Presiding Elder

Beginning at Bethel A.M.E. Church, he entered the ministry in  1982, under the pastoral leadership of Bishop John R. Bryant. Serving as Bethel's first Administrator, he temporarily left the corporate world to fill that position full-time. He also served as the Assistant Pastor of Waters A.M.E. Church under his uncle in the ministry, Rev. John W. Duckette. Rev. Calhoun in 1986 received his first pastoral appointment in Charlotte, North Carolina - Adams Metropolitan (commuting from Baltimore). During his pastorate there, the entire church was renovated and a new daycare center was formally established, licensed and opened. He was appointed to his second pastoral charge - St. James AME Church in Asheville, North Carolina in 1989.

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During his tenure in Asheville, Rev. Calhoun renovated the sanctuary and helped start the Educational Initiative, writing his first grant proposal that was funded by the United Way. Serving there until 1992, he was appointed the pastor of the historic St. Stephen AME Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. Leaving permanently the corporate world, Rev. Calhoun began his full time ministry there. Serving on various boards and organizations, he renovated the entire church, started a daily homeless soup kitchen, established a Parish Nurse Program, started a daily homeless soup kitchen and Sugar Angels - an African American diabetic support group, amongst other outreach initiatives.

 

 In June 1999, Rev. Calhoun was appointed to be the pastor of Mount Olive AME Church in Annapolis, Maryland.  During the next 20 years, the membership significantly increased and expanded it's ministry outreach.   Under his leadership, the church purchased a new parsonage and added significantly to its physical plant and real property. During his tenure, many grants were awarded and a new community development corporation was established, to position the church to obtain significant funding.  To increase its outreach and community support.  

 

While at Mount Olive a $1.5M church building addition project with elevator was completed.   A house was purchased and renovated with MD bond bill funds to become the Harambee (Let's Pull Together) House or Casa De Ayuda (House of Help). Through an unparalleled faith based/public-private partnership, a $3M community life center was completed (without debt) in August 2008, to provide community space, an entrepreneurial institute, small business incubator, office space, banquet room, restaurant quality shared kitchen, job training, afterschool program and senior care; as well as several youth oriented programs. In partnership with Anne Arundel Community College, their Parole Campus was located at the Life Center, offering classes Monday-Friday 9am-9pm. During his tenure as Executive Director, over $3.6 million in grant funds were obtained. 

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Under Rev. Calhoun's leadership several local organizations were organized and established, including: the Annapolis Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance (AIMA), The Annapolis Drum & Bugle Corp, BLACK is the New GREEN Initiative - Black Churches installing watershed projects on their property ($800,000) and being certified as Master Watershed Steward.  Also, the AIMA Men's Ministry (over 100 members) was established.

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In May of 2019, he was appointed the Presiding Elder of the Washington Conference Capital District, providing visionary leadership and effective administrative and adjucatory management. And then by the grace of GOD, on July 14, 2022, Presiding Elder Calhoun was blessed to come back home to the Baltimore Conference and appointed by Bishop James L. Davis to become the distinquished Presiding Elder of the Baltimore District. 

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