ABOUT INTERIM PASTOR DARLENE COOLEY
Reverend Cooley is a native of Harrisburg, PA. She is the daughter of Elizabeth Smith-Brown and Jordan L. Wright. She is a graduate of the former William Penn Senior High School. From the time she accepted Jesus Christ at age thirteen while attending her family church Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion, Harrisburg, PA., she has been serving the Lord in all she has been called to do thus far. While attending Wesley she served numerous ministries to include president of the Usher ministry, coordinator of various annual days and community outreach initiatives as well as treasurer of the former Wesley Union Community Development Corporation.
Her formal education consists of a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from West Virginia State University, Institute, West Virginia; Master of Arts Degree in Organizational Management and Human Resources from the University of Phoenix; and a Master of Divinity Degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary, Lancaster, PA.
She has served as a political appointee Staff Assistant/Assistant Director of the Charleston Human Rights Commission, Charleston, West Virginia; and a Contract Compliance Specialist with the U.S. Department of Labor. She also served in various positions while employed by the Department of Navy, Mechanicsburg, Pa. which include Director of Employee and Labor Relations; Director of Equal Employment Opportunity; Director of Workforce Development as well as Director of Employee Assistance and Wellness Programs. After a 37 year career with Department of Navy she was blessed to retire as the Director of Human Resources, Workforce Diversity Department. Presently, through God’s grace and mercy, Rev. Cooley serves as a fulltime Staff Chaplain at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA.
She announced her call to the preaching ministry when she delivered her initial sermon in August 2009 and was licensed at the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, Harrisburg, Pa by the Reverend Dr. Danny Conyers, Pastor. While attending Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church she served as an advisor to the Trustee and Usher ministries as well as assisted the Pastor in worship service planning, preaching in his absence, teaching Bible Study, Sunday school, and Vacation Bible School. Coordinating and directing numerous church programs, annual days, revivals, developed training for deacons/deaconess and VBS were also part of her ministry responsibilities. She was blessed to go before an ordination council in May 2012 resulting in being ordained on 27 May 2012 at Macedonia.
In 2014 Rev. Cooley became a member of Goodwin Memorial Baptist Church as an Associate Minister. Her ministry responsibilities has encompassed Director of Christian Education, Ministers Retreat Coordinator, Director of VBS; Coordinator/Founder of several nursing home ministries, teacher of Adult Sunday School and Bible Study, provided counseling and pastoral care to the congregation, established GMBC Teen Church as well as served as Youth Pastor under the tutelage of Reverend Dr. James D. Jackson, former Senior Pastor.
Presently, Rev. Cooley serves as the Interim Pastor, where she will teaching weekly Bible Study, preaching Sunday morning worship service. Rev. Cooley will continue working with church staff, leadership, ministries and members to foster a unified and harmonious relationship. She will provide input regarding church communications to include the worship bulletin, newsletter, correspondence and emails. Additionally, Rev. Cooley will officiate weddings, conduct funerals, visit and call the sick and shut-in members, and provide counseling and make appropriate referrals as warranted.
She serves the community in various organizations. A few include leadership roles in Prince Hall Affiliated organizations: Order of Eastern Star Sheba Chapter #32, Order of Golden Circle Harrisburg Assembly #50; Maria C. Jaynes #34, Order of Cyrene; and Heroines of Jericho. She is a member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; and West Virginia State Alumni Association, Harrisburg Chapter.
She is the proud mother of two sons and one daughter-in-law, Charles, II, (Tara), and Jordan, and two grandchildren, Elysia (LeeLee) and Ezekiel (Zerkerman).
Reverend Cooley believes that God continues to orchestrate her life and she is obedient to His call. Her favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” This is coupled with one her favorite hymn: “I Don’t Believe He Brought Me This Far To Leave Me.”