Mt-Olivet Baptist Rochester, NY

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Pastors

1910 - 1912 Rev. Sedley E. Lee		Our 1^st pastor served 2 years. Rev. Sedley E. Lee and a group of Rochester’s Third Ward citizens convened to organize Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Mt. Olivet was organized as a Church by the 83rd Monroe Baptist Association Annual Session. He led the delegation that met with the Monroe Baptist Association to have Mt. Olivet recognized as a Baptist Church by the council. On October 14, 1910 the council approved Mt. Olivet’s request. The old George Hall on South Avenue served as the first official church site. The church later moved to Odd Fellows Hall at 100 Caledonia Avenue, now Clarissa Street.
1912 - 1915 Rev. Charles D. Hubert		Our 2^nd pastor served 3 years. Rev. A. M. Kearney served as interim pastor until Rev. Hubert accepted. He was the was the first African American to attend the Rochester Theological Seminary. During his pastorate Hubert Hall on Adams Street, the current church site, was erected.
1915 - 1918 Rev. L. B. Brown		Our 3^rd pastor came from Chicago and he served 3 years.
1918 - 1920 Rev. Singleton M. Batchalar		Our 4^th pastor came from Tennessee and he served 2 years.
1920 - 1942 Rev. Dr. James E. Rose		Our 5^th pastor was a graduate of Howard University and Rochester Theological Seminary. He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Howard University and was widely known as a fighter for Social Justice. The membership grew. In 1923, building of the new sanctuary was started and was dedicated on January 23, 1927. He served for 22 years until his death in 1942.
1942 - 1956 Rev. Dr. Charles Boddie		Our 6^th pastor was a graduate of Colgate Divinity, received a Doctor of Divinity Degree from Keuka College, organized the Rose Memorial Fellowship and help the church break ground for the Education Building in August 1955. He helped the church liquidate its mortgage on the old sanctuary that was built in 1926. He served 4 years.
1956 - 1967 Rev. Arthur L. Whitaker		Our 7^th pastor was from Malden, Massachusetts. He graduated from Harvard University Divinity School, the Andover Newton Theological School. During his tenure the Education building known as Whitaker Hall was completed. He helped dedicate the Education Building on March 5, 1958. He served 11 years.
1967 - 1989 Rev. Dr. Leardrew Johnson		Our 8^th pastor was from New York City. He graduated from Virginia University, received both his Master and Doctorate Degrees from Colgate Rochester Divinity School. He established the Scholarship Fund, the Senior Citizen's Fellowship and the New Sanctuary Building Fund. He served 22 years and retired becoming the Pastor Emeritus.
1989 - 2006 Rev. Dr. Dwight E. Cook		Our 9^th pastor was from Roswell, Georgia. He graduated from Tuskegee University. Morehouse College School of Religion and received his Doctor of Ministry Degree from Drew University School of Theology. Under his leadership, a Family Care Ministry was been established, a discipleship and bible study program was developed, summer bash was organized and an Alzheimer support ministry was developed. He established a Youth Ministry focus and hired the First Youth Minister, Rev. James McCarroll. A new sanctuary was constructed and he moved the congregation to this area June 20, 1999. He served 16 years. Rev. Lawrence Hargrave is now servicing as the Interim Pastor.
2008 - current Rev. Rickey B. Harvey		Our 10^th pastor is from Memphis, Tennessee. He has earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Memphis, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary - California and a Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Tennessee School of Religion.
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