BISHOP JOHN DREW SHEARD
Bishop John Drew Sheard was born on January 1, 1959, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Bishop John Henry Sheard and the late Mother Willie Mae Sheard.
He obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Master of Education in Mathematics from Wayne State University. In 1988, he began his pastoral ministry at Great Emmanuel Church.
Bishop Sheard has worked diligently in various capacities, including as International Youth Department President, Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Auxiliaries in Ministries (AIM) convention.
Bishop Sheard was elevated to the office of jurisdictional bishop in 2010. Then, in 2012, he was elected to the Presidium of the Church. In 2021, the delegates of the General Assembly re-elected Bishop Sheard as a member of the Presidium of the Church, and subsequently, elected him Presiding Bishop.
As a humanitarian, he donated to pastors across the country in need due to natural disasters. Later, he organized and led an ecumenical effort to raise $100,000 to support ministerial leaders during COVID-19 and other life-threatening catastrophes.
His accomplishments as the eighth leader of the Church Of God In Christ include raising $2.5 million through the “I Love My Church” Initiative in less than a year. Developing a partnership with Waste Management (WM) that trains and employs formerly incarcerated individuals at a living wage.
In 2023, Bishop Sheard formed an innovative partnership with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee to provide transitional housing for juveniles entering the state’s foster care system.
His financial acumen and extraordinary stewardship enabled him to eliminate the Church Of God In Christ’s entire debt in 2023.
Bishop Sheard and Lady Karen Clark-Sheard have two children, Kierra Sheard Kelly and John Drew Sheard, II; one son-in-love, Jordan Kelly; and three grandchildren, Jacob, Kali Drew and Khole-Drew.