Dr. Harris’ servant leader ministry determination is to be a part of the fulfillment of God’s promise to His people:
And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3:15 (NKJV)
Marcus E. Harris attended grade school at the historic Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Academy, Chicago, IL. He is a 1979 graduate of Oakwood College, Huntsville, Alabama, now Oakwood University, with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with majors in Psychology and Theology. Marcus received his Master of Divinity from The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. 1995 he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the same institution.
Pastor Harris has served the Adventist church as pastor and conference church ministries director for over 30 years. Marcus has also served on the conference, union, and the North American Division’s executive committees of the denomination. Pastor Harris has been a guest preacher/trainer throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. In 2006 a team of members from his church made their second mission trip to Mankau, Kenya, where Dr. Harris preached, and God blessed their efforts with 120 baptisms.
For six years, Dr. Harris coordinated and developed the Community Transition Program for Elkhart County Court Services – Adult Probation Division. The Community Transition Program received state and federal recognition. As a result of his work in this program, Dr. Harris was a presenter at the Indiana State Probation/Parole Officers Convention in 1998 and 1999.
Dr. Harris was in private practice as a certified chemical addictions therapist in Indiana and was the agency’s Domestic Abuse Intervention Program director. Dr. Harris has also served as a staff member of AIDS Ministries-AIDS Assist of Northern Indiana, as an HIV/AIDS Community Church Educator, and as an HIV/AIDS pastoral care provider and trainer.
Marcus has served the community in various capacities.
- ¨President and Board Chairman of the Minority Health Coalition of St. Joseph County, IN
- ¨Community HIV/AIDS Outreach/Education Program Chairman
- ¨State Board Member for HIV/AIDS – Minority Health
- ¨State and Local Consultant /Technical Adviser for HIV/AIDS; Minority Health
- ¨American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Facilitator/Facilitator Trainer
- ¨American Red Cross Board Member
Being a member of community ministerial associations has always been important to him. He was a member of the Black Leadership Coalition on AIDS of Washington, D.C. and Vicinity and the 7th Ward Ministers Coalition Against Violence, Washington, D.C. In addition, Marcus is currently a board member of the Adventist HealthCare Fort Washington Medical Center.
Dr. Harris has been a pastoral care field supervisor and evangelism field instructor for Andrews University and a field supervisor for senior social work majors at Goshen College, Goshen, IN. Dr. Harris is currently a part of the adjunct faculty at Washington Adventist University, Takoma Park, MD.
Marcus is married to Arlene, who holds a Ph.D. in accounting from Cappella University. She is a Program Analyst for FEMA, Washington, D. C. She has been an adjunct professor in business and accounting for several universities. Dr. Arlene Harris is the current president of the Ministers’ Spouses Association for the Allegheny East Conference. She is a licensed Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. Realtor. They are the parents of four adult children and have two grandchildren.
Dr. Harris joined the Allegheny East Conference staff in August 2000, pastoring the First Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montclair, New Jersey, before becoming the Senior Pastor of the Breath Of Life SDA Church, Fort Washington, MD, in August 2004. In November 2015, Dr. Harris became the Senior Pastor of the Dupont Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Washington, D.C. He served as the school board chairman of the George E. Peters Adventist School, Hyattsville, MD, for five-plus years and, from 2008 to 2017, was the Area Leader for the Washington Metro Area Ministerium. He was elected to that position in October 2022 for a new five-year term. On April 23, 2023, by an action of the Allegheny East Conference Executive Committee, he was assigned as the Senior Pastor of the Emmanuel Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church, Ashton, MD.