Associate Ministers

Min. Carolyn Blackson

Minister Carolyn M. Blackson joined Grace Baptist Church of Germantown on November 10, 1989. She was licensed by the church on Sunday, September 30, 2007 after preaching her initial sermon before the congregation.

She received a diploma in Biblical and Theological Studies from Palmer Theological Seminary in May of 2009. Minister Blackson is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity Degree from Palmer Theological Seminary.

Not only does she serve as an Associate Minister at Grace, she also teaches Sunday School to Pioneer #2 Class. She is currently the Vice-President of the Executive Council and is Chairperson of the Adults Works Ministry which works with several adult ministries in the church. She also serves as co-chair for the Wellness Ministry also.

Minister Blackson is ever mindful that she is not at Grace to be served but to serve the people of God.

Minister Samuel P. Coleman, IV

Min. Samuel P.Coleman, IV. I was born to Samuel III and Wynelle Coleman on November 19, 1973. I have one sister, Jenea Coleman-Stewart, and her son, my nephew, William Stewart. Blessed to be married to the former Dana R. Eubanks of Philadelphia. We have been married for 17 years and are the proud parents of Sydney who is 10 years old and Savannah who is three years old. I was raised in the Philadelphia public school system attending C.W. Henry for elementary, Germantown High School, graduating in 1992. I attended Tuskegee University graduating with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English in 1998. While attending Tuskegee, I accepted God’s calling to minister the gospel, and in April 1997 was licensed to preach. I served as Associate Minister at Mount Oliver Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor John Curry until graduation in 1998. After graduation from Tuskegee I returned to Philadelphia to serve as Associate Minister at Grace. At Grace I currently serve at Associate Minister. I also serve as Chair of the Transportation Ministry, and serve on the Culinary Arts, Security, Scholarship, and Men’s Ministries. I also serve as Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 358. I’ve earned a Master’s of Arts in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix in 2003, and worked for Community College of Philadelphia for nine years as an Academic Coordinator for TRiO Student Support Services. I also served as the Director of TRiO Upward Bound at Montgomery County Community College., and now I am currently the Interim Administrative Director of Student Affairs. I am currently working towards my Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership.

I live my life by Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Min. Dianne Faust

Dianne is an Associate Minister in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the historic Grace Baptist Church of Germantown, where she preaches the gospel of Christ and leads a ministry of presence within the Mt. Airy section of the City.

Dianne is a graduate of Payne Theological Seminary (Ohio), with a Masters of Divinity. She is a past Fellow of The Center for Public Justice, an initiative of Sacred Sector. Dianne has entered into a Doctoral program at the United Lutheran Seminary in Philadelphia.

With regards to her calling, Dianne’s goals are to “ensure that clergy are equipped with tools to help serve those in their
congregation with something supplemental to what she calls “God-talk”, such as resources related to housing, health, food, and employment. “I feel we as Clergy are not meeting the needs of many who sit among us on Sunday,” Dianne said.

A significant part of Dianne’s life has been dedicated to church ministry. She is currently embarking on a vocational journey to explore areas beyond the walls of a church, answering the call to engage more deeply as a political disciple. Dianne’s passion is rehabbing properties in gentrifying neighborhoods to reserve them as rental properties for low-income families. She plans to use her experience in seminary, real estate, and developing Faith-Based Organizations to link biblical principles that heals and bring fractured communities together.

“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.” ~ Erma Bombeck

Rev. Dr. Suzanne H. Walls Kershaw

As a woman of faith, The Rev. Dr. Suzanne Kershaw was licensed to preach and began serving in October 2003 as an Associate Minister at the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown. She received her Master of Divinity (MDiv) in May 2006 from Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP) with a concentration in African American Theology. Rev. Kershaw was ordained to the Christian Ministry on March 29, 2009. In May 2012, she was appointed to LTSP’s Alumni Board for which she served until April 2016. In continuation of her faith journey, Rev. Kershaw returned to LTSP in June 2013 graduating with the degree of Doctor of Ministry (DMin) on May 17, 2016 focusing on “Ministry to Women”. In June 2017, Dr. Kershaw began her 2nd term as the President of the American Baptist Women’s Ministries (ABWM) – Philadelphia Baptist Association (PBA). She is also a member of the PBA’s Board of Directors. In addition, she holds full membership on the National Board of American Baptist Women’s Ministries. In October 2016, Suzanne completed a three (3) year volunteer staff position with the PBA as Transformation Consultant for PBA – ABWomen’s Ministries and serving as a PBA representative to Young Adults Together in Ministry Action (YATMA) which is a partnering ministry between ABCNJ, PBA and ABCOPAD to Young Adults. Rev. Kershaw served as a member of PBA’s Domestic Violence Action Learning Team. Presently, Rev. Kershaw is a volunteer with the American Red Cross’ Spiritual Care Team.

