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About Rev. Dr. Robert R.A. Turner

Rev. Dr. Robert Richard Allen Turner is a millennial who is passionate about his calling to serve this “present age” by speaking truth to power & by following the Word as printed in Isaiah 61 to “preach good tidings to the poor…heal the brokenhearted…proclaim liberty to the captives & the opening of the prison to those who are bound.”

 

Graduating Cum Laude from the Honors Program at the University of Alabama obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Spanish, Dr. Turner was the first Black Chief of Staff for the Student Government Association at the University of Alabama & was honored as the University’s Most Outstanding Male. He continued his education at Interdenominational Theological Center’s Turner Seminary in Atlanta, GA, acquiring a master’s degree in Divinity, graduating with honors.  Shortly after, he received his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. As a bonus, He is a proud lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

 

Dr. Turner started his advocacy work early in his career fighting for reparations, leading important movements & missions which led to a struggle over his calling.  Dr. Turner turned from pursuing a career in law to full time ministry beginning his journey traveling locally & abroad in support of missions’ work.  Through this work he grew closer to God, grasped a greater appreciation for living by FAITH alone & learned key insights on spiritual discipline which he still applies to his ministry today.

 

Dr. Turner is on fire for Jesus & has led several A.M.E. churches in Alabama, Oklahoma & now Baltimore Maryland. Through his leadership & guidance, each church was able to make essential ministry & building enhancements; increase membership & financial literacy, as well as implement 21st century technological improvements.

 

Dr. Turner served as Pastor of the historic Vernon A.M.E. Church, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has the only edifice that survived the 1921 Race Massacre on Greenwood. As the Pastor of Vernon, Dr. Turner helped to lead the fight for justice for the victims of the 1921 Race Massacre. His leadership roles spanned across different sectors during his time of ministry as the Academic Dean for Jackson Theological Seminary, National African American Reparations Commission, Board of Trustees for the American Village & Advisory Board of the Blackburn Institute, University of Alabama.

Presently, Dr. Turner is the Pastor of Empowerment Temple A.M.E. Church in Baltimore, MD where he began serving on September 26, 2021 continuing his passion & work in support of kingdom building, the empowerment of his parishioners & outreach to the community where every month he marches 40 miles from Baltimore to the White House for reparations. 

Dr. Turner also serves as a guest lecturer, life coach, trainer, presenter, facilitator & motivational speaker focusing on racism, community development, grassroots organizing, non-profit grant program management, faith-based community involvement & civic engagement.

 

Pastor Turner has proven to be well rounded in & outside of ministry receiving numerous awards & recognitions including, but not limited to the Tulsan of the Year (Tulsa World), Hometown Hero (Modern Woodmen); Nat Turner Award (African Ancestral Society); Community Service Award (Oklahoma Conference of Churches) Circle of Friends (Links); Fellow of the Year (Blackburn Institute); and the Trail Blazer Award (Tulsa Public Schools).  Dr. Turner has also been featured by numerous news media including CBS’s 60 Minutes & Evening News, ABC, BBC, CNN, Good Morning America, MSNBC, LA Times, New York Times, and the Washington Post along with Politico where he continues to ensure his message on social justice is heard.

 

Dr. Turner is a faithful husband & father.  He considers his greatest accomplishments in life to be his union with his lovely wife, Sheree’, of over 16 years & the birth of his sons, Robert Richard Allen Turner II (Deuce) & Malcolm Robert Martin Turner (Bobby).

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