WOODLEAF — Rev. Dr. Jerry Cannon, the vice president of Ministry Innovation at the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be the speaker on Sunday at 11 a.m., when Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church celebrates its 154th church anniversary.  

His service began as the agency entered a season of rebuilding, and he is responsible for strengthening connections to ministries that represent the growing diversity of the denomination.

Cannon leads and directs the board’s dues incentive programs, exploring solutions that will break new ground in the support of small church and nontraditional ministries. He also manages the board’s relationship with churches and caucus groups, including the National Black Presbyterian Caucus, National Caucus of Korean Presbyterian Churches and Hispanic/Latinx National Presbyterian Caucus. 

A lifelong Presbyterian who has long been active in the national Church, Cannon served more than 30 years as pastor of C.N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, a congregation in Charlotte and one of the largest Black congregations in the PC(USA). The congregation nearly tripled in size during his service and engaged in extensive community-based ministry and bridge-building and 20 of his members answered the call to Christian Ministry during his tenure.  

Cannon has held several high-profile roles within the Presbyterian Church, including leadership within the African American Intercultural Congregational Support Office. He also served as president of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus and as a minister of diversity, equity and inclusion with the Presbyterian Foundation.

He is a former member of the Board of Pensions Board of Directors, serving on the Assistance and Pension committees, and currently serves as one of two Board representatives to the Diverse Voices Table of the PC(USA). 

Cannon is a native of Kannapolis, son of the late Esau and Corine Cannon. His mother celebrated her 105th birthday in May 2024.  

Cannon is married to Rev. Veronica E. Cannon and they have four adult children — Rudolph, Raymond, Rosalyn and Richard. 

Cannon holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Virginia State University, a master’s of divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center (Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary), and a doctorate of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary.