Our Past Pastors
The church has been led by many compassionate ministers throughout the years, namely:
1822: Reverend Charles Spicer
1842: Reverend Eli N. Hall
1843: Reverend John Butler
1844: Reverend H. J. Johnson
1847: Reverend Richards Robinson
1848: Reverend Leven Tillman
1849: Reverend Peter Gardner
1850: Reverend H. J. Johnson
1852: Reverend Dayton Doyle
1853: Reverend Thomas M. Ward
1854: Reverend J.D.S. Hall
1855: Reverend Joseph R. Turner
1856: Reverend Lewis S. Lewis
1858: Reverend Jacob Mitchell
1860: Reverend Henry J. Young
1861: Reverend William Grimes
1871: Reverend Joseph G. Smith
1872: Reverend William Johnson
1873: Reverend John T. Hayslett
1875: Reverend Stephen Douglass
1876: Reverend E. W. Williams
1877: Reverend P. S. Stanford
1879: Reverend William J. Laws
1882: Reverend William J. Hunter
1885: Reverend John C. Brock
1888: Reverend F. J. Cooper
1889: Reverends John T. Hayslett, C.C. Felts, R. French Hurley, and William H. Bryant
1896: Reverends Francis F. Giles, W. H. Thomas, Israel Derricks, William A. Lynch, Reverdy C. Ransom, J. W. Morrishaw, J. T. Whitten, C. P. Cole, C. H. Yearwood, Henry M. Shields, and A. B. Morton
1915: Reverend D. Ormond Walker
1920: Reverends John Henderson, Edward K. Nichols, William H. Lacey, Charles Crawford, Isaiah A. McCoy, and Douglas Robinson
1935: Reverends Daniel E. Davis, Samuel P. Perry, R. Henry Gross, Norman Brown
1940 Reverends P. Vaugh Sterrett, Norman A. Hylton, Wilfred L. Griffith
1948 Reverends Vernon E. Carter, H. Solomon Hill, Julian J. Jenkins, John William Lee, and Daniel D. Davis
1952: Reverends Isaac R. Clark and George Richardson
1956: Reverends Forrest H. Worten and Edward Millette
1959: Reverend John W. Parker
1961: Reverend Melford A. Mesquitta
1979 Reverends Leotis Strong and Robert Woodbury
1984: Reverend Zedekiah I. Grady, III
1990: Reverend Charles Thompson
1992: Reverend Myron D. Howie
1993-1998: Reverend Idola Williams
1998-2007 Reverend Mark Green
2007-2010: Reverend Milna I. Johnson
2010-2015: Reverend Irma Thibodeaux
2015-2017: Reverend Kevin Taylor
2017-2019: Reverend Sharyn Halliday
2019-2021: Reverend Charles Cloy
2021-present: Reverend Dr. Sandra Gatlin Whitley
Meet Our Pastor
Reverend Dr. Sandra Gatlin Whitley, or Pastor Sandra, is many things: a prayer warrior, visionary teacher, preacher, marriage and family pastoral counselor, and author. She is someone who dedicates her existence to serving her fellow sisters and brothers. Her life journey is clearly embodied by the following passage:
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect…” —1Cor. 15:10

Her Childhood
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Pastor Sandra is the eldest daughter of eight children. When she was young, she experienced living in different parts of the world due to her father’s job in the military. She surrendered her heart to God as a teenager in East St. Louis, Illinois, and became a devout Christian. She moved back to Montgomery after the divorce of her parents.
