Our Pastor, Bishop Harold Edwards

Bishop Harold Edwards is the senior Pastor of the Church of the Living God, Temple 145, where he has served since August 1998. He began his ministry in June 1957, and has been actively engaged in the ministry since that time. He began preaching in his early teens and for more than fifty years has been faithful to his calling. Having been born, reared, and educated in the city schools of Los Angeles, California, he graduated from Jefferson High School, Los Angeles City College, and Life Bible College with a Bachelor's Degree in Theology. In the late sixties, he united with the Church of the Living God and was appointed to his first pastoral charge in San Diego, California, while working with the Southern Pacific Railroad in Accounting. After three years, the then Elder Edwards was transferred to Palo Alto, California to pastor and was able to transfer his secular employment with Southern Pacific to the corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California.

His work with the small congregation was impressive to the leadership of the brotherhood, and he was asked to fill a pulpit that had been vacant for more than three years in Wichita, Kansas. Because he was now vested with the Railroad, he accepted the challenge and uprooted himself and young family to the Midwest to accept this full-time pastorage.

His successful efforts were again called on by the brotherhood and he was re-assigned to Memphis, Tennessee. With each move he was given greater responsibility and challenge for service. In Memphis, he led this small congregation in a relocation program with the purchase of a three-story edifice and a full-time child care operation. During his tenure at Memphis, Dr. Edwards formally earned his Master's in Theology and Doctorate of Ministry Degrees from the Technical Institute of Biblical Studies (Orlando, Florida) and Dickerson Bible Institute respectively. After ten successful years, the brotherhood called upon him again to troubleshoot a struggling congregation. This move led him to Texas. Along with the assignment in Lufkin, came the promotion to "Overseer". Having served eight years in Lufkin he was re-assigned to Dallas, Texas, Temple 73, and as was his custom he gave his all to the work of the Kingdom.

Dr. Edwards is extremely active in both civic and religious organizations. He served as Overseer of the Twelfth Episcopal District, National Minister of Programs and Protocol, Vice-President of the Interdenominational Ministers Alliance of Dallas and Vicinity, and Chairman of the American Cancer Metro Board. In 2001, Dr. Edwards was inducted into the Religious Hall of Fame, and in 2002 he was elected to the office of Bishop in the Church of the Living God. Bishop Edwards completed his dissertation, "A Scriptural View of Grace" and earned the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Spring of 2004 from Vision International University.

Bishop and his wife, Dr. Jan Edwards, have 4 children, 6 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson.

Our Leaders

Our Ministerial Staff

Deacon Board

Sunday School Staff

Sis. Cleoria Snead - Superintendent

Sis. Varitia Brown - Primary Class

Evangelist Linda Whatley - Junior Class

Sis. Yolanda Brown - Inteen Class

Sis. Jacqueline Vaughn - Women's Class

Sis. Vernella Readus - Women's Class

Bishop Harold Edwards - Men's Class

Evangelist Patricia Sheppard - Substitute Teacher

Pastor Rodney Hines - Substitute Teacher