Vice President, Ministry Innovation
The Reverend Dr. Jerry L. Cannon has been Vice President, Ministry Innovation at The Board of Pensions of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2022. He is responsible for exploring solutions that will break new ground in the support of small-church and nontraditional ministries. Jerry leads the Board’s Shared Ministry Program, a dues incentive program enabling two or more congregations to work together and call full-time pastoral leadership. He also oversees the Board’s Benefits Grants for Organizing Pastors and Evangelists, supporting evangelism efforts of economically challenged communities planting churches and cultivating new ministries.
Jerry manages the Board’s relationship with churches and caucus groups, including the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches, and Hispanic/Latinx National Caucus of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
A lifelong Presbyterian who has long been active in the national Church, Jerry served more than 30 years as pastor of C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, a thriving congregation in Charlotte, North Carolina, and one of the largest Black congregations in the PC(USA). The congregation nearly tripled in size during his service and engaged in extensive community-based ministry and bridge-building.
Jerry has held several high-profile roles within the PC(USA), including leadership within the African American Intercultural Congregational Support Office. He also served as President of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus and as a Minister of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the Presbyterian Foundation.
A former member of the Board of Pensions Board of Directors, he served on the Assistance and Church Engagement and Pension committees and was a Board representative to the Diverse Voices Table of the PC(USA).
Jerry holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Virginia State University, a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center (Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary), and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary.
Contact information
Call Jerry at 267-432-8929 or email him.