The Reverend Mark A. Dennis, Jr. is the eleventh Senior Pastor of the historic Second Baptist Church. With a history of pastoral excellence, the Second Baptist Church community, in its 133rd year, called Reverend Dennis to provide visionary and spiritual leadership and to build a stronger community of Faith, Freedom and Fellowship for the new millennium.

Previously, Reverend Dennis served as a gifted leader: President, The Alford Group Inc., (a highly acclaimed national consulting firm best suited to strengthen the not-for-profit sector); Associate Dean, Institutional Advancement and Assistant Professor, Church Music and Worship, Director of Continuing Education for Clergy and Laity, Howard University School of Divinity. In 1980, Reverend Dennis was appointed the first Associate Pastor, Third Street Church of God, Reverend Dr. Samuel G. Hines, Senior Pastor.

His professional experience includes service as: Interim Pastor, Progressive Baptist Church (Chicago) and Second Baptist Church (Evanston); Consulting Minister, Covenant Baptist Church (District of Columbia) and Faith United Church of Christ (District of Columbia); Instructor of Music Theory/Composition and Coordinator of The Upward Bound Program, Bowling Green State University; Minister of Music, Asbury United Methodist Church (District of Columbia), First Church of God, (Toledo, Ohio), Martin Street Church of God (Atlanta), and the Third Street Church of God (District of Columbia).

Reverend Dennis is the holder of several degrees: Master of Divinity, Cum Laude, Howard University School of Divinity; Master of Music, Bowling Green State University; Bachelor of Arts, Morehouse College; and is ABD, Professional/Staff Development, University of Maryland, (College Park, MD). He has received numerous honors and awards such as: the Benjamin E. Mays Fellow, (The Fund for Theological Education); the Benjamin Franklin Award, (recognized as “The Best Professional Leader in Philanthropy, 2000” (Chicago area); the D. B. Barton Award in Pastoral Theology; Outstanding Young Americans; Who’s Who Among Black Americans; International Who’s Who in Music and Musicians; and Pianoforte Competition, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Eta Lambda Chapter, Reverend Dennis is a frequent speaker and facilitator for churches, professional associations and institutions of higher education. Pastor Dennis currently serves on the boards of: North Park University; The Milton Murray Foundation for Philanthropy (vice president); Chairperson, Advisory Task Force, The Church and the Black Experience, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary; and the Advisory Board, Metropolitan Family Services of Evanston. He has served on the boards of: The Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation, the (co-chair) Charitable Advisory Commission, Office of the Attorney General, State of Illinois and many others. Mark has several compositions and publications to his credit and is one of the contributing authors in Careers in Fundraising, (L. Wagner, editor, Wiley Publications, 2002). Reverend Dennis remains active as a lecturer, preacher and has served as adjunct lecturer at such institutions of higher education as The University of Chicago, Graham School of General Studies and DePaul University.

An ordained member of the clergy, Pastor Dennis aspires toward excellence and firmly believes that all people have the potential to grow and provide leadership within their sphere of influence. To this end, he often paraphrases the words of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays: “Low Aim is Sin”. Most of all, Reverend Mark A. Dennis, Jr. is the proud father of four adults and delighted grandfather of three grandchildren.