Sought after for his perspectives on spirituality, social justice, and contemporary culture, Rev. Earle J. Fisher is a proud alum of Memphis Theological Seminary. His then pastor, Rev. Dr. Frank Thomas, encouraged him to go to seminary, and “MTS was the obvious choice” for theological education. He loved the ecumenical nature of MTS’s learning environment and appreciated that social justice was an explicit value of the seminary, reflected in course readings and class discussions.
This emerging scholar and beloved pastor earned a basketball scholarship while attending Lake Michigan College and went on to become team captain before receiving another athletic scholarship to LeMoyne-Owen College in Memphis, TN, where he earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Computer Science in 2003. Rev. Fisher obtained his Masters of Divinity Degree in May 2008 from Memphis Theological Seminary and received ordination from the Christian Church Disciples of Christ and the Missionary Baptist Church in 2008 and 2011, respectively. He served on the Pastoral staff at the Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church as an Associate Minister for two years where he earned the title “Pastor Cool.” Pastor Earle currently serves as Senior Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church in Memphis and is currently working on his dissertation in the PhD program in Communication at the University of Memphis. He is also an Adjunct Instructor of Religion and Humanities professor at several local colleges in Memphis.
Rev. Fisher was selected as an outstanding UNCF Historically Black College and University (HBCU) alumnus and inducted in the 2012 Hall of Honors class. Rev. Fisher has been affirmed as a scholar, a pastor, and an urban prophet. Most of Rev. Fisher’s work focuses on the African American Religious Rhetoric, Contemporary Rhetorical Theory, Black Liberation Theology, and the prophetic persona of Albert Cleage, Jr. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha, husband of one wife, Denise, father of one son, Jalen, believer in one God, and friend and mentor to many.
Fisher is grateful to MTS, he shared, for helping him “to polish my ministerial and pastoral gifts while also igniting and affirming my scholastic passion for intellectual truth coupled with liberating learning and pedagogy.” Even as Fisher’s ministry in congregational leadership, social justice activism, and academics evolve, he is grateful that his future is secure because Memphis Theological Seminary has already prepared him for wherever God calls.
