2021 DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARDEES
Rev. Dr. Warren H. Stewart, Sr. Senior Pastor First Institutional Baptist Church
“Accept the baton we are trying to give you, to move forward with community, and with justice.”
R ev. Dr. Warren H. Stew- art, Sr., is the Senior Pastor of the First Insti- tutional Baptist Church of Phoenix, Arizona and has served there since July 1, 1977. Dr. Stew- art was appointed Executive Secre- tary of the Home Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., in November 1994 and served through January 2005, and also continued serving as Chair of that Board through January 2010. In 2018, he became Chairperson of the African American Christian Clergy Coalition, leading over 100 clergy in the Phoenix area. Dr. Stewart’s academic achieve- ments and awards include an Associate of Arts Degree, 1971, Honors Graduate, Coffeyville Community Junior College, Cof- feyville, Kansas; Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Philosophy, 1973 graduating Summa Cum Laude, Bishop College, Dallas, Texas; Master of Divinity Degree, 1976, Union Theological Semi- nary, New York City; Master of Sacred Theology Degree, 1977; Doctor of Ministry Degree, 1982, American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, California; and was recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Ottawa Uni- versity, Ottawa, Kansas, 1994. Dr.
Stewart has also been the recipient of numerous awards and commen- dations from churches, colleges, civic and community organizations, locally, statewide and nationally. Dr. Stewart is the author of sev- eral articles, sermons and books including Interpreting God's Word in Black Preaching (Judson Press) now in its fifth edition. He has also served as Adjunct Professor of Ottawa University- Phoenix Campus, Phoenix Semi- nary and the Doctor of Ministry Program at Fuller Theological Seminary, as well as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Baptist Seminary of the West, Berkeley, California. Currently, he serves on the Phoenix Seminary Board of Directors Dr. Stewart has preached through- out the United States and inter- nationally including in several African countries. He built a new church edifice and parsonage for the First Institutional Baptist Church of Soweto, Republic of South Africa. Since February 2005, first participating on Baptist World Alliance Mission Team Trip to North-East India, he has been involved in ministry in India. Dr. Stewart’s ministry is characterized
by an unwavering commitment and Spirit-filled zeal to engage in Evangelism and Emancipation, meeting the needs of the whole person. In the 1990s, he led FIBC in completing three phases of the VISION 2000 Master Plan which built an educational, adminis- trative and outreach building, acquired additional property, and renovated the worship center at a total cost of nearly four million dollars in cash debt-free. In 2004, a $5 million family life center was built completing the VI- SION 2000 Master Plan, totaling almost $9 million. In 2019, FIBC purchased historic property east of the FIBC campus. In addition, FIBC has established FIBCO Family Services, Inc., Samaritan House for Homeless Families, Ujima House for Unwed Teenage Mothers and their Infants, and sponsors the Broadway House low-income housing complex and several residential homes for the seriously mentally ill, all of which provide social services to thou- sands monthly. He is married to the Rev. Karen E. (Curry) Stewart and they are the parents of a blended family of five sons, and two daughters.
THE JOURNAL ♦ SUMMER 2021 | 19
VIRTUAL 85 TH GRAND CHAPTER MEETING
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