GAC0924
July 24, 2009

The Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon will serve as church specialist in the Office of African American Congregational Support

Contact:
Beth Newberry, (502) 569-5703

The Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Rev. Dr. Rhashell D. Hunter, director of Racial Ethnic and Women’s Ministries/Presbyterian Women for the PC(USA), announced today that the Rev. Dr. Jerry Lytle Cannon, senior pastor at C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., will take on additional responsibilities and join the General Assembly Mission Council as church specialist in the Office of African American Congregational Support. Cannon will be deployed staff working from his office in Charlotte as well as from the GAMC office.       

As church specialist, Cannon’s areas of focus will be African American evangelism and church growth, congregational transformation and leadership development.

“I am excited for the Rev. Cannon to join the staff of the Office of African American Congregational Support,” said Hunter. “His experience as a leader and pastor will benefit our African-American congregations.”

Cannon previously served as president of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus. A graduate of the Masters of Divinity degree program at Johnson C. Smith Seminary, he earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary in Dayton. He has been pastor and head of staff at C.N. Jenkins since 1992.

“As an active pastor and church specialist, I hope to bring a listening ear to the needs of pastors and congregations, and as a practitioner, I plan to bring some effective principles of congregational transformation and leadership development that work,” Cannon said.

“African-American congregations and leaders have made a tremendous contribution to the Presbyterian Church for more than 200 years,” he continued. “It is imperative that the legacy be lifted up, but also that the future leadership be equipped to effectively witness the love and grace of God to the community and the world.”

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) comprises 2.2 million members in more than 10,000 congregations, answering Christ’s call to mission and ministry throughout the United States and the world. See more information on the PC(USA)'s Web site.