Rev. Gwendolyn Dorsey

Gwendolyn Dorsey was born on June 24, 1950 to Ollie (deceased) and Elizabeth Dorsey in Pittsburgh, PA where she and her three brothers attended grammar school. In 1960, her family relocated to Rochester, New York to be closer to her maternal grandparents who had moved to Rochester years earlier from Andrews, South Carolina. Her grandparents, Missionary/Preacher/Licensed Minister Sallie Session and Deacon David Session were one of the first families to be established in active ministerial roles at St. Paul Believers Holiness Church in the mid 50's.

In 1972, Gwen relocated to Chicago, Illinois with her daughter, Tasia Lenise where they resided for 14 years. While there, she was employed the entire time with FMC Corporation, a fortune 500 global company, initially working as Administrative Assistant to the Director of the Purchasing and National Contracts Department for several years, and then later as Legal Assistant/Paralegal to the Vice President of FMC's Corporate Legal Department until 1986. She attended Chicago's Roosevelt University and graduated from their Lawyers' Assistant Certificate Program.

Upon returning to Rochester in 1986, Gwen enrolled in classes at Roberts Wesleyan College and earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion and Philosophy. As a Roberts student, she also participated in the Inter-Institutional Ministry Classes sponsored by Rochester Colgate Divinity School as part of their Black Church Studies Program in 1998-1999. Shortly after Northeastern Seminary was founded on the Roberts Campus, she enrolled and earned a Master of Arts Degree in Theological Studies. She is also the recipient of a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Roberts Wesleyan College.

Professionally, she has served as Assistant Director of the South West Areas Development Corporation (SWADCO), Assistant Director of the North East Area Development Corporation (NEAD) and currently is a Business Solutions Consultant at Sutherland Global Services.

Gwen was licensed in 1995 as an Associate Minister at Zion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Rochester by the late Rev. Dr. Samuel McCree. In 2004, she was ordained by Bishop-elect Troy Anthony Bronner at Elim Christian Fellowship's Rochester church and served as Associate Pastor of Social Concerns Ministries. She frequently attends worship services at St. Paul Believers Holiness Church where her cousins, Rev. Abraham Parker and Evangelist Catherine Parker, serve as Pastor and First Lady.

As a woman of Christian faith, Gwen has a tremendous passion for missions ministry and social ministry, particularly as related to "reconciling faith with politics" through grassroots faith-based "ministry-in government" initiatives.

During this very crucial election year, she is very active in the Obama '08 Presidential Faith-Action-Change/American Values Campaign and works locally with the Rochester Faith Community For Obama (RFCFO) Group as the Group Liaison/Administrator under the direction and guidance of RFCFO Co-Chairs, Bishop Ronald J. Hoston, Jurisdictional Prelate, New York Central Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Pastor, Greater Bethesda COGIC and Bishop Jeffrey L. Melvin, Jurisdictional Prelate, Rwanda, East Africa Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Pastor, Power House Kingdom Cathedral COGIC.

Gwen's personal support of Senator Barack Obama For President stems from a shared belief in his "Message of Hope" which aligns with Romans 9:24-25/KJV: For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man (woman) seeth, why doth he (she) yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it".

Gwen considers herself very blessed by God to be surrounded by a very loving family and is an especially proud daughter, sister, mother and grandmother. She takes great pride in spending as much quality time as possible with her mother, Elizabeth Dorsey McGee and her daughter, Tasia Lenise McCullough-Johnson who continually provide a wealth of encouragement, inspiration and support.

E-Mail: RevGwen7@Rochester.rr.com