Rev. Sharp’s Christian roots were established as a baptized infant at Phillips Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in San Diego. She accepted her call in the CME ministry at St. Peter’s C.M.E. Church under the pastoral leadership of the late, Rev. Gary Collins in 1999. Rev. Sharp received her ordination as a Deacon in 2006 and then became an Elder in Full Connection in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in 2008 under the exemplary guidance of Bishop Henry M Williamson, Sr. and teaching of her Father in the ministry, Rev. Dr. Claude A. Bass.
Reflective Ministry
Rev. Sharp’s earlier ministry commenced in 1994 as a Church of God in Christ and Non-Denominational Street, Park and Prison evangelist. Returning to the CME Church in 1997 under the late Elder John Spearman, Rev. Sharp became a licensed Exhorter. She soon progressed to Associate Minister, at St. Peters C.M.E. Church, El Cerrito, CA. Bishop Henry M. Williamson appointed her as Associate Pastor for Phillips Temple C.M.E. Church, Berkeley, CA and then Amos Temple C.M.E. Church, Oakland, CA. Rev. Sharp became a temporary Supply Pastor to both of the preceding churches during the illnesses of their Senior Pastors.
Rev. Brenda Sharp previously Shepherded First C.M.E. Church, Modesto, CA from April 2008-August 2011. From August 2011-August 2, 2016; Pastor of Riley Chapel, Oakland, CA., On August 3, 2016 she was appointed by Bishop Bobby R. Best as Pastor of Taylor Chapel C.M.E. Church, in Vallejo, California, where she continues to serve until July 2022. Currently appointed by Bishop Dr. Charley Hames, Jr., Pastor Sharp serves as the proud Pastor of Century Chapel CME Church in Sacramento, CA. Regionally serving in the Ninth Episcopal District, Northern CA Region, Rev. Sharp is the former Chairperson of the Ministers Alliance and was appointed by Bishop Bobby R. Best and Bishop Paul A.G. Stewart, Sr. as the Chairperson of the Committee on Ministerial Relations for the 2018-2022 Quadrennial Year and continues to serve as a member of the Committee on Ministerial Relations appointed by Bishop Dr. Charley Hames, Jr. During the 2022 CME General Conference, the CME Presiding Bishops appointed Rev. Sharp as Conference Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Ecumenical Relations and World Affairs.
Education/Accomplishments
Graduate of American Baptist Seminary of the West, received Masters Degree of Divinity in 2010; Award Recipient of Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith Black Church; former auditing Student of Anna Freud School of Child Psychology-Hempstead, England, credited M.A. Psychology Degree; Graduate of University of California Berkeley-B.A. Psychology; Graduate of Napa College-received A.A. Honors Degree in Psychology; Former student of the late Professor Rabbi Dr. Leo Trepp, the last surviving Jewish Rabbi that led a congregation in Nazi Germany during the early days of the Holocaust.
Family
Mother of three adult children: Two Daughters, Shelly and Sherice Sharp of Richmond, CA and one Step-Son Lardell Mario Oliver of Washington D.C.; grandmother of four; a surrogate grandmother of eleven and great-grandmother of three.
Core Spiritual Gifts: prayer, preaching, teaching, administration. discernment and reconciliation.
Rev. Sharp believes that prayer, praise, repentance, Bible study, faith and love are essential keys to maintaining an everlasting relationship and fellowship with Jesus Christ and formulates unity with all of God’s creations.
Giving God all the Glory, for making a total paradigm shift in her life; Rev. Brenda Sharp is spiritually “sold out” to serving God for eternity and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ as she stands for Justice and Equality for all humankind.
