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The Pastors of Taylor Church
1987 - Present
1987 - 1998
Reverend
Warner Harrison Brown, Jr. served as Taylor’s ninth pastor from 1987 to 1998. He was born in Baltimore, MD. He received
his B.A. degree in Sociology with a specialization in criminology from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD in 1969.
In 1974, he received the Masters of Divinity Degree from Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, D.C. In 1973, he was ordained
Deacon by Bishop James Matthews in the Baltimore Conference and transferred to the Western Pennsylvania Conference. In 1975,
he became an Ordained Elder under Bishop Roy Nichols, Western Pennsylvania Conference. From 1973 to 1975, he was Pastor of
Church of Our Savior, Pittsburgh, PA, and Director of Bethany Housing Ministries. From 1975 to 1979, he was pastor of Warren
United Methodist Church, Pittsburgh, PA. In 1979, he transferred to the California-Nevada Conference where he became Associate
Director and then Director, Conference Council on Ministries. From 1983 to 1987, he was Superintendent of the Golden Gate
District, California-Nevada Conference. As minister of Taylor, Reverend Brown initiated many new and innovative programs under
the Church slogan “Catch the Spirit”. His leadership in the church and community were outstanding and he received
numerous honors and accolades during his tenure. In 1998, he was given a new challenge as Senior Pastor of First U.M.C. of
Bakersfield, CA. Only two years into this pastorate, he was elected a Bishop of the United Methodist Church and assigned to
the Denver Episcopal Area of the Western Jurisdictional Conference. In 2008, Bishop Brown was reassigned to lead the California-Nevada
Conference.
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1995 - 2003
Reverend Lorraine McNeal seved as Associate Pastor of Taylor
Church from 1995 to 2003. She was born in Hempstead, TX ,and spent her formative years in the Bay Area. She was educated
in Oakland public schools and graduated from Castlemont High School. Rev. McNeal continued her education at the University
of California, Berkeley and California State University, San Francisco. She is a graduate of the Pacific School of Religion.
Rev. Lorranie brought to Taylor a strong backgrounod in human relations. She has worked as a bus driver for AC Transit, as
a Child Protection Social Worker for the State of Alaska, and as a Children's Placement Worker for Alameda County, CA. She
has served the following churches: Round Valley UMC in Covelo, CA; Boulder Creek UMC, Boulder Creek, CA; St. Paul's UMC in
San Jose, CA; Taylor Memorial UMC; and Los Altos UMC as Minister of Discipleship. In 2003, Rev. McNeal was appointed
and is currently serving as Senior Pastor of Downs Memorial United Methodist Church in Oakland, CA.
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1998 - 2010
Reverend
Ronald Edward Swisher was appointed Taylor’s tenth Senior Pastor in 1998 and served to 2010. He was born in
Oakland, California. He attended and graduated from the University of San Francisco,
then attended Seminary at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. In 1972, his senior year in Seminary,
Rev. Swisher became the Youth Minister at Elmhurst United Methodist Church in Oakland, CA. The following year he
was ordained and became Elmhurst U.M.C.'s Pastor. He served in this position for five years. From 1978 to 1990 he
was Pastor of Easter Hill United Methodist Church in Richmond, CA. In 1990, Bishop Melvin G. Talbert of the California/Nevada
Conference appointed him District Superintendent of the Sacramento Area. Rev. Swisher attended the opening celebration
for the United Methodist Church sponsored Africa University in Zimbabwe. He also served as the Western Jurisdiction representative
on the Development Committee of Africa University. Rev. Swisher has served for six years on the National Board of Directors
of the United Methodist Church Black Methodist for Church Renewal. During the 1990's Rev. Swisher served for eight years
on the Board of Directors of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church, San Francisco, CA, including four years as
its President. He also served as Glide's Minister of Congregational Life. In 2010, Rev. Swisher was appointed
and is currently serving as Senior Pastor of St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Orinda, California
2010 - Present Reverend Andrea Davidson was appointed eleventh Senior Pastor of Taylor Church
on July 1, 2010. Reverend Davidson, whose family roots originated in Jamaica, is a native of Long Island, New York. She is
a graduate of the University of Maryland at College Park, where she earned a B.S. in Finance. Prior to being called to the
ministry, she worked as a software engineer and consultant to a number of telecommunication corporations. She later attended
Union Theological Seminary in New York, where she received her Master of Divinity degree. Reverend Davidson followed by serving
as one of the pastors at Grace Baptist Church, in Mt. Vernon, New York. While serving that congregation of more than 3,000
members, she directed the church's local social service and community development activities. Her work, with an assortment
of corporate, civic, religious and non-profit organizations and agencies, allowed her to merge and pursue her passion for
spiritual development with her advocacy for economic and educational equity. Rev. Davidson came to Taylor Church from Pacific
School of Religion (PSR) and Epworth United Methodist Church, both of which are located in Berkeley, California. At PSR, she
served as Worship Director and Campus Pastor. Rev. Davidson also served as an Associate Pastor at Epworth UMC, where she worked
especially to revitalize and enhance youth and adult activities beyond worship service.
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Copyright 2008 Taylor Memorial United Methodist Church
1188-12th Street, Oakland, CA 94607
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