Rev. Dr. John E. Duckworth
Senior Pastor Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church - WESTLAND, MICouncil of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity INSIGHT Research Associate Dr. Duckworth holds dual Bachelor Degrees in Business Administration and Marketing and Management from Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. He also earned an Associates of Arts Degree in Advertising, while attending Northwood University. Dr.Duckworth then earned a Master of Divinity Degree at the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. His education includes an international study of Biblical Geography and Archeology in Israel and Trans-Cultural Ministry in Ghana, West Africa. Dr. Duckworth then earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Ecumenical Theological Seminary, Detroit, Michigan. Dr. Duckworth serves as an instructor at the Heritage Center for Religious Studies and Kingdom Life Bible Institute. He is serving as Faculty Mentor for the Ecumenical Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Program and served as an adjunct Professor at the Ecumenical Theological Seminary. Dr. Duckworth currently serves as Co-Chair of the Health & Human Services Committee of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity, Inc. Dr. Duckworth serves as the Vice President of the Inkster Ministerial Alliance. Dr. Duckworth also served as the 2nd Vice Moderator of the Michigan District Baptist Association.
Keyon Payton, MDIV
Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church - PONTIAC, MIDoctoral Student Garrett Theological SeminaryINSIGHT Research Associate Pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church of Pontiac. Pastor Payton has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion/Philosophy from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated Cum Laude; and was conferred the Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey where he was awarded for many outstanding achievements and was recognized for his excellence in Homiletics and Urban Ministry. Throughout his numerous experiences, he served for 3 months with a Ghanaian congregation in Ghana West Africa; Associate Minister of the Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA; Chapel Assistant at the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel, Atlanta, GA; Interim Pastor of the Hillside and Valley Presbyterian Church, Orange, NJ; elementary school teacher with the Orange, NJ Board of Education; Midwest Outreach Director of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He has a heart for God and God’s people, and his chief aim is to serve God by serving others. Pastor Payton is the father of two beautiful daughters, Gayle and Grace.
Dr. John Tolbert, B.S.W., M. DIV., D. Min.,
Senior Pastor Trinity Baptist Church - PONTIAC, MI INSIGHT Research AssociateDr. Tolbert has completed graduate and post-graduate studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he earned both a Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth (2002) and a Doctor of Ministry in Church Growth & Leadership (2015). He has a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Western Michigan University (1999). In addition to Senior Pastor at Trinity, He also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Golden Gate Theological Seminary. His areas of focus include New Testament Survey, Old Testament Survey, Introduction to Evangelism, and Spiritual Formations. Dr. Tolbert is a retired chapel director for the O.H. Pye III Funeral Home in Detroit. Dr. Tolbert serves as an instructor for The National Baptist Congress of The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., Dean of the Wolverine State Congress of Christian Education, and First Vice Moderator for the Crystal Lake Missionary Baptist District Association. He also currently serves as General Secretary for the Kingdom Alliance Covenant Fellowship, Chaplain for the Detroit Police Department, and a member of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit & Vicinity. Previously, Dr. Tolbert served as Youth Evangelism Specialist for the Baptist State Convention of Michigan (Southern Baptist State Convention) and has facilitated and lectured at various conferences and seminars across the country and in foreign territories including; Nassau, Bahamas; Exuma, Bahamas; Ghana, West Africa and even the Holy Land - Jerusalem.
Rev. Maurice Rudds
Senior Pastor, Greater Mt. Tabor Baptist Church - DETROIT, MI INSIGHT Research Associate As a pastor, Rev. Maurice Rudds is committed to changing lives through Christ. He is also a social activist focused on education and economics. He fulfills his God-given mission as he empowers people to reach their full potential. Pastor Rudds is a community organizer specializing in areas of corporate accountability and civil rights advocacy. He has participated in promoting, peace, prosperity, and power in the neighborhoods.
Pastor Maurice Rudds earned his Bachelors's Degree in Christian Thought from William Tyndale College. Studied at Moody Theological Seminary and is currently a Masters of Community Development Candidate at the University of Detroit Mercy. He is the Moderator of the Eastern Progressive Baptist District Association, and the Treasure of the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Michigan.
Pastor Maurice Rudds is united in holy matrimony to Lady LaShonn Rudds, and they are the proud parents of three 3 children.
