Rev. Dr. Lester McCorn

The Reverend Dr. Lester A. McCorn is the Senior Pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church. He is a third generation member of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and a native of Worcester, Massachusetts. 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.” 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.

Dr. 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. 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. He was assigned to the historic Pennsylvania Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church in 2008. He is the former Director of Young Adult Ministries for the A.M.E. Zion denomination. 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, some of whom are active pastors.