Saint Matthew AME Church Philadelphia-Reverend Roland C. McCall

Reverend Roland C. McCall was born in Philadelphia, PA on August 4, 1952. He was an active member of the Greater Mt. Olive A.M.E. Church in Philadelphia, serving as President of the Youth Choir, member of the Young Peoples' Department (YPD), Sunday school teacher and a Steward.

In 1973, Reverend McCall received the call to preach and was licensed at the age of 21. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia and received his Bachelor's of Social Work Degree. He furthered his education by enrolling at the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he received his Master's of Divinity Degree.

He was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 1975 and six (6) days after graduating from Seminary in 1978 was ordained an Itinerant Elder and sent to pastor his first charge, Allen A.M.E. Church in White Plains, N.Y. It was at Allen that he met and married (October 10, 1981) the former Ms. Rhonda J. Troupe, a young lady who was a Steward, a missionary, a member of the Pastor's Aide and a member of the Senior Choir.

Bishop Richard Allen Hildebrand and his godly wisdom sent Reverend McCall to his second charge, Grant A.M.E. Church in Boston, MA in October 1982. Under his leadership, the church made great strides. Extensive renovations were done to the exterior and interior of the church; namely, the church was brick faced, new pews and pulpit furniture were purchased and existing altar furniture was refurbished. All financial obligations and church indebtedness were alleviated, new carpeting was laid in the church, a new van was purchased, and all office equipment was updated. A new parsonage was purchased in 1987 and dedicated in 1988 by Bishop Frank C. Cummings during annual conference. Under Reverend McCall's pastorate over 30 ministries were developed to benefit the church and the community. Under his leadership, Grant Church hosted the 137th, 146th and 155th Sessions of the New England Annual Conferences in April 1988, April 1997 and April 2006 respectively. On June 13, 2009 at the First Episcopal District Planning Meeting in Philadelphia, Bishop Richard Franklin Norris transferred him from the New England Conference to the Philadelphia Conference and stationed him as the proud pastor of St. Matthew A.M.E. Church. He is delighted to return to his home conference after 31 years and is humbled that he has the opportunity to serve a congregation with such rich history.