| Our Pastor - Elder Carl A. Pierce, Sr. |
Carl Anthony Pierce, the eldest son of Sam and Dora Pierce, was born in Tyler,
Texas. He attended public schools there and excelled in his studies
ultimately being placed in the systems honor program. As an honor student, Carl achieved notoriety and was
appointed to various student committees and elected to numerous student council
positions. One of the pinnacles of
his involvement was his appointment as a member of the student unitary
committee; which, at the time, worked to ease racial tensions within the newly
integrated school system. His
contribution and high profile exposure in this position led to a seat on the
local school system’s student board.
From his early childhood, Carl was always very active in church related activities, having been reared by a God-fearing grandmother and great aunt. These saintly women of God instilled principles of holiness and were adamant about regular church attendance and his seeking of Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.
It was doing this time that his pastor, the late Elder W. B. Bookman, began mentoring young Carl. At one of the church services, in the absence of the regular musicians, he was instructed to come forth and play for the service. Prior to that time he had never played organ or piano before, but in obedience he came forth. From that day forward, Carl began playing and ultimately became the musician for the Smith Temple Church of God in Christ.
Being musically inclined, he enrolled in the school band during his seventh grade year, and each year sat as a member of the city-wide orchestra where he successfully triumphed over hundreds of other students from various schools in the area. His musical dexterity further led to a successful bid and musical experience with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra.
Carl’s desire for higher education, despite his commitment to his local church, caused his enrollment in Tyler Junior College (TJC) where he received the Associate of Arts degree in Communications. During his tenure at TJC he served as musician for the college gospel choir for two consecutive years. Upon completion, he relocated to Houston, Texas and received an undergraduate degree in communications from the University of Houston.
The first Sunday, after relocating to Houston, Carl attended Evangelist Temple Church of God in Christ and was invited by the pastor’s wife, First Lady Jessie M. Nelson, to share musically in the worship service. He consented, was invited back, and later became musician and Minister of Music of the church. The Evangelist Temple choir became recognized as one of Houston’s most celebrated church choirs traveling extensively ministering the gospel in song. Carl’s musical talent and ability to organize and conduct ministry workshops, along with his God-given anointing to minister effectively, caused the late Bishop Robert Earl Woodard, Sr., Jurisdictional Prelate, to appoint him to the position of State Minister of Music of the Texas Southeast First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church of God in Christ, Inc. In this position he was privileged to become associated with and tutored in music ministry by the late Dr. Mattie Moss Clark, International Music President, Church of God in Christ, Inc.
In 1984, Carl acknowledged his call to the ministry to his pastor, the late Dr. Joe Edward Nelson. However, Dr. Nelson went to be with the Lord before formally presenting him. In 1986, Bro. Carl A. Pierce was introduced and licensed to preach the gospel by Superintendent Rufus Kyles, Jr., the next pastor of Evangelist Temple Church.
In 1988 Minister Pierce relocated to Philadelphia to accept a managerial promotion with Paging Network, Inc. Within six months, his impact on the success of the operation and market warranted him the distinction of another promotion to Vice President & General Manager, resulting in his relocation to head the Baltimore/D.C market.
Upon relocation, Minister Pierce traveled extensively between the two cities before uniting with the Carter Memorial Church of God in Christ under the pastorate of (the then) Elder Frank James Ellis. Realizing the ministry commitment and calling upon the life of Minister Pierce, it was the pleasure of the late Bishop Robert Earl Woodard, Sr. to anoint and ordain him an Elder in December 1989.
Elder Pierce demonstrated himself as an armor bearer and labored close alongside the late Bishop Frank Ellis. His love of God and commitment to the church, along with his charismatic leadership qualities, caused Bishop Ellis to appoint him the Assistant Pastor of Carter Memorial Church on his birthday, July 2, 1994. Some years later, Bishop Ellis, at the leading of the Lord, distinguished Elder Pierce as his successor, the next pastor of the church. In 1999, Bishop Ellis experienced health concerns and thrust Elder Pierce to a greater responsibility in the ministry. During this time the church continued to grow, remained healthy, and maintained a strong state of the church.
On June 27, 2000, the Lord summonsed Bishop Frank J. Ellis from labor to reward. Elder Carl A. Pierce, Sr. was officially appointed and installed Pastor of Carter Memorial Church of God in Christ on July 2, 2000 by the Bishop David Washington Spann, Sr., Jurisdictional Prelate, Greater Maryland First Jurisdiction.
In addition to his pastoral duties, Elder Pierce serves on the board of St Ambrose Catholic School. He is also the Auxiliaries In Ministry Chairman of Greater Maryland First Jurisdiction, Church Of God In Christ, Inc. National COGIC positions include Executive Committee Member, General Assembly, Church Of God In Christ, Inc., and a member of the National Election Commission.
Elder Pierce is an anointed gospel preacher. In addition, he is a committed churchman, a lover of the Lord and His people. His gifts and talents are many, and he credits them all to the gracious, kind and wonderful God he serves.
He shares his accomplishments, dreams and futuristic vision with his wife, Kandace, daughter, Tiffany and son, Carl Jr.