Biography

W. Franklyn Richardson is Senior Pastor of the historic Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, New York. Under his leadership, the congregation has grown to more than 4000 members.  In 2003, the ministry of Grace Baptist Church was expanded to Port St. Lucie, Florida. Dr. Richardson has been the leader of this vibrant, diverse, multi-staffed ministry since April, 1975. Prior to coming to New York, Dr. Richardson was pastor of Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church, located in Richmond, Virginia and St. James Baptist Church in Varina, Virginia concurrently from 1969 until 1975.

A graduate of Virginia Union University, Dr. Richardson received his Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School and his Doctorate of Ministry as a Wyatt Tee Walker Fellowfrom the United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio. Dr. Richardson has received many honors for his leadership in ministry including the Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater, Virginia Union University and several other colleges and universities. In 1989, Dr. Richardson was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr., Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

A community builder and organizer for decades, Dr. Richardson has played a pivotal role in the grass root efforts of reestablishing a cultural bridge between community and education. He has been involved in the brick and mortar realities of housing development and is singularly responsible for leveling the ground by fighting for equitable opportunities in public education in the Mount Vernon community. His insightful guidance is responsible for two Grace Church related Community Development Corporations which have constructed more than 65 million dollars in affordable housing.

Dr. Richardson served as General Secretary for twelve years of the 8 million member, National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., which thrust him into the international arena of the World Council of Churches where he served on its prestigious Central Committee. The World Council represents more than 400 million Christians in 150 nations. He also served on the boards of the Congress of the National Black Churches, the National Urban League, and the Constituency for Africa. A life member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Dr. Richardson is also a member of the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

This distinguished theologian is an internationally sought after preacher, lecturer and facilitator, having preached on several continents. For the past thirty years, he has been heard throughout the tri-state area on WVOX radio and is viewed on national television every Sunday morning. He is the author of the widely acclaimed, Power of the Pew, and has written several extensive articles on faith-based community developments, of note: “Mission to Mandate” in the National Urban League’s: State of Black America.  A published preacher as well, Dr. Richardson sermons can be found in publications including Keep the Faith, by Welcome Rain Publishers, and Joy to the World, by Simon & Schuster.

Dr. Richardson enjoys a stellar career as a national leader. A man of intuitive reason and an incisive mind; he demonstrates in his persona, the marvelous union of passion and intellect. He is a national advocate for economic equity and his counsel and advice is widely solicited in several major corporate boardrooms throughout America.

Currently, Dr. Richardson serves on the boards of the Institute of Church Administration and Management at the Interdenominational Theological Center (ICAM) in Atlanta, Georgia; Pepsi Cola Ethic Advisory Board; the Ujamaa Community Development Corporation; the Harvard University Divinity School Summer Leadership Institute for Church-based Community and Economic Development; and the Black Equity Alliance of New York. He is Chairman of the board of the National Action Network and a trustee of Virginia Union University.

Dr. Richardson is married to Inez Nunnally Richardson. They are the parents of two adult children and the grandparents of four.

 

Press Release

New Haven Register, "Capitol remembers King's legacy, what his words mean today" (Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, keynote speaker at Monday's Martin Luther King Day ceremonies.
(January 16th , 2007 print publication click here)