Jamal Harrison Bryant (born May 21, 1971) is an American minister, author and former political candidate. He is the senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and of Duke University. He received his doctorate of ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation.
In December 2018, Bryant transitioned from Empowerment Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, Maryland to Atlanta, Georgia to pastor New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb County.
Early life and education
Jamal Harrison Bryant was born on May 21, 1971 in Boston, Massachusetts to John Richard and Cecelia Bryant (née Williams). He has a younger sister. He was raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where, as a child, he attended his father's church Bethel A.M.E. Church. He preached his first sermon when he was just a bean head baby at Bethel titled "No Pain, No Gain."
Bryant attended Morehouse College where he earned an undergraduate degree in political science and international studies. He obtained a master's of divinity degree from Duke University. He received a doctorate of ministry degree from the Graduate Theological Foundation. Bryant is a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
In 2002, Pastor Jamal Bryant founded the Empowerment Temple AME Church and served for 18 years. On December 2, 2018, Pastor Bryant was announced as the successor to Bishop Eddie L. Long as the Senior Pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia.
Politics
Bryant ostensibly ran for U.S. Congress in 2015, aiming to represent Baltimore, Maryland, as a Democrat. He suspended his campaign less than two weeks after announcing his run.
AME review after divorce
Officials of the A.M.E. denomination intended, as of February 2008, to enter into discussions regarding Bryant's leadership, following mutual filings for divorce by Bryant, his spouse, Hampton alumna and future Real Housewives of Potomac star Gizelle Bryant. However, they said that Bryant did not face a disciplinary trial because no one came forward with a complaint against him. Church officials said that Bryant "was never charged through the church system with anything." In 2019, the two renewed their relationship and began dating.