ABOUT US
ABOUT US
Welcome to Carter Temple CME Church. We're so glad you're here! This is a great place to know about us and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Undoubtedly, God has created each and every one of us for a specific reason. We believe that God has put together this church one person at a time. This page is dedicated to sharing who we are as a church and who we are as individuals. We want you to feel as welcome as possible. If you have any questions at all feel free to reach out to us.
*We will return to limited capacity, in-person worship on Sunday, December 5, 2021 at 10am! Please check our home page for registration details or text "Register" to 773-966-0080.
About Our Pastor
A native of Detroit, Michigan, Pastor Joseph B. Gordon accepted his call to ministry at the age of 15. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Communications and a Master of Divinity from the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL. He continued his studies at the Institute of Church Administration and Management at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He has an earned Doctor of Ministry degree in Prophetic Preaching and Congregational Leadership from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH. Dr. Gordon’s commitment to excellence through education is directly attributable to his capabilities, not only as a preacher of the gospel, but also as a transformational teacher in practical theology. He has a great love for the people of God, particularly those who are on the fringes of society. Pastor Gordon is married to Lady Nivea Gordon.
Dr. Gordon is blessed to be an invited preacher, teacher, and revivalist across the United States. He was blessed to be an inaugural presenter at the Styberg Preaching Institute at Garrett Seminary and also received the Styberg Award for excellence in homiletics as well as the 2011 Outstanding Minister Award from the Phillips School of Theology at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA. He’s also a three-time recipient of the Spirit of Detroit Award. Pastor Gordon serves as an advisory board member for Brothers and Sisters United against HIV/AIDS (BASUAH) in Illinois. He is the current Budget Director for the Third Episcopal District of the C.M.E. Church, as well as the chairman of the Joint Board of Finance of the Southeast MO, IL and WIS Region, and held the same position in the Michigan-Indiana Region. He currently serves as the president of Chicago District Ministerial Alliance (CME Church). He also served on the Board of Directors for the Storehouse of Hope, a church and nonprofit collaborative in Detroit’s Northend neighborhood. His affiliations and experiences include: public relations aide for Congressman John Conyers, Jr., the NAACP (as a community-faith liaison), Detroit’s Community Faith Initiative, Garrett-ETS field education supervisor and mentor, a delegate to the General Conference of the C.M.E. Church, One Church One School (Board of Directors), the Conference of National Black Churches, a founding member of the Black Methodist Alliance of Detroit, past president of the Detroit District Ministerial Alliance, and a member of the Pan-Methodist Commission. Dr. Gordon currently serves on the National Council of Churches, where he is a member of the Intergenerational Think Tank and the Faith and Order Commission. He also works alongside interdenominational and community leaders on Chicago’s Southside.
Prior to Carter Temple, Dr. Gordon served as senior pastor in four assignments in the states of Illinois and Michigan. Under his leadership, there were increases in stewardship, membership and community involvement. But, more importantly, lives have been changed and souls have been won for the kingdom of God. His passions are preaching, teaching and working with civic and community leaders, health care issues and other concerns directly related to the African American experience and the urban church.
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The mission of Carter Temple CME Church is to be disciples of Jesus the Christ by serving individuals, communities and the world as representatives of the loving presence of God and as witnesses to God's salvation and grace.
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Carter Temple is a church that is intentional about kingdom-focused discipleship. We will build that kingdom of God through worship and ministries that build relationships (CONNECT), offer opportunities for service and outreach (SERVE), and enhance authentic discipleship (GROW).
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We are called to join in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. We believe that reaching out to the lost and engaging with them will strengthen our bond with each other through God.
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"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16 (NLT)
The Lord wants to have a personal relationship with you. God is waiting to help you fulfill your potential and live out your purpose. But your ultimate success depends on your relationship with him. By accepting Jesus as your Savior, you are free to live a transformed life, free from fear and uncertainty about your future.
If you're planning to visit us on a Sunday morning, please be sure to stop by our Guest Kiosk - located near the main entrance off of 79th Street. We'd love to share some information about our church with you!
Carter Temple is a mature, thriving congregation. We began in 1921 in the home of Mrs. Lula Wheeler and it was Bishop Randall Carter who arranged the purchase of the original property for $21,000, as Carter Temple officially opened on July 17, 1921 at 4310 A. Champlain Ave.
The journey continued in 1965 to our present home at 7841 S. Wabash Ave! From that time until now, Carter Temple has been known as a teaching church with a heart for the community. In 2014, Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr. appointed Pastor Joseph B. Gordon as senior pastor. Pastor Gordon has led Carter Temple with compassion and a community-focused orientation.
Structure
One of the tenets of the Methodist church is that there is an operational framework for how we conduct the business of the church. The C.M.E. Church is connectional, meaning that the church is linked and relational; the relationships and linkages are maintained and supervised through the work of different levels of conferences. For more information about the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, visit www.thecmechurch.org.
1921
Established in July of 1921
1965
Moved to our current location
2021
100th Church Anniversary
Make sure to stay tuned in on everything that is going on. We have a ton of fun events & classes coming up. Sign up for our Newsletter today!