The Rev. Dr. Emmanuel McCall, Sr.

Denomination: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)
Organization: Fellowship Group Baptist Church, East Point, GA

Emmanuel L. McCall is the founding pastor of The Fellowship Group, a new church in East Point, GA. He is the former pastor of the Christian Fellowship Baptist Church from its founding March 31, 1991, to November 30, 2004. Previously he served on the executive staff of the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention from May 6, 1968, until October 1991.

A native of Sharon, Pa., McCall attended the public schools of West Shenango Township, Pa.; Simmons Bible College, University of Louisville, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Emory University in Atlanta. He holds four earned degrees including the doctor of ministry degree.

From 1970-1996, he served as a visiting faculty member at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. There he developed the Black Church Studies program that was later used by three seminaries. He has also served as visiting professor at theological seminaries in Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria, West Africa; and Emory University in Atlanta. He currently serves on the faculty of Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology in Atlanta.

He is vice president of the Baptist World Alliance in a term that extends from July 2005 to July 2010. He is the current moderator of the national Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, serving a one-year term from the conclusion of the 2006 General Assembly.

McCall has written four books and contributed chapters in 34 others. He has written frequently for denominational and theological magazines and special publications.

He has served on the board of trustees for the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta from 1978 to 2002. From 1990-93 he was vice chair; from 1993-1996 he chaired the board. In that role he also served on the board of the Atlanta University Center. He served as vice chair on the board of governors of the Georgia Association of Pastoral Care, 1997-1999, and as chair from 1999-2001. From 1995-2000, he chaired the Ethics Commission of the Baptist World Alliance. From 2000-2005, he chaired the BWA Committee on Human Rights Awards. He chaired the arrangements committee for the International Summit of Baptists Against Racism and Ethnic Conflict held in Atlanta in January 1999. He also hosted the visit of BWA President Kim to Atlanta in January 2004. He has served one term each on the Truett-McConnell College board of trustees and on the Shorter College board.

McCall has received numerous honors and recognitions, among which is the E. Y. Mullins Distinguished Denominational Service Award in 1990. This is the highest recognition given by the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. In April 1999, he was inducted into the Morehouse College “M.L. King Board of Preachers,” and also received the James H. Costen Award from the Interdenominational Theological Center. He has honorary degrees from Simmons Bible College and United Theological Seminary, Louisiana.

His hobbies include golf, fishing and gardening. He and his wife, Emma Marie, are the parents of two children and six grandchildren.