The faith community is mourning the passing of the Rev. Dr. Paul M. Martin, the first African-American president of the American Baptist Seminary of the West (ABSW) in Berkley.
Dr. Martin passed away on March 23 at the age of 77 while in Denver with his wife, Dr. Agnes Martin, a former ABSW trustee.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 16, at 11 a.m., at Second Baptist Church, 2412 Griffith Avenue in Los Angeles.
An ordained minister for more than six decades, Martin’s pastoral assignments included 23 years at the Redeemer Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles, 17 years at Macedonia Baptist Church in Denver, and two years as interim pastor at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Los Angeles.
His daughter, Roz, recalls, “He was a dynamic and beloved pastor, scholar, educator, preacher, radio commentator, and spiritual leader. He loved administration, and at the time of his death, was working on his first book, ‘Decency and Order: A Biblical Perspective of Church Administration.’”
Martin was named president and professor of Pastoral Theology at ABSW in 2009 following a one-year stint as interim president. During his tenure, he served on the GTU Board of Trustees, the Council of Presidents, most recently as convener, and on the GTU Academic Dean search committee.
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Martin received his Bachelor’s degree from Pepperdine University, his Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, and his Doctor of Philosophy at the California Graduate School of Theology.
Cards and condolences may be sent to Dr. Agnes Martin, P.O. Box 3428, Quartz Hills, CA 93586.