. (M.Div. 1983), and Asbury T.S. (D. Min. 1995). He has served on church and community boards. He is married the Reverend Margaret R. Anderson, and they have four children and three grandchildren.

This is how Rev. Dr. Anderson answered the questions:

Why do you think we have a lack of young adult involvement in our church?

We have failed to recognize our children, youth, and young adults as the church of today and not just the church of tomorrow.

As Bishop what will you do to engage the young adults?

I will insist that our churches recognize, celebrate, and minister to the needs of all generations, and will lead by example.

Currently what ministries are you doing at your local church that engages young adults?

At Grace, we have added: a young adult Sunday School Class, a college prep ministry for high school and middle school students, and a support ministry for college students. We have community outreach, social, and evangelistic events.

Where do you see our church in the next 10 years?

A church inclusive of all generations and on the cutting edge of Kingdom building.

If you would like to contact Rev. Dr. Derrick R. Anderson he can be reached at pastorgraceamez@yahoo.com.