Rev. Stephen Herrod
Pastor of Bethel East Baptist Church - DETROIT, MI INSIGHT Research Associate Rev. Stephen Herrod is a native of Detroit, MI, born into the family of Harrison and Debra Herrod. He has two older brothers, Thomas and William Herrod. Rev. Herrod is a Cum Laude graduate with honors from Renaissance High School, a 2016 Cum Laude graduate of Eastern Michigan University earning his BBA in finance, and a 2019 Cum Laude graduate of Moody Theological Seminary earning a Master of Divinity in the discipline of Pastoral Studies. Upon attending Moody Theological Seminary, Rev. Herrod was selected to be in the Urban Scholars Program for his work done in socioeconomically depressed neighborhoods in the city of Detroit and was awarded an Urban Ministry Scholars award for his achievements during his time at Moody. Rev. Herrod has served in a variety of ministry settings including non-profit, children and youth ministries, young adult small-groups ministry, mission teams, and local churches.
Rev. Herrod is a fitness enthusiast, likes to play basketball and read, and loves to try new food. He served as youth director at Central Detroit Christian Community Development Corporation from 2017-2019 and currently volunteers as Middle School Boys Basketball Coach at Henry Ford Academy. Rev. Herrod is currently the Lead Pastor at Bethel Baptist Church, East on the Eastside of Detroit, MI.
Reverend Sharinese Jackson, MA
Senior Pastor Vernon Chapel AME Church - DETROIT, MIINSIGHT Research AssociateBorn and raised in the city of Detroit, Michigan. She matriculated in the Detroit Public School System (graduate from Cass Technical High) and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. She earned an M.A. in Counseling from Ashland Theological Seminary, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Certified Prevention Specialist. Her family was one of the founding members of Oak Grove, where she attended since birth. The Nancy Marsh Missionary Society of Oak Grove was named after her Great Grandmother. Reverend Jackson was the former Pastor of Bethel AME in Flint, MI St. Luke AME in Roseville, MI, and Quinn Chapel AME in Flint, Mi. She also served as the Women in Ministry Coordinator for the Michigan Conference.
Reverend Dr. James C. Perkins
Senior Pastor, Greater Christ Baptist Church - DETROIT, MIPast President of The Progressive National Baptist ConventionINSIGHT Research Associate Ordained to the Gospel Ministry in 1974. He has served as pastor of Greater Christ Baptist Church in Detroit, Michigan for thirty-eight years. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio (1990, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Fellow). Dr. Perkins also served as the 20th President of the Progressive National Baptist Convention (2014-2018).
An internationally recognized minister, Dr. Perkins fulfills speaking engagements at churches, seminaries, and conferences across the United States and abroad.
He is the author of Building Up Zion’s Walls: Ministry for Empowering the African American Family, Playbook for Christian Manhood: 12 Key Plays for Black Teen Boys, (published by Judson Press (Valley Forge, Pennsylvania), Midnight Religion: Messages of Victory in the Midst of Adversity and Staking Claim to Your Mountain: Sermons of Empowerment and Endurance. His other writings, as well as profiles of his ministry and details of his community activism, have been included in both secular and Christian publications such as Black Enterprise, USA Today, Ebony, American Baptist, The African-American Pulpit, several edited works published by Judson Press, and the best-selling Success Runs in Our Race by George Fraser.
Angela R. Elam, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan (Michigan Medicine) ACADEMIC ADVISORY CommitteeEvaluation and management of adults with cataract, glaucoma, and anterior segment disease, including cataract surgery with implantation of intraocular lenses; medical, laser, and surgical treatment of patients with glaucoma, including minimally-invasive glaucoma surgeries (MIGS), traditional glaucoma filtering surgery, and glaucoma drainage implant surgery; management of complications of glaucoma and cataract surgery.
Charles Williams II, MSW
Joint Doctoral Student Social Work and Sociology, The University of Michigan, Senior Pastor, Historic King Solomon Baptist Church - DETROIT, MINational Action Network MichiganACADEMIC ADVISORY CommitteeCharles E. Williams II is the Pastor of the Historic King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit and the Michigan Chair of the National Action Network. He can often be heard on Sirius XM channel 126 as the co-host of 'Keeping it Real’ with Rev. Al Sharpton.
Charles is engaged in research at the University of Michigan in the Center on Assets, Education, and Inclusion and at Poverty Solutions. His research interests include poverty, inequality, health disparities, and the intersection of race and religion.
Charles enjoys training for marathons, sailing, and spending time with his wife, and their two young children.
Sam Riddle J.D
Radio Host 910AM SuperstationNational Action Network Michigan, political Director INSIGHT Research Associate Sam Riddle earned a B.A. degree from MSU’s James Madison College with a major in ethnic and religious intergroup relations. Riddle received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Michigan Law School. Sam Riddle has over 45 years of experience in management, political, and media consulting with an emphasis on crisis management.
The host of Riddle@Random on Detroit 910AM SUPERSTATION; Sam Riddle is an Honorably Discharged VietNam Era Veteran that acquired a G.E.D. after dropping out of high school to enlist.
