JBC

The Reverend Dr. Emanuel Charles Harris 

Rev. Harris attended Henrico and Richmond public school systems graduating Salutatorian from
Armstrong High School. Next, he attended Virginia Union University receiving a Bachelor of
Science degree in Accounting (Magna Cum Laude), and a Master of Divinity degree (Cum Laude)
from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. In the Spring of 2014, he earned his Doctor of
Ministry degree at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond.

Rev. Dr. Harris began his spiritual journey at an early age serving in many capacities of the church.
He matured under spiritual guidance from St. Peter Baptist church and later Cedar Street Baptist
Church. He was licensed to preach the Gospel in 1993 from the Cedar Street Baptist Church of God,
Richmond, Va., and ordained in 1998.  A faithful servant, Rev. Dr. Harris served as the Youth
Minister at Cedar Street from 1994-1996 and Director of the Prison Ministry from 1996 to 2004,
conducting services at the Powhatan State Prison. In 1998 he interned at the Springfield Baptist
Church, Henrico County, VA.

Rev. Dr. Harris and his wife, First Lady Anne Shirelle Harris, embraced the opportunity to travel
abroad to Accra, Ghana (West Africa) for education and seminary-related studies in 1998.

A well-equipped teacher and a preacher, Rev. Dr. Harris served as a Professor at Richmond Virginia
Seminary, teaching several classes including Systematic Theology I & II, Church History I & II, the
Book of Samuel, and the Book of Revelations from 2000-2004.

In the secular world, Rev. Dr. Harris was a bank examiner/auditor, budget analyst, and financial
analyst at the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond from 1994 until 2007.

Prior to accepting the invitation to lead the Jerusalem Baptist Church in Goochland County, in
November 2011, Rev. Dr. Harris was the senior pastor at New Fork Baptist Church, Fluvanna for
eight years.

Aside from being the full-time Senior Pastor at Jerusalem Baptist Church - Manakin, he is Past
President of the Baptist Ministers Conference of Goochland and Vicinity and Past President of the
Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity. Rev. Harris currently serves as the social
justice advocate for the Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond and Vicinity.