In August 2013, Rev. Dr. Kershaw retired from the federal government after 39 years of experience in the acquisition field serving in a variety of supervisory positions for military and civilian organizations. In November 2001, Reverend Kershaw was certified as an Acquisition Professional Level III in the acquisition career field of Contracting. She received further recognition and was admitted into the Defense Acquisition Corps in June 2011. She holds a B.S. in Accounting with a minor in Management from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. In 1982, she earned her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from LaSalle University with a concentration in Management. Rev. Kershaw was the recipient of The Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Career Fellowship – one of five Navy Wide (Contracting) for the Academic Year of 1980-1981 which enabled her to pursue her MBA.

Rev. Dr. Kershaw was involved with various organizations during her government career such as Federally Employed Women (FEW) Philadelphia Chapter and the United Way of Southern Pennsylvania serving on its Community Development Fund Committee. Prior to retirement, she served as the Chair of the Defense Logistics Agency’s (DLA) Troop Support’s Supervisory Leadership Council (SLC) which is a professional organization for First Line Supervisors (FLS). In recognition of her leadership abilities, she served on DLA Troop Support’s Culture Improvement Team (CIT) for Leadership/Supervision.

As a member of Grace Baptist Church of Germantown located in Philadelphia, she has served in many ministries including the Deacon’s Auxiliary, Chancel Choir, Praise and Worship Team, Sunday School Teacher for 15 years and American Baptist Women of Grace serving as its president for eight (8) years. Rev. Dr. Kershaw established and implemented new ministries such as the Evangelism Ministry; Women in the Bible Study sponsored by American Baptist Women of Grace (ABWOG) and the quarterly Women’s Forums under the auspices of Women’s Ministries of Grace that hosted facilitators from sister churches. Also, she was Co-Chair for “Grace’s” Annual Women in White Service from 1998 to 2010. Suzanne has served as a member of Grace’s Long Range/Strategic Planning Committee.

In addition, Rev. Kershaw served as Co-Chair for The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr. African American Studies Commitment Campaign. She is a former member of the Baptist Minister’s Wives and Baptist Minister’s Widows Union. Rev. Dr. Kershaw served from 2011-2013 as a Member-At-Large on the American Baptist Women’s Ministries of Pennsylvania and Delaware’s Conference Planning Committee.

Rev. Dr. Kershaw’s speaking engagements have included small business conferences and educational organizations. She has served as a workshop presenter and facilitator at Women’s Retreats and conferences for Grace Baptist Church of Germantown and other churches. She has been a church-wide Study Instructor and speaker and has served as an instructor for the Grace Institute. Dr. Kershaw has been the recipient of numerous awards for personal achievements and government service.

Upon retirement, Rev. Dr. Kershaw was presented with the Defense Logistics Agency’s Distinguished Career Award, Retirement Certificate for 39 Years of Government Service by David F. Baucom, Rear Admiral, SC, USN, Commander (DLA, Troop Support) , Silver Letter from Mark Harnitchek, Vice Admiral, USN, Director (DLA) and a Congratulatory Letter from President Barack Obama dated August 12, 2013.

Rev. Dr. Suzanne H. Walls Kershaw is the widow of the Late Rev. Charles Edward Kershaw, who served faithfully as Assistant to the Pastor (Rev. Dr. G. Daniel Jones) for ten (10) years and as an Associate Minister at the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown. She is the mother of Chrystal, Angela, Charles Ryan and Derrick, grandmother to Deja, Jordan, Josiah, Ellise, Caylen, Dallas, Amber and great-grandmother to Ace.
Her life verse is Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Rev. Dr. James E. McJunkin, Jr.

The Rev. Dr. James E. McJunkin, Jr. has served as Executive Minister of the PBA since 2002. Dr. McJunkin provides administrative leadership to PBA’s 124 congregations with more than 60,000 members from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. He assists the PBA Board of Directors in visioning, goal-setting and building healthy and productive relationships among its congregations and the American Baptist Churches. He is committed to envisioning and promoting PBA regional goals and objectives and designing and implementing educational strategies for discipleship, evangelism, congregational transformation, and mission interpretation.