A student activist organizer that shut down a Big Ten basketball game to protest racism Sam also led anti-war demonstrations and co-founded the Black Student Aide program at Michigan State University that enabled Black students to survive and thrive in a white academic environment.
Rev. Timothy Mcdonald
Senior Pastor, First Iconium Baptist Church of - ATLANTA, GAAfrican American Ministers Leadership Council, Chairman People For the American Way, Board MemberINSIGHT Research AssociateRev. Timothy McDonald, III is founder of the African American Ministers Leadership Council and President of the African American Ministers In Action of People for the American Way and is Senior Pastor of the First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, where he has served since 1984. Rev. McDonald has taken First Iconium from 35 members to approximately 1500 members. He served three terms as President of Concerned Black Clergy of Atlanta, an ecumenical consortium of Black and White clergy and laypersons working on behalf of the poor.
Rev. McDonald received a B.A. from Berry College in Rome, Ga., and holds a Master of Divinity from Emory University, and has done some work towards a Doctor of Ministry. He is married to Mrs. Shirley (Neal) McDonald, and they are the proud parents of three children: Nikisha, Timothy, IV, and Ebony McDonald.
Rev. Robert Blake
Pastor, Greater Quinn African Methodist Episcopal Church - DETROIT, MIINSIGHT Research AssociateAn Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Robert A. Blake is the son of the late Richard and Rosemarie Blake. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, MI., Rev Blake is a fourth-generation AME pastor who grew up under the shadows of his grandfather Presiding Elder David A. Blake Sr. and his great uncle, Rev Eustace Lewis Blake, who pastored the great pulpits of Historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Philadelphia, PA and St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Newark New Jersey.
In 1993, God called Rev. Blake to the office of Pastor at St. James AME Church in Brighton, MI. Under his leadership, this multi-cultural church experienced significant spiritual and numerical growth. Beginning the second Sunday of June 2004, Rev Blake became the pastor of St. Luke AME Church in Highland Park, MI (The Rock in the Park) where he pastored for eleven Blessed years. Because of his great concern and compassion for the community of Highland Park, Rev Blake has served on the boards of the Focus Hope Community Development Council, Highland Park Child and Family Services, Council of Elders for Restorative Justice, and the Highland Park Education Improvement Committee, and also the Highland Park Human Rights Coalition.
A graduate of Ann Arbor Huron High School and featured in Who’s Who in America 1973, Rev. Blake was blessed to attend the world-renowned Interlochen National Music Arts Academy for vocal performance. Later, Rev Blake attended the University of Michigan where he majored in vocal performance, and Southern University, Baton Rouge LA, majoring in vocal education. He has done considerable course work in sociology and psychology as well as course work in Urban Ministry at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit.
Rev. Nicholas Hood III
Plymouth United Church of Christ - DETROIT, MI INSIGHT Research AssociateRev. Nicholas Hood III has served as the pastor and senior minister of the Plymouth United Church of Christ in Detroit, Michigan since 1985. He earned a B.A. in economics from Wayne State University in 1973 and an M.Div. from the Yale Divinity School in 1976. In May of 2009, an honorary doctorate in ministry was conferred upon him by Olivet College. Ordained in 1976, Rev. Hood began his ministry working under the direction of his father as assistant-associate minister at Plymouth UCC. His past community involvement has included: co-chair of the Young Adult Committee of the Detroit Chapter NAACP; President, Booker T. Washington Business Association; President, Plymouth Non-Profit Housing Corporation; President and Chairman, Plymouth Day School; Secretary, Yale Divinity School Board of Alumnal Affairs; Chairman of the Amistad Slave Ship Visit to Detroit in 2002, which donated its profit of $13,000 to the Charles Wright Museum of African American History.
His current community involvement includes Trustee, Children’s Hospital of Michigan; Board of Directors, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra; Trustee, McCormick Theological Seminary and Plymouth Educational Center Board of Directors. Rev. Hood was first elected in 1993 and re-elected in 1997 serving two-four year terms on the Detroit City Council. Rev. Hood is occasionally asked to provide political analysis and commentary for Detroit area television and radio stations.
Rev. Charles Christian Adams
Pastor, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church - DETROIT, MI INSIGHT Research AssociateRev. Charles Christian Adams was ordained to the Christian ministry at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church, under the Pastorate of his father, Dr. Charles G. Adams. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, and earned his Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary of New York, New York.
Reverend Adam’s affiliations include membership in the Golden Key National Honor Society. He is a lifetime member of the NAACP and is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of the Sunshine Community School in Detroit, Michigan. He is affiliated with Emmanuel House Recovery Center, which specializes in the treatment of drug and alcohol addictions. He is also a member of the Partnership for a Drug-Free Detroit, a broad-based consortium of community organizations created and sponsored by the Detroit City Council.