Second Baptist’s Rev. Coleman to be honored for service
Appreciation Luncheon Dec. 12; Last sermon Dec. 13
Rev. William E. Coleman Jr., has spent the past three years as Interim Pastor of Asbury Park’s Second Baptist Church, now celebrating its 130th anniversary.
Next month the church will honor his service during an appreciation luncheon from noon to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 at Jumping Brook Country Club in Neptune. His final sermon will be 10 a.m. Dec. 13 at Second Baptist Church.
“We are following up on the shoulders of a great legacy,” Rev. William E. Coleman has said of his work during his service to the church and its community. “We as a church have a history as a working cornerstone for social justice in the community. When I came here three years ago, I knew it was time for us to get back out on the street corners in order to see what we could do to rebuild our community and make it a safer place. This is a pivotal time for us.”
Coleman, who also serves as an Associate Minister at Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, is a crisis counselor and conflict resolution specialist. The father of five is married to Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, the first black woman from New Jersey to be elected to Congress.
Although he left a formal high school education at 14, Coleman went on to serve in the United States Army before receiving his GED through the University of Maryland, becoming a New York City police detective, and seminary graduate.
His book “Community Renewal Thru Rejuvenation of the Soul” addresses the basic building blocks of civic law and his IRISE acronym – the notion that utilizing integrated resources to help a community to work together for its overall betterment.
Perhaps his most known adage is: ‘Who am I – What is my name? What am I – Can I control my game?’
He has said his pastoral care is based on treating everyone with care and respect.
Coleman holds two master’s degrees, is a lecturer who has run Job Corps, served as President of the National African American Community College Trustee, Mercer Community College Trustee, St. Francis Hospital Chaplain for five years, and taught of Essex County Community College.
This past year, Coleman helped organize Brookdale Community College’s first Minority Male Initiative to help improve college graduations rates for male students of color.
A $45 donation is requested for the appreciation luncheon. For more information, call (732) 774-5347 or visit Second Baptist Church website.
[Photos courtesy of Second Baptist Church and Rev. Coleman]
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