MEET ELDREN
25 Years of
Pastoral Leadership
Reverend Eldren Morrison was born in Charlotte, NC, and raised in a Christian home strongly influenced by his great-uncle, the late Bishop George Walter Pettice Sr., founder of the Bible Way Apostolic Church Worldwide, Charlotte, NC, and his grandfather, the late Reverend R. A. Morrison Sr., an A.M.E. Zion clergyman for 74 years.
By the age of twelve, Reverend Morrison recognized the call of God in his life and was nurtured in the Christian ministry by his grandfather and by Reverend Marion R. Wilson. The latter was his pastor at Steele Hill A.M.E. Zion Church in Lancaster, SC.
Right out of high school, Morrison was appointed to his first pastorate. During this time, he matriculated at Zion’s chief institution, Livingstone College in Salisbury, NC. From beneath “Thy Maples and Oaks” at Livingstone to Albertus Magnus College and then to United Theological Seminary, Morrison values the blessing of education and academic success in preparation for ministry and life.
Evangelism
“God made the church grow — it’s not about me.
It’s not about the planter (of a seed) or the person who comes along to water it. It’s about the person who made it grow. That person is God.”
SOUTH ATLANTIC EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
South Carolina
Reverend Morrison has been blessed to serve several congregations in Zion, including:
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Warner Temple A.M.E Zion Church (Lancaster, SC)
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Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church (Heath Springs, SC)
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Metropolitan A.M.E Zion Church, "The Mother Church of Zion Methodism in South Carolina" (Chester, SC)
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Liberty Hill A.M.E. Zion Church (Lake Wylie, SC) which during Reverend Morrison’s pastorate grew to become our largest congregation in the state of South Carolina
NORTH EASTERN EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
Connecticut
After Zion’s second oldest congregation had fallen on hard times in Connecticut, in 2007, Reverend Morrison’s mentor, Bishop George E. Battle Jr., appointed him to Varick Memorial, New Haven, CT. During Reverend Morrison’s pastorate, Varick Memorial dramatically grew and developed from about 250 members to well over 2,000 members, with three Sunday worship services, in-person and online.
Former Mayor of New Haven John DeStefano Jr. said of Morrison's leadership in the community, "Hope is Morrison’s legacy.”
SOUTH ATLANTIC EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
Georgia
After a successful pastorate in New Haven on August 13, 2016, the late Bishop Mildred B. Hines appointed Reverend Morrison as the pastor of the Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Zion’s flagship congregation in the South Atlantic Episcopal District. Most recently, Reverend Morrison led Shaw Temple in historically hosting both the 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference and the 12th Quadrennial Lay Convention in 2021.
Under the leadership of Reverend Morrison, the ministries of Shaw Temple were revamped, revitalized, and renovated, including tremendous improvements to the physical structures on the 9-acre campus. Under the leadership of Reverend Morrison, Shaw Temple is poised to enter into this post-pandemic season with a more extraordinary passion for Jesus and radical hybrid-hospitality. Reverend Morrison is more intentional about inviting all into growing relationships with Jesus as they relaunch their church in this new era.
SOUTH ATLANTIC EPISCOPAL DISTRICT
South Korea
On August 3, 2021, the late Bishop Mildred B. Hines appointed Reverend Morrison as the Presiding Elder of the South Korea Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church, a part of the South Atlantic Episcopal District. Reverend Morrison is excited to build upon the foundation his predecessor, Bishop George D. Crenshaw, blazed in establishing the South Korea Annual Conference. "I believe passionately in missions, and we are going further by making an impact and building relationships in Cambodia. Like the Apostle Paul, we want to strengthen disciples in Asia."
Education
“We wanted to effect change on a larger scale beyond the four walls of our church, and we did that for the larger community.”
NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT
The Booker T. Washington Academy
In 2009, recognizing the need for more high-quality educational options for the New Haven community, Reverend Eldren Morrison envisioned the Booker T. Washington Academy, a Pre-K through 8th-grade school serving the New Haven community. In 2014, Booker T. Washington Academy officially became a Connecticut State Charter School and was recognized, in 2018, as a “Connecticut School of Distinction” and serves over 400 young scholars.
Watch the recap of Booker T. Washington's
first 8th grade graduating class of 2022.
SMYRNA, GEORGIA
The Shaw Temple Academy
A “Quality Rated Preschool” in the State of Georgia, Reverend Morrison and his wife, Mrs. Stachia Morrison, envisioned a learning center at Shaw Temple. In 2016, Stachia became the director of the Center and rebranded it to now be named The Shaw Temple Academy. This offering to the congregation and community answers the needs for quality, Spirit-led early care and education for the children in the city.
Economic Development
“I believe leaders have to seize these difficult times as an opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ and to spread the gospel in new ways reaching far beyond the borders of our churches.”
CULTURAL AMBASSADOR AND COMMUNITY LEADER
Serving in the North East
Reverend Morrison was diligent outside the walls of the church. He contributed to the redevelopment of The Dixwell corridor in New Haven, participated as a trustee of the Hannah Gray Home for seniors, and founded Varick Center for Empowerment (V.C.E.) Community Development Corporation, and was selected to be the President of the Fire Commission. He was also a trustee of the City of New Haven Pension Board and a founding member of New Haven Bridges of Hope.
Reverend Morrison also served on the Advisory Board of the Greater New Haven Community Foundation and led Varick Memorial to become the first Black Church in New Haven to establish an endowment fund at the Foundation.
Seeing the disconnect between healthcare services and knowledge and access to said services in the larger African American community, Reverend Morrison became a Cultural Ambassador to New Haven through the Yale Center for Clinical Investigations. During his tenure as a Cultural Ambassador, he learned about the benefits of clinical research and the protections in place for volunteers. Most importantly, he advocated for the importance of minority participation in clinical trials to understand the effectiveness of treatments in these populations.
FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP AND AWARENESS
Serving in the South Atlantic
Reverend Morrison envisioned the Shaw Temple Endowment, and under the watchful guidance of Dr. Shirley Phillips and the Endowment Board, the Shaw Temple Endowment was started with a goal of $100,000. The first $1,000 contribution was made from the family of Mr. Fred Burge. Fred was an active and exemplary member of Shaw Temple who passed away in 2016. The Shaw Temple Endowment was instituted to improve Georgia families' financial education and awareness.
Currently, Reverend Morrison serves in several capacities with various boards and organizations: the Connectional Budget Board of the A.M.E. Zion Church; Yale University Community Partners Board; Booker T. Washington Academy Board; the Shaw Temple Academy Board Chairman; Cobb County Ministers Alliance; Trustee of Clinton College; Trustee of Stonehaven School; Cobb County Sheriff's Department Chaplain and the Founder of (EDM) Encouraging Disciples Ministry.
However, Reverend Eldren Morrison is proud to be a “South Carolina preacher.” He loves the art and craft of preaching; often, you will find him talking about preaching giants he admires like the late R.A. Morrison Sr., Prathia Laura Ann Hall Wynn, W.O. Thompson, Ocie Brown, Manuel Scott Sr., Eustacia Marshall, Caesar A.W. Clark, or G.E. Patterson.
Reverend Eldren Morrison is married to the former Ms. Stachia L. Coleman. Lady Stachia is unquestionably Eldren’s number one supporter. Reverend and Mrs. Morrison are the proud parents of Ava Elizabeth and Ian Alexander.
