Reverend Dr. Alphonse Allen, Jr. was recently appointed as the Senior Pastor of Allen Temple African Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio in November 2007.

Prior to coming to Allen, Dr. Allen served as the Pastor of United African Methodist Episcopal Church in Xenia, Ohio for the past five years. While at United, Dr. Allen was affiliated with the Xenia Area As Association of Churches and the Greene County African American Ministerial Alliance, where he served this past year as President. He actively supports the area schools’ athletic programs including coaching midget to eight grade football. Dr. Allen also serves as an adjunct professor at Wilberforce University where he enjoys teaching our brilliant young minds. Dr. Allen’s presence is noticeably visible at the university as well as in the community at large.

Before transferring to Ohio, Dr. Allen served for six years as the Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Scranton, Pennsylvania. While residing in Scranton, he was actively involved in the community, working as an activist and liaison for the Lackawanna Prison Ministry; and with the NAACP of, which he has a life membership.

Dr. Allen was born and raised in Sharon, Pennsylvania, where he was an active member of Greater Morris African Methodist Episcopal Church, Farrell, Pennsylvania. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in African Studies. Dr. Allen also earned a Masters of Divinity degree from the prestigious Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio, where he graduated first in his class. In May 2006, Dr. Allen completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio. With all that being said, the degree that Dr. Allen is most proud of is his degree in “Common Sense” which he obtained at Carrie Allen University, the home of his praying mother.

Dr. Allen has been a born again Christian since July 1984, and accepted his calling to preach a year later, under Rev. Dr. James H. Harris, his father in the ministry. He has pastored several churches over the past 20 years, but his goal is to help train young seminarians to preach God’s word.

Married to Francietta Allen R.N. for the past 23 years, he is the proud father of 14-year old twins, Alphonse Hassiem and Alexis Amira Allen. Dr. Allen is the son of Alphonse Allen, Sr. and Carrie Allen. He also has three sisters, Donna Allen-Rosemond, Esq., Kelly Allen, both of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Kirsten Allen of Sharon, Pennsylvania.

Of all the accolades previously mentioned Dr. Allen wants you to know first and foremost that he is a “Child of the Living God”.