About Rev. Byrd

Rev. Vernon R. Byrd Jr. is the son of the late Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, Sr. and retired Episcopal Supervisor Theora Byrd.

As a child of the parsonage Rev. Byrd was active in the Sunday School, the YPD and the music ministry. He is a composer, singer and musician. He has been a choir director for several choirs including the Young Adult Choir of Hemmingway Memorial AME in Maryland.

He received his BA degree in Economics and Sociology from Harvard University. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. And he received his Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.

Rev Byrd is the Pastor of St. Matthew AME Church in Philadelphia and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the St Matthew Manor, which provides affordable housing for seniors. He was previously the pastor of Grant Chapel AME in Trenton NJ and St. Paul AME in South Bound Brook, NJ.

As an attorney Rev. Byrd served as an Assistant General Counsel and Vice President for Johnson & Johnson. He also previously served as a Senior Counsel for The New York Times. He has been a member of the New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York Bar Associations.

At the General Conference in July of 2012, the AME Church elected Rev. Byrd to serve as a member of the Judicial Council. He formerly served as Secretary for Council.

On September 11 of 2014 Rev. Byrd reached another summit when he successfully climbed to nthe top of Mount Kilimanjaro the tallest mountain in Africa. In May of 2017 Rev. Byrd also successfully climbed the mountain of Machu Picchu in Peru.

Rev. Byrd is married to the Rev. Dr. Melinda Contreras-Byrd and they are blessed to have two daughters, Rev Kamaria Byrd McAllister and Alexa Byrd, son in love Rev Bryan McAllister, and granddaughter Mireya.

Last but not least, Rev Byrd is simply a child of God who strives to live so that the world might see the love of Jesus in his life and give God the glory.