The youngest child and only son of his beloved parents the late Arthur and Sarah Gerald, Rev. Arthur Thomas Gerald, Jr. was born in Boston. He has four sisters Margaret, Gwendolyn, Lucille and Jeannette.
A product of the Boston Public Schools, Reverend Gerald attended the Timilty Junior High School and graduated from The English High. While in middle school, he played basketball at the Norfolk House for the “Exquisites” along with lifelong buddies Al Holland and Lenny Cox.
During those formative years, Reverend Gerald’s desire to earn a college degree and pursue ministry as a vocation was influenced by the social work ministry of Reverend Michael E. Haynes who was the Youth Director of Norfolk House Centre of Roxbury.
After graduating from The English High School, Pastor Gerald attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. He transferred to Berkshire
Christian College in Lenox, Massachusetts where he earned a BA in Ethics and Theology in 1970. Two years later, Reverend Gerald earned a Masters of Theological Study from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.
On January 30, 1975, Pastor Gerald was licensed to preach the Gospel by the American Baptist Churches. He