Passionate about missions, Rev. McJunkin actively participates in co-creating opportunities for PBA churches to live out their American Baptist call to missions. Together with PBA staff, he provides meaningful support to local pastors and congregations. His leadership in building and maintaining positive and productive relationships are viewed positively within PBA and across the country.

This is the second time that he has served in executive leadership of PBA. From 1986 to 1995 he was PBA’s Associate Executive Minister for Community Outreach and Area Ministry. As Associate Executive Director, he helped minister to several social concerns and community ministries such as the homeless, environmental justice, immigration policies, cross-cultural communication, and clergy training for pastors helping people with AIDS.

Dr. McJunkin came to PBA in 2001 to serve as Executive Minister after providing executive leadership to African-American Interdenominational Ministries (1993 to 2001). There he led a coalition of 400 African-American pastors across several Protestant denominations in Philadelphia. He also developed and secured funding for programs that addressed issues such as Christian education, evangelism, clergy training, mentoring programs for high-risk youth, health care-initiatives, and HIV Aids prevention.

Rev. Dr. McJunkin was ordained in 1983. He has a Doctorate of Ministry degree from the New York Theological Seminary, a M.Div. from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, OH, and a Bachelor of Arts from Livingston College, in Salisbury, NC.

Minister Dr. Clifford L. Stanley

Dr. Clifford L. Stanley has dedicated his life to serving God. Here at Grace, he currently serves as an Associate Minister after serving several years on the Deacons Ministry, the Pastoral Search Committee, Long Range Planning Committee and the Drama Guild Ministry. He is an active participant in the following: Leadership Development Committee, Senior Choir, Men’s Chorus, Monday- Tuesday Bible Study and the Wednesday Noon-Day Prayer Service. Dr. Stanley also serves as a member on the External Diversity and Inclusion Council for Charter Communications (Spectrum), and as a Director on the Board of Seminars International, Inc.

Dr. Clifford L. Stanley currently serves as an advisor and assessor with the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches, and as a core team member of Impact Business Coaches, a company dedicated to creating cultures where people look forward to coming to work on Monday.

Dr. Stanley was sworn in as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on February 16, 2010. He served as the senior policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on recruitment, career development, pay and benefits for 1.4 million active duty military personnel, 1.3 million Guard and Reserve personnel, 680,000 DoD civilians, and was responsible for overseeing the overall state of military readiness.

Prior to assuming his position as the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Dr. Stanley was President of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit, private-sector scholarship organization. He also served on the senior leadership team of the University of Pennsylvania as the Executive Vice President. In that capacity, he was responsible to the president for the non-academic functions of the university, such as business, finance, facilities maintenance, and campus security. Secretary Stanley, a retired United States Marine Corps infantry officer, served 33 years in uniform, retiring as a Major General. His last position was as the Deputy Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Quantico, Virginia. Additionally, he served as the Marine Corps Principal Representative to the Joint Requirements Board which supported the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in carrying out his responsibilities.

Other leadership positions included: Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twenty-nine Palms, CA; Director of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington DC; Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, (Manpower Plans & Policy); Commanding Officer, 1st Marine Regiment, Desk Officer in the Office of the Assistant Secretary Of Defense, East Asia and Pacific Region; Advisor to the Secretary of Defense on POW/MIA Affairs; Special Assistant and Marine Corps Aide for the Assistant Secretary of the Navy; and instructor at the US Naval Academy. Secretary Stanley was also a White House Fellow where he served as Special Assistant to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Dr. Stanley is a graduate of South Carolina State University. He received his Master of Science degree from Johns Hopkins University, graduating with honors. His formal military education includes Amphibious Warfare School, the Naval War College, Honor Graduate of Marine Corps Command and Staff College, and National War College. Dr. Stanley earned his Doctorate Degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and holds Honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from South Carolina State University and Spalding University. Additionally, he holds a Doctor of Science, Honoris Causa, from The Medical University of South Carolina and Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Stillman College.

Stanley’s military honors include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Navy Achievement Medal. His civilian awards include receiving the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s (N.A.A.C.P.) Meritorious Service Award, the N.A.A.C.P. Roy Wilkins Award, and the American Legion Award for Inspirational Leadership. Stanley and his wife, Rosalyn Hill Stanley, have one daughter, Dr. Angela Yvonne Stanley, Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired).

