Rev. Dr. Lester A. McCorn
AME Zion Bishop 2016
BIOGRAPHY
The Reverend Dr. Lester A. McCorn is the Senior Pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church, also known as ZION CHURCH, in Baltimore, Maryland. He is a third generation member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and lover of God.
A native of Worcester, Massachusetts, Dr. McCorn attended Worcester Public Schools. He received his undergraduate education in Religion and Sociology from Morehouse College (B.A.) in Atlanta, and his graduate education from Yale University Divinity School (M.Div.) and Chicago Theological Seminary (M.A.). He also pursued studies for the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois. He earned the Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio as a Gardner C. Taylor Fellow.
Dr. McCorn is the author of “Standing on Holy Common Ground: An Africentric Ministry Approach to Prophetic Community Engagement.” (MMGI Press, Chicago) He now serves as mentor/teacher of doctoral students at United Seminary with a focus on prophetic leadership in the tradition of Dr. Gardner C. Taylor. He is also the new Vice President of Urban Ministry Development for the Antioch School of Church Planting and Leadership Development.
Lester Agyei (pronounced Ahd-JAY-ee, which means “messenger of God” in Akan language of Ghana, West Africa) McCorn began preaching at the age of 16 under the tutelage of Rev. Dr. W. Robert Johnson, III. He began his pastoral career at the age of 20 in the Georgia Annual Conference, while studying at Morehouse. His pastorates include: Lawrence Temple, Menlo, GA; Hemphill, Summerville, GA; Bush Chapel, Winder, GA; St. Luke Christian, Boston, MA; Varick Memorial, New Haven, CT; Martin Temple, Chicago, IL; Faith, Atlanta, GA. In 2008, he succeeded Bishop Dennis V. Proctor as the pastor of the historic Pennsylvania Avenue, a congregation with the distinct privilege of having three pastors in succession to be elevated to the episcopacy (Bishop Clinton R. Coleman, Bishop Marshall H. Strickland, and Bishop Dennis V. Proctor, respectively). He is the former connectional Director of Young Adult Ministries for the A.M.E. Zion Church. He serves as the President of the Zion Development Corporation and the Zion M.A.D.E. Institute, an accredited church-based school which grants degrees. Pastor McCorn is the spiritual father to over 25 sons and daughters in ministry, many of whom are active pastors.
Dr. McCorn is married to First Lady Charlene Maria McCorn, a life-long member and former VCYC cabinet member of the A.M.E. Zion Church from Monroe, GA . Mrs. McCorn is currently a Howard County elementary school teacher and church psalmist/musical director. They are the proud parents of three children William Elijah Benjamin, Maliaka (Mal-LIE-ah-kah) Kenyetta, and John-Charles Wesley. The McCorns reside in Ellicott City, MD.
The Campaign Emblem
Pastor McCorn is committed to affirming that the history of our church is forever bonded to the history of our people, and worked to create a campaign emblem that conveys the essence of this commitment. The emblem is centered on the West African Adinkran symbol "Dwennimmen," which is the ram's horns: a symbol of strength and humility. The ram, even in its strength, still humbles himself as a sacrifice. This is representative of Dr. McCorn’s leadership style and his character, as he humbly offers himself up as candidate for the episcopacy
