I write to inform you that Rev. Marshall Sharpe, Jr., pastor of Phillips Temple CME Church in San Diego, California (Southern California Region) has been selected as the 2009 Pastor of the Year for the Ninth Episcopal District.  Rev. Sharpe will be honored at the upcoming 14th CME Pastors’ Conference and 66th Founders' Celebration of Phillips School of Theology in Atlanta, Georgia during January 11-14, 2010. 

 

Rev. Sharpe has served as a full-time pastor of Phillips Temple for the past 25 years.  Pastor Sharpe led the congregation in building a brand new edifice from the ground up, which includes an educational wing and fellowship hall.  Under Pastor Sharpe’s leadership,  Phillips Temple has over thirty different ministries, which includes a monthly outreach at the San Diego Rescue Mission for over 20 years; housing the homeless at the church as part of the San Diego Interfaith Shelter Network; Angel Tree ministry to the children whose parents are incarcerated; tutoring at Johnson Elementary School under the One Church/One School initiative; scholarships for higher learning; children’s church; Ministry to Men; women’s fellowship; and married couples ministry.

 

Pastor Sharpe is a community servant and is a member of the San Diego NAACP Board; Jackie Robinson YMCA Board; President of the San Diego Interdenominational Minister's Alliance; Mayor of San Diego’s Advisory Board; chaplain at the University of California San Diego Medical Center; Prison Fellowship Board; Metropolitan Fellowship Foundation; and Youth Opportunities Unlimited Board.

 

Rev. Sharpe is the Director of Evangelism for the Ninth Episcopal District, a member of the Joint Board of Finance and the Committee on Ministry of the Southern California Region.  In addition, he chairs the Finance Committee for the Los Angeles/San Diego District.

 

Rev. Sharpe has been married to Ora Sharpe for 34 years and they are the parents of two sons, Mark and Matthew.    

 

Please join me in congratulating Rev. Marshall Sharpe for being the recipient of the Pastor of the Year Award for the Ninth Episcopal District, and for his outstanding servant leadership in the CME Church and San Diego community!  You may contact Rev. Sharpe by telephone at 619 229-8081 or e-mail at:  phillipstemplesd@sbcglobal.net