1941 – 1958

   

Reverend Dr. Charles L. Warren was Taylor’s fifth pastor serving from 1940 to 1958. He was born on August 1, 1921, in Victoria, Texas. He received his A.B. degree in 1933 from Samuel Houston College (now Houston-Tillotson College) in Austin, TX. He received his B.D. degree from Gammon Theological Seminary, Atlanta, GA, in 1936. In 1937, the S.T.M. Degree was conferred upon him by Boston University School of Theology. Both Houston-Tillotson and Gammon Theological Seminary conferred upon him degrees of Doctor of Divinity. While in Oakland, he was vice-president of the Council of Churches and chairman of the Department of Human Relations. He was elected delegate to numerous General and Jurisdictional Conferences of the Methodist Church. In 1958, he transferred from the California-Nevada Conference to the New York Conference of the Methodist Church, where he became minister of St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Harlem, the largest Methodist Church in the Northeastern Jurisdiction - which is comprised of eleven states. In 1964, he became District Superintendent of the Metropolitan District of the New York Conference. Later, he became Executive Director of the Council of Churches of Greater Washington headquartered in Washington, D.C. He held this position until his death in October 1971.

 

 

Reverend Dr. Robert D. Hill became Taylor’s sixth pastor in 1958.  He was born in Texas. He received his education at Samuel Houston College, Boston University School of Theology, University of Southern California and the University of the Pacific. The University of the Pacific bestowed upon him the Doctor of Divinity degree. His pastorates include: St. Andrews Methodist Church, Worchester, MA; Scott Methodist Church, Pasadena, CA; and Mt. Zion Methodist Church, New Orleans, LA. He was an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the “Boule”. Under his leadership at Taylor the congregation grew from 930 members to 1,403 members. The membership expressed a desire to again expand their facilities and called upon Dr. Hill to use his expertise in helping them to attain their goal. With his guidance, the membership pledged and raised $75,000 for expansion purposes. In 1966, Dr. Hill was appointed District Superintendent of the Golden Gate District. He served in this capacity until 1972.

 

 

Reverend Dr. Thomas P. Grissom, Jr., served as Taylor’s seventh pastor from 1966 to 1972. He was born in Bronx, New York. Reverend Grissom was educated at Clark College and Gammon Seminary, Atlanta, GA. He did further study at Atlanta University; Columbia University, New York; Paine College; and San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA. He pastured churches in Augusta, GA, Columbus, GA, La Grange, GA, Covington, GA, New York City and Brooklyn, NY and Oakland, CA. Under the administration of the charismatic and innovative Rev. Grissom, the church continued their efforts toward expansion and the building program of Taylor Church initiated under Dr. Hill. Adjacent land was acquired and preliminary plans were drawn up for the new Multi-purpose Facility. Also, Taylor Church became the proud owners of a Public Housing Unit. In 1972, Rev. Grissom was appointed to the office of District Superintendent of the San Jose District. He served in this capacity for 6 years. He then served as Senior Pastor of First Methodist Church in Sacramento, CA, and subsequently became Senior Pastor of Salem United Methodist Church, New York, NY.