Leadership

TRANSLATING VISION INTO REALITY

Full Gospel Founder Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. was born in Windsor Ontario, Canada but was destined to move to the United States. God had a special calling on his life that extended far beyond the Canadian borders. In 1972, he moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. Not long after, he became the Senior Pastor of the Greater Saint Stephen Missionary Baptist Church. He served faithfully there for thirty-three years. Under his leadership, it became a “Full Gospel” Baptist Church, expanding to three areas of the city, maximizing at seven services per Sunday. However, after the devastating storm, Katrina, God re-positioned him. At God’s command, he passed the mantle to his wife, Debra B. Morton, who now serves as Senior Pastor of the mother church in New Orleans. Bishop Morton now serves as Senior Pastor of the “baby” church, G.S.S. Changing A Generation, in Atlanta, Georgia which was birthed out of the mother church. Bishop Paul S. Morton and Pastor Debra Morton now serve as each other’s Co-Pastor.

Now “One Church in Two States”, their slogan is “Changing The Way We Do Church!” Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. is the founding Presiding Bishop of one of the fastest growing movements in America – The Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International. As an apostle, he has birthed many churches out of Greater Saint Stephen, New Orleans. Bishop Morton is also an international television preacher who, for over twenty-five years, reaches thousands of souls for the Lord on a weekly basis. Morton is also a gifted author and an anointed singer, having received many Stellar Awards. His life in Christ is evidenced by his love and compassion for his family, the brethren and those who are lost. Many esteem him as a Pastor’s Pastor; a Leader’s Leader; His wife and children revere him as a loving husband and role model father. Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. who strives to exemplify the heart of God, is truly God’s Man!

Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

International Presiding Bishop, FGBCFI

Bishop Walker was born in Shreveport, Louisiana to Deacon Joseph and Rosa Walker. He is married to the former Dr. Stephaine Hale, who is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neonatology at Vanderbilt University. Both agree that their most joyous accomplishment to date has been the birth of their daughter, Jovanni Willow Walker, who was born in May of 2012.

A recipient of numerous awards and honors, Bishop Walker sits on noteworthy boards, including the Board of the American Red Cross, Citizens Bank and in February 2016 was elected to serve on the Board of Trustees of Meharry Medical College. In early 2013, The Root.com named Bishop Walker as one of the 20 Top Black Preachers in the country, and most recently, EBONY recognized him on its “Power 100” list as one of the nation’s most influential African-American leaders.

His inspiring messages make him a sought-after university commencement speaker. An authority on having “the spiritual connection” in marital relationships, Bishop Walker is a regular guest on the Rickey Smiley Radio Show as well as a host of other nationally syndicated radio shows that reach millions across the United States. He also has been a guest on CNN, The CBS Morning News, The Roland Martin Show and B.E.T. and authors a monthly Op-Ed in the Tennessean Newspaper entitled Reset. Never ceasing to try new things, he was featured in the world premiere of the film Black, White and Blues, directed by award-winning Mario Van Peebles.

Deeply concerned about America’s youth and young adults, Bishop Walker is the visionary behind Mt. Zion’s Youth & Children’s Ministry, which includes the Judah Generation Youth Choir and its debut album entitled Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III Presents Judah Generation. Likewise, he is the visionary behind Mt. Zion’s Kid-Zone—a youth-centered facility for youth worship, tutorial services and outreach—and behind Mt. Zion’s College Ministry, which provides to thousands of college students a positive environment for academic adroitness and spiritual growth.

In 2014 in the wake of the social unrest in Ferguson, Mo. Bishop Walker galvanized the city together and founded Nashville Unites. It is rapidly becoming a national model of collaboration in addressing issues that divide communities. Nashville Unites partners with those in the community working toward positive change and provides strategy and real solutions.

Throughout his life and ministry, Bishop Walker has demonstrated a caliber of leadership well beyond his years. Recognized as a man from humble beginnings, he is a teacher, humanitarian, philanthropist, businessman, community volunteer, husband, father and pastor. Bishop Joseph Warren Walker, III, is the International Presiding Bishop of Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship, which consists of hundreds of churches across the globe that is connected together by common theologies of the church experience. This is an anointed man of God whose voice is calling for national and global leadership that enhances the quality of life for all people.

Bishop Walker received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; a Master of Divinity degree from Vanderbilt University and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Princeton Theological Seminary. He holds two honorary Doctorates from Meharry Medical College and Southern University respectively. He is also a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and the Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity.

