Reverend Dr. John L. Scott, A.B., M. DIV, D. MN
Pastor St. John’s Baptist Church
Harlem, NY
Retired March 5, 2023
Reverend Dr. John Luster Scott is a true man of GOD; he is an anointed and appointed Shepherd of St. John’s Baptist Church and lifelong Civil Rights leader.
For forty years, he has pastored St. John’s Baptist Church, where he has made Evangelism and Discipleship the top priority of the Church and has become an integral part of the National Evangelism Movement, seeking to involve every member in the ministry of sharing the love of Christ with the unsaved. Moreover, Dr. Scott has been instrumental in the lives of many clergy, evangelists, and lay ministers, licensing over nine persons to the Ministry.
Dr. Scott is an ordinary person GOD has chosen to use in His extraordinary plans here on Earth. He has served as Moderator of the United Missionary Baptist Association, covering the regions of Manhattan, Bronx, Westchester, and Rockland Counties. Additionally, he has been actively involved in the community serving as Chairman, Board of Directors of the Bethune Senior Citizen Center; Sponsoring the Adopt-A-Block Program with the New York City Police Department; and Co-Chairperson for the Coalition on Community Policing (CCOP) for Upper Westside of Manhattan and was cited by the White House as an example of clergy and police working together. Additionally, Dr. Scott chaired the West Harlem Coalition through the Wilson Major Morris Community Center sponsored five nutrition centers, a Youth Employment Training Program (Y.E.T.P), and the interim lease program through the Housing Preservation Development (H.P.D.). He also organized the first President of the Clergy Coalition in the North Bronx against crime and violence.
Dr. Scott has been committed to the Civil Rights struggle his entire life, and has served in many capacities from North Carolina to New York City. He served as President of the Hertfort County NAACP, which led the Voter Education Project, and War on Poverty and integrated the Hertford County School System, The Roanoke Chowan Hospital, restaurants, and motels, to name a few. He worked with the late Rev. Dr. W.A. Jones and Rev. Al Sharpton while serving as Executive Secretary for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. While in New York City, Dr. Scott chaired the Social Action Committee against the War in Iraq against the killing of Amadou Diallo and Sean Bell. Other Awards that Pastor Scott has received include, The W.A. Jones Social Justice Award by The National Action Network (NAN), he was inducted into The Martin Luther King Chapel at Morehouse College as a “King Fellow,” and he was recently cited as an “Outstanding Alumnus” Achievement Award from New York Theological Seminary. More of Pastor Scott’s Civil Rights history can be read in his book entitled,
“Civil Rights VOICE for the Oppressed, The Story of Rev. John L. Scott”
Pastor Scott is married to the former Minnie Watts of Portsmouth, Virginia. They are the proud parents of three sons, John Scott, Esquire, James Scott, M.D., and Jerome Scott. They are also the doting grandparents of one granddaughter, Cameron Sophia, and two grandsons, Ethan and James Jr. He continues to be a staunch advocate for the oppressed and marginalized people everywhere.
To God Be The Glory!
