A.C.D. Vaughn, personal friend of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., and senior pastor of the historic Sharon Baptist Church of Baltimore, conferred the honorary doctorate on Rev. Robert J. Anderson, Senior Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church and President of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Photo by Shannon Baker
By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent
RANDALLSTOWN, Md.— Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Va., awarded Robert J. Anderson, Jr., senior pastor of Colonial Baptist Church in Randallstown, Md., and president of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, an honorary doctorate of humane letters on Jan. 20.
Anderson was recognized in a special celebration that also honored the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., at Colonial Baptist Church.
A.C.D. Vaughn, personal friend of King and senior pastor of the historic Sharon Baptist Church of Baltimore, conferred the honorary doctorate, recognizing Anderson’s long history of service and pastoral leadership. Vaughn is chairman of the seminary’s board of trustees.
Also on the program were Will McRaney, BCM/D executive missional strategist, and Bob Mackey, director of missions for the Baltimore Baptist Association, who offered prayers over Anderson, among others. Members from Colonial offered their own emotional presentations of gratitude.
Dr. Will McRaney, BCM/D Executive Missional Strategist and Robert J. Anderson, BCM/D President and Pastor of Colonial Baptist Church
Anderson has served on the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and as past president of the National African American Fellowship of the SBC and is a part of the BCM/D’s African American Advisory Fellowship.
He has preached the Gospel for 41 years and has served as pastor for 34 years in three different churches, including the last 17 at Colonial Baptist Church. He has preached throughout the country for conferences, revivals, and retreats and touched many lives preparing for Christian service through his teaching ministry at Crossroads Bible College in Indianapolis, Ind.; Baptist Bible College and Seminary in Clark Summit, Pa., and Faith Theological Seminary in Towson, Md. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Faith Theological Seminary. He earned a master of divinity degree from Grace Theological Seminary in Winona Lake, Ind., in 1982.
Anderson has been married to Jacqueline Sullivan for 34 years. Together they have four children: Shari, Robert III, Nia and Jamila, and two grandchildren.