In 1992, at the age of 24, Bishop Walker began his pastorate at Mt. Zion with 175 members. Presently, the ministry has grown to over 30,000 and continues to grow at a phenomenal rate of over 2,000 souls per year. Under his leadership, Mt. Zion’s ministry has expanded beyond its original location on Historic Jefferson Street to seven weekly services in three physical locations and also includes a worldwide virtual church location www.mtzionanywhere.tv which ministers to millions around the world, as well as the Word Network that reaches over 88 million viewers world wide. In April 2006, his leadership also expanded to Jackson, Tennessee where the Zion Church became the first church plant of Mt. Zion Baptist Church.

Vowing never to abandon the Mt. Zion neighborhood/Jefferson Street area, Bishop Walker launched the New Level Community Development Corporation (NLCDC) in 2001. The NLCDC is committed to low-and moderate-income families and to community economic development. He states that the Mt. Zion Ministry will continue “to turn over the stone of economic irresponsibility . . . by investing in programs and by partnering with outside agencies to bring about a change.”

Bishop Walker’s philanthropic efforts shifted to a new level when he and his wife founded Drs. Joseph & Stephaine Walker Scholarship Fund. The Scholarships are made available through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee and are given to assist people achieve their academic dreams. It gives thousands of dollars each year to deserving students and also awards a scholarship in the name and memory of his late wife, Dr. Diane Greer Walker.

A prolific writer, “Bishop,” as he is fondly called, is the author of nine books. He and his wife co-author book number eight, Becoming A Couple of Destiny. His latest book, RESET: Make A New Start, Walker explains how the eight “R’s” (Reset, Return, Review and Recalculate, Reclaim, Redirect, Reinvigorate and Revive, Reinvest, and Reinvent) will revolutionize your relationship with God. With theological wisdom, insight and a pastor’s heart, he shares how to return to God and find a new beginning through faith in Him.

Council of Bishops

Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III
International Presiding Bishop

Bishop Darryl S. Brister
Second Presiding Bishop

Bishop L. Lawrence Brandon
Third Presiding Bishop

Bishop Lester Love
Executive Secretary

Bishop Micheal Kelsey
Executive Treasurer

Bishop K. Edwin Bryant, PhD.
Bishop Of Corporate Administration

Bishop Edward Stephens
Bishop of Regional Bishops & Central Region

Bishop David Cooper
Southwest Regional Bishop

Bishop Gregory Cooper
Southern Regional Bishop

Bishop Simon Gordon
Midwestern Regional Bishop

Bishop W. Oshea Granger
Southern Atlantic Regional Bishop

Bishop Kenneth Robinson
Northeast Central Regional Bishop

Bishop Lanier Twyman
Mid-Atlantic Regional Bishop

Bishop Johnny Withers
Western Pacific Regional Bishop

Bishop Cheryl Brown
Christian Education

Bishop Oscar Brown
1stAssistant to the Founder

Bishop Greg Davis
Bishop of Media Relations

Bishop Albert Jamison 
Council Bishop

Bishop Jerry Hutchins
Bishop of Policy and Procedure

Bishop Andy Lewter
Historian

Bishop Calvin Lockett
Bishop of Fellowship Relations

Co-Founder Dr. Debra B. Morton Advisory Council Member

Bishop William Murphy Jr
Bishop of Intercessory Prayer

Bishop William Murphy III
Bishop of Worship

Bishop Craig Oliver
Bishop of Senior Pastors

Bishop Andrew Randall
Bishop of Legal Affairs and Compliance

Corporate Staff

Bishop K. Edwin Bryant, PH.D.
Bishop of Corporate & Conference Operation

Elder Derrick Noble
Chief of Staff
Office of the Presiding Bishop
 

Elder Charles Sanders
Chief Financial Officer

Overseer Sylvester Poole

Chief of Staff
Office of the Bishop of Corporate &
Conference Operations

Bishop Talmadge J. Thomas
Bishop of Customer Service

Jannalyn Davis
Senior Operations Manager

Pastor Daryl Davis, II
Senior Project Manager

Tish M. Wilson
Associate Project Manager &
Executive Assistant to the Bishop of
Corporate & Conference Operations

Marlinda Henry
Director of Events & Planning

Overseer William Cosey

Senior Consultant/Digital
Advertising Operations

Overseer Winton Anderson
Human Resources Specialist

Elder Georell Jones
Technical Director/Consultant

Maura Patterson
Membership Services Manager

Francis Holley
Information Specialist
 
Overseer Christopher Harris
Strategic Vision Implementtion