Leonard N. Smith (born October 4, 1961 – February 20, 2022) was the senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia, with a congregation exceeding 2,000.[1] Mount Zion Baptist Church, founded in 1866, is the oldest Black congregation in Arlington, Virginia.[2]
Leonard N. Smith | |
|---|---|
 Dr Leonard N Smith leads 2018 service. | |
| Born | October 4, 1961 |
| Died | February 20, 2022 |
| Occupation | Senior Pastor |
| Years active | 1985-2021 |
Biography edit
Smith was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and raised partly in Washington, D.C. His grandmother provided a strong influence for his religious upbringing. He has a doctorate of ministry in preaching from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, as well as eight honorary degrees.[3] He has two adult children.
Ministry edit
Smith began ministry in 1985 as pastor of Union Baptist Church in Gordonsville, Virginia. During his tenure there as the fifth pastor, a Mass Choir was started, a church parsonage purchased, and church renovations started and completed.[4] Four years later, he was called to Rivermont Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia.[5]
In 1991, Smith became senior pastor at Mount Zion Baptist Church in Arlington, Virginia. The church was founded just after the Civil War in 1866 as the Old Bell Church and located in the free black settlement of Freedman's Village, now the site of Arlington National Cemetery. The current location is in the established community of Nauck.[6]
He served as a chaplain for both the Arlington County Fire and Police Departments.[7] The Arlington County Fire Department was one of the primary responding agencies to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.[8] As fire department chaplain, Smith was among the first on the scene after the tragedy and provided spiritual support to responders.[9]
Smith was former president (2009–2012) of the Virginia Baptist State Convention (VBSC), which was organized in 1867 and counts about 700 member churches.[10] VBSC is affiliated with the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. He was also a past president of Richmond Virginia Seminary, having served from 2005 to 2008.[11][12]
Books edit
- We Need to Talk: Saying What We Need to Say Without Hurting Each Other. Foreword by Audrey B. Chapman (2012)
- Seen and Sustained: Increase the Visibility and Income of the Local Church. Co-author with Akia T. Garnett. (2010)
External references edit
References edit
- ^ Virginia House Joint Resolution No. 349 Commending the Reverend Doctor Leonard N. Smith, March 2006.
- ^ Masters, Brooke A. (16 August 2001). "At 135, Mount Zion Is Still Full of Life". Washington Post. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ Mount Zion Baptist Church, Our Pastor
- ^ Long, Ruth Mallory. "Orange County African-American Churches" (PDF). ocaahs.org. Orange County African-American Historical Society. p. 54. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
- ^ http://rivermontbaptistlynchburg.org/Default.aspx?S=About Rivermont Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA Official Website.
- ^ “At 135, Mount Zion is Still Full of Life: Arlington’s Oldest Black Congregation Celebrates Past, Plans Its Future,” Washington Post, August 23, 2001.
- ^ ”Humor Helps Builds Ministry,” Washington Times, April 10, 2006, page A2.
- ^ http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/fire/edu/about/FireEduAboutAfterReport.aspx Arlington County After Action Report.
- ^ “At Prayer Breakfast, Black Caucus Members Seek Healing,” Washington Post, September 30, 2001, page A11.
- ^ “Virginia’s Oldest Convention of Black Baptist Churches Holds Annual Sessions,” Religious Herald, May 5, 2011.
- ^ “Seminary Enters Next Era With New Leadership,” The Afro-American (newspaper), June 18–24, 2005, page A1.
- ^ "Virginia Senate Joint Resolution No. 167". Virginia Legislative Information System. 28 Feb 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.