Her Education
After graduating from George Washington Carver High School, she earned her bachelor of science degree in Business Administration from Alabama State University. While on active duty in the military, she finished her Masters degree in Management from Webster University. She also holds Master’s degrees in Divinity and Counseling, as well as a Doctorate of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Her Military Career
She served our country for 22 years after being commissioned an officer in the Air Force ROTC program. In her Air Force Contracting/Acquisition career specialty, she was assigned to different places like California and Japan. Apart from this, she also received many military decorations while serving in the following positions:
Chief and Director of Contracting, Master Instructor, Staff Officer, and Policy Writer for the Department of Defense at the Pentagon
Special Duty Assignment as Chief of Operations - Armed Forces Inaugural Committee in Support of the 53rd Presidential Inauguration
Her Spiritual Calling
Various experiences throughout her life have made her realize the need to fulfill her obligations to dedicate her life to the Lord’s Great Commission. As a military member and Christian servant-leader, she was actively involved in these chapel programs:
Bible Study Fellowship
Crown Financial Ministries Leader
Pentagon Christian Embassy Women's Bible Study Leader
Promise-Keepers Prayer Team Coordinator
Protestant Women of the Chapel President
Women's Ministry Conferences and Retreats
Titus II Women’s Advisor
Her love for the Lord is reflected in the following message:
“…He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit” —John 3:32-33
Serving as a Minister
She was the pastor for the People’s A.M.E. Church in Chelsea, Massachusetts for 14 years. Currently, she is serving her second pastorate, the Bethel A.M.E. Church of New Bedford. She is also an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who wholeheartedly shares wisdom with fellow children of God.
Her Affiliations
The following are the organizations she belongs in:
Air Force Association – Lifetime Member
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority – Lifetime Member
Governor’s Advisory Committee on Women Veterans – Appointed Member
Women in Military Service for America – Charter Member
Rotary Club International and Various Boards - Member
Her Work
Pastor Sandra wrote the book titled, “Daughters You Are Special: To Love and Be Loved By our Heavenly Father.” She did this as part of her mission to inspire other women in putting Christ in the center of their hearts.
Her Personal Life
She married her God-sent life and ministry partner, Reverend Kenneth Whitley. Together they rejoice in God’s love, travel, and take photos. They also love making their nieces, nephews, godchildren, and other loved ones very happy.
Get To Know Reverend Kenneth Whitley
Reverend Kenneth Whitley, also known as Rev. Ken, works side by side with Pastor Sandra in providing pastoral care to the members of the Bethel A.M.E. Church.
His Early Childhood
Rev. Ken was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he grew up in the inner city. Despite the divorce of his parents at a young age, he never failed to attend church regularly. His deep connection with his faith stayed with the help of a family friend who was an associate minister at a local church.
His Education
He was a humble boy who graduated from Philadelphia’s public school systems. Afterward, he got his tertiary education from the United States Air Force Academy, earning a bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science in the United States Air Force. He received a master’s degree in Administration from Central Michigan University. He also finished his Master of Divinity education in the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
His Struggles With Faith
As he was transitioning into a fully mature human being, he had a weak commitment to serving the Lord. His attendance to Sunday Worship Service became seldom. He then decided to reconnect with his lost devotion to God in his early thirties by fulfilling his pastor’s challenge. In the 1990s, he went back to living a Christ-centered life through baptism and being part of the church’s lay staff.
His Military Service
Rev. Ken served in the military as a commissioned U.S. Air Force second lieutenant as well as a navigator and acquisition program manager. As he approached his 26 years in active service, he was called by God to answer His Great Commission.
Meeting Pastor Sandra
On March 9, 1996, Rev. Ken met Pastor Sandra, the woman whom he would spend his life with. Together, they actively served as ordained ministers at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Boston and the Hanscom AFB Chapel in Bedford.
His Ministry Involvement
To fulfill his spiritual obligation to serve his fellow Christians, Rev. Ken also held the following positions:
Crown Financial Ministries Coordinator
Family Life Marriage coordinator
Men’s Ministry Coordinator
Men’s Retreat Coordinator
Parish Council (Trustee Board) President
Praise Leader
Protestant Program Coordinator
Revival and Anniversary Coordinator
Sunday School Teacher
Vacation Bible School Volunteer
Worship Service Leader
Recent Endeavors
During the 157th Session of the New England Annual Conference in 2008, Rev. Ken was ordained as an Itinerant Elder. At the present, he continues to incorporate his military and ministry leadership experience to serve in any way God sees fit.
Be a Part of Our Community Today
Whenever you feel lost, let our ministers provide you with the guidance you need to get back on the right track. For more information about our spiritual services, feel free to get in touch with us today.