Elder Gerald E. Harris began preaching over 35 years ago and was ordained an Elder in 1975.  Elder Harris acknowledged his call to the Pastoral Ministry and in March of 1992, founded the Bethany Community Church in the city of Gilroy, California.

Elder Harris’s commitment to service and dedication to God has been demonstrated in his service to the California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.  He served as Vice President, of the state Evangelism Department, Senior and Regional Vice President of California Northwest Youth Department, and in 1988, Bishop W. W. Hamilton appointed Elder Harris as California Northwest Youth Department President, a position he held for 13 years while he also served as Chief Adjutant.

In 1993, he was appointed by Bishop W. W. Hamilton as an Executive Board Member and Administrative Assistant. Today, Elder Harris currently serves as a Senior Administrative Assistant for the California Northwest Jurisdiction, and the California Northwest’s Holy Convocation/AIM Coordinator.

Elder Harris also serves at our National Church of God in Christ, Inc. as the Chief of Security appointed in 2001 and reappointed in 2007.  He also serves a newly created position as Director of the Investigative Service for the Church of God in Christ, Inc.

He is an Advisor for the United states Department of Justice, a Board of Trustees member for Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California, and an Adjunct Professor at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, California. Pastor Harris is a graduate of California State University, Fresno with dual degrees in Business Administration and Criminology. He attended Golden Gate Theological University in Mill Valley, California and is currently completing a Masters Degree in Leadership at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California.

Pastor G.E. Harris is a devoted husband to his lovely wife, First Lady Barbara Meredith-Harris, a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C. Barbara’s passion for education and spiritual growth for women has provided leadership as Bethany’s Director of Christian Education and President of the Women’s Ministry.

Both, Pastor Harris and First Lady Barbara have defined their own personal ambition as having a keen desire to SERVE. They challenge the leaders of Bethany to be an extension of them as they serve God with their hearts. Their mission is one with a biblical foundation of excellence. It is designed to encourage life transformation with a threefold purpose; to evangelize, edify and equip the whole person to serve the community and reach the world for Jesus Christ. They strive to be compassionate in their love, excellent in their service, holy in their living, while being passionate and reverent in their worship.

Pastor Harris and First Lady Barbara are the parents of three wonderful adult children:  Sandie, Gerald, and Gregory.