Rev. Brian Roy Wallace

Rev. Brian Roy Wallace was born and raised in Philadelphia and is a product of the School District of Philadelphia. Rev. Wallace earned his Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Kindergarten Education from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania in May 2001. Rev. Wallace attained his Master of Science in Educational Administration with a Principal Certificate from Gwynedd-Mercy College in May 2006. He is currently enrolled in the Arcadia University Educational Leadership Doctoral Program and Superintendent Certification Program.

He was licensed to preach the gospel by the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown in 2008, where he serves as an Associate Rev.. He graduated with a Masters of Divinity from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2015.

Rev. Wallace was employed as a teacher in the School District of Philadelphia from 2001-2009 then Vice Principal of the Lawton School in the School District of Philadelphia from 2009-2012. He was appointed Principal of the Morton McMichael Elementary School from 2012-2019. He is currently the Principal of the Elkins Park Middle School in the Cheltenham School District.

Rev. Wallace has actively served his own Boy Scout Troop 358, where he earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and was also the Scoutmaster from 2003-2014. Rev. Wallace is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and other fraternal organizations.

In 2008, Rev. Wallace led his troop and became the only Boy Scout Troop to march in Barack Obama’s Presidential Parade. The troop marched in Barack Obama’s second parade in 2012. The troop also marched in the 2021 Virtual Inaugural Parade for President Joe Biden.

Rev. Wallace is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow and served as Lodge Chief of all the Scouts in the Philadelphia Area for Unami Lodge One of the Order of the Arrow in 1997. He was a proud staff member of the Treasure Island Camp Staff where he has served as Scout Craft Director, Aquatic Director and Assistant Program Director. He also received NYLT National Camp School and the prestigious Wood Badge training. He has served on the Board of the Cradle of Liberty Council Boy Scouts of America. Rev. Wallace has received several awards from the Boy Scouts of America that includes the Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, Founders Award and The Good Citizenship Award.

Rev. Wallace has also served other organizations. Mr. Wallace was the Camp Director for the YMCA. In 2004, he was the Employee of the Year. He also serves his church as an Associate Rev. and is the Vice Chair for the Board of Christian Education. During 2011-2013, he served as Intern Pastor at Miller Memorial Baptist Church. In 2019, he was the Grace Baptist Church of Germanton Man of the Year.

Rev. Wallace lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with his wife, Sharice Cummings Wallace, and his daughter, Jasmine Reese Wallace. He is the son of LeRoy and Julia Wallace. He has one sister, Felicia Wallace-Benton, and brother-in-law, Michael Benton.

Rev. Carmen Watson

Reverend Carmen Watson attended Cedar Crest College and graduated receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Technology. Reverend Carmen Watson did her internship at Allentown General Hospital in 1977 and was the first black person to be accepted into the program. Her training was focused in the clinical laboratory world of medicine.

In her forty-one year professional career, she has held varying supervisory positions in the Department of Clinical Chemistry. She was promoted to the position of Campus Administrative Director of Pathology for Fox Chase Cancer Center and Jeanes Hospital in 2012. She now works with thirteen Pathologists, eleven supervisors and one hundred and twenty employees. Her responsibilities are extended in many directions as she is a member of several committees for both hospitals e.g. Operations, Patient Safety, Joint Commission, Performance Improvement, Patient Satisfaction and many others.

Reverend Carmen Watson is married to Joe Watson. To this union, they were blessed with two beautiful daughters Jeanine and Jennifer.

Reverend Carmen Watson began worshiping at the Grace Baptist Church of Germantown in 1990. Being an active member, she has served as an Adult Sunday School Teacher, member of the Joint Board, Executive Council, Board of Christian Education, Long Range Planning Committee, Co-Coordinator of the Grace Day Community Outreach Ministry, Co-Coordinator of the Birthday Party for Jesus Outreach Ministry, Parents of the Youth Group, Youth Ministries helper, Women’s Retreat helper and a Children’s and Youth Retreat Discussion Leader. She was appointed as the Director of Children’s Church and has been serving in this capacity for twenty-two years. Reverend Watson also supports and encourages varying ministries of the church as she is known as an advocate and cheerleader.

Reverend Carmen Watson graduated from Palmer Theological Seminary in May of 2010 earning her Masters of Divinity. She completed all requirements for Ordination and was recommended to proceed to Ordination in December 2013. In May of 2013, Reverend Carmen Watson was ordained.

Reverend Carmen Watson has an infectious spirit of fun and joy serving the Lord. She continuously strives to utilize her teaching and preaching gifts with enthusiasm and real hands on experiences.

Reverend Carmen Watson’s life verse –

Phil. 4:6, 7

Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.