Rev. Eldren D. Morrison
Pastor, Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church
Presiding Elder, South Korea Annual Conference
The Reverend Eldren D. Morrison is blessed to stand in the Shaw Temple pulpit and preach the Word of God with compassion, clarity and conviction.
Pastor 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., and his grandfather, the late Reverend R.A. Morrison Sr.
By the age of twelve, Pastor 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, who was the Pastor of Steele Hill A.M.E. Zion Church Lancaster, SC.
Right out of high school Pastor Morrison was appointed to his first pastorate. During this time he matriculated at Zion’s chief institution, Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC. From beneath, “Thy maples and Oaks” at Livingstone to Albertus Magnus College, and then to the campus of United Theological Seminary, Pastor Morrison values the blessing of education and academic success in preparation for ministry and for life.
Pastor Morrison has been blessed to serve several congregations in Zion including: Warner Temple A.M.E Zion Church, Lancaster, SC. Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church, Heath Springs, SC. Metropolitan A.M.E Zion Church, ‘The Mother Church of Zion Methodism in South Carolina,’ Chester, SC. Liberty Hill A.M.E. Zion Church, Lake Wylie, SC, which during Pastor Morrison’s pastorate grew to became our largest congregation in the state of South Carolina.
Pastor 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., and his grandfather, the late Reverend R.A. Morrison Sr.
By the age of twelve, Pastor 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, who was the Pastor of Steele Hill A.M.E. Zion Church Lancaster, SC.
Right out of high school Pastor Morrison was appointed to his first pastorate. During this time he matriculated at Zion’s chief institution, Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC. From beneath, “Thy maples and Oaks” at Livingstone to Albertus Magnus College, and then to the campus of United Theological Seminary, Pastor Morrison values the blessing of education and academic success in preparation for ministry and for life.
Pastor Morrison has been blessed to serve several congregations in Zion including: Warner Temple A.M.E Zion Church, Lancaster, SC. Pleasant Hill A.M.E. Zion Church, Heath Springs, SC. Metropolitan A.M.E Zion Church, ‘The Mother Church of Zion Methodism in South Carolina,’ Chester, SC. Liberty Hill A.M.E. Zion Church, Lake Wylie, SC, which during Pastor Morrison’s pastorate grew to became our largest congregation in the state of South Carolina.
After Zion’s second oldest congregation had fallen on hard times in Connecticut, in 2007 one of Pastor Morrison’s mentors, Bishop George E. Battle Jr. appointed him to Varick Memorial, New Haven, CT. During Pastor Morrison’s pastorate Varick Memorial dramatically grew and developed from about 250 members to well over 2,000 members, with 3 Sunday worship services. Often services had to be taken off site to house the amount of people who would attend at different time of the year. Varick became the cities church, and serving the larger New Haven Community was never a burden to the church. In 2009 recognizing the need for more high quality educational options for the New Haven community Pastor 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 presently is recognized as a Connecticut School of distinction and serves 400 over young scholars.
While in New Haven Pastor Morrison was a much sought after community leader and builder and was apart the redevelopment of The Dixwell corridor, a trustee of the Hannah Gray Home for seniors, Founder of (V.C.E.) Varick Center for Empowerment Community Development Corporation, Fire Commissioner, Trustee of the City of New Haven Pension Board, Yale Community Partners Board for Yale Center for Clinical Investigations and a founding member of New Haven Bridges of Hope.
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.
He received awards from numerous organizations mayors and local officials. Governor Daniel P. Malloy valued a close working relationship with Pastor Morrison and honoured him on several occasions and Pastor Morrison was recognized as New Haven’s Person of the Year.
While in New Haven Pastor Morrison was a much sought after community leader and builder and was apart the redevelopment of The Dixwell corridor, a trustee of the Hannah Gray Home for seniors, Founder of (V.C.E.) Varick Center for Empowerment Community Development Corporation, Fire Commissioner, Trustee of the City of New Haven Pension Board, Yale Community Partners Board for Yale Center for Clinical Investigations and a founding member of New Haven Bridges of Hope.
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.
He received awards from numerous organizations mayors and local officials. Governor Daniel P. Malloy valued a close working relationship with Pastor Morrison and honoured him on several occasions and Pastor Morrison was recognized as New Haven’s Person of the Year.
After a successful pastorate in New Haven on August 13, 2016 Bishop Mildred B. Hines appointed Pastor Morrison as the pastor of the Shaw Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Zion’s flagship congregation in the South Atlantic Episcopal Area. Most recently Pastor Morrison led Shaw Temple in historically hosting both the 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference and the 12th Quadrennial Lay Convention in 2021. Pastor Morrison is working to ensure that Shaw Temple continue to grow and enlarge its impact in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. Through partnerships, education and civic engagement Shaw Temple is deepening its roots in Cobb and Fulton counties.
August 3, 2021 Bishop Hines appointed Pastor Morrison as the Presiding Elder of the South Korea Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church, which is apart of the South Atlantic Episcopal District.
Pastor Morrison is married to the former Ms. Stachia L. Coleman. Lady Stachia has a great love for children and education, which is her own ministry. Lady Stachia is unquestionably Pastor Morrison’s number one supporter. Pastor and Mrs Morrison are the proud parents of Ava Elizabeth and Ian Alexander.
Currently Pastor Morrison serves on several boards and organizations; Founder of (EDM) Encouraging Disciples Ministry INC. The Connectional Budget Board the A.M.E. Zion Church, Yale University Community Partners Board, Booker T. Washington Academy- New Haven. The Shaw Temple Academy Board Chairman, Cobb County Ministers Alliance, Trustee of Clinton College, Trustee of Stonehaven School and Cobb Country Sherriff’s Department Chaplain.
August 3, 2021 Bishop Hines appointed Pastor Morrison as the Presiding Elder of the South Korea Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church, which is apart of the South Atlantic Episcopal District.
Pastor Morrison is married to the former Ms. Stachia L. Coleman. Lady Stachia has a great love for children and education, which is her own ministry. Lady Stachia is unquestionably Pastor Morrison’s number one supporter. Pastor and Mrs Morrison are the proud parents of Ava Elizabeth and Ian Alexander.
Currently Pastor Morrison serves on several boards and organizations; Founder of (EDM) Encouraging Disciples Ministry INC. The Connectional Budget Board the A.M.E. Zion Church, Yale University Community Partners Board, Booker T. Washington Academy- New Haven. The Shaw Temple Academy Board Chairman, Cobb County Ministers Alliance, Trustee of Clinton College, Trustee of Stonehaven School and Cobb Country Sherriff’s Department Chaplain.
However, at the end of the day Pastor Morrison is proud to still a “South Carolina preacher.” He absolutely loves preaching and preachers, often you will find him talking about preaching giants he admires like the late, R.A. Morrison Sr. W.O. Thompson, Manuel Scott Sr., Caesar A.W. Clark, or G.E. Patterson.
By the grace of God Pastor Morrison’s life is described in Romans 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, and to those who are called according to his purpose.”
By the grace of God Pastor Morrison’s life is described in Romans 8:28 “For we know that all things work together for good, to those who love God, and to those who are called according to his purpose.”
Thank you for visiting our 2024 Regional Meeting site for the Southeastern Region Christian Education Department of the African American Episcopal Zion Church.