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The Rev. Dr. Vernon S. Burroughs preached his first sermon as pastor of Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church on Sunday, November 8, 2009, after being assigned to lead the congregation during the Fifth District planning meeting on Tuesday, November 4. Pastor Burroughs entered the ministry in April 1977 under the pastorate of the late Dr. Cecil W. Howard at St. James A.M.E. Church in St. Louis, Missouri. He was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in September 1979 and an Itinerant Elder in October 1981 by Bishop H. Hartford Brookins. Pastor Burroughs has served as pastor in churches in Hannibal, Missouri; Omaha, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Tacoma, Washington, and Berkeley, California. Prior to his assignment to Grant Church, Pastor Burroughs served as Presiding Elder of the San Francisco-Sacramento District, California Annual Conference, Fifth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. While serving as Presiding Elder, he realized his calling is to pastor. So it brings him joy to be the new pastor of Grant Church. During his pastorates, Pastor Burroughs led congregations in purchasing parsonages in Hannibal, Missouri and Omaha, Nebraska. He also led congregations in renovating Jordan A.M.E. Church in Denver, Colorado; and purchasing and renovating Allen A.M.E. Church in Tacoma, Washington. Following his vision and under his leadership, the congregation at St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Berkley, California was successful in building their current edifice at a cost of $1.8 million. Pastor Burroughs is a native of St. Louis and a product of the St. Louis Public School System. Upon graduating from Beaumont High School he entered the U.S. Air Force serving in the Far East and Southeast Asia. He returned to St. Louis and attended Forest Park College where he graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in Business Administration. Pastor Burroughs continued his education at Lael University and received a Bachelor’s of Theology degree. Next, he attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California and received a Bachelors of Arts in Business Management. Pastor Burroughs attended Bethany Theological Seminary and earned Master’s and Doctor of Ministry degrees. As a community organizer, Pastor Burroughs founded the East Bay Lenten Caravan Ministries in Oakland, California. He was appointed a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Brighton, England in July 2001 and Seoul, South Korea in July 2006 where he served on the Committee on Evangelism. He is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Pastor Burroughs is married to Rev. Denise Johnson Burroughs of St. Louis, Missouri. Rev. Denise is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is an elementary school principal in the Oakland Unified School District. They are the parents of Antowan, Kawana, and Veronica; and the proud grandparents of seven—five boys and two girls. A true servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, Pastor Burroughs is seeking ways to develop the children of God by empowering them spiritually, socially and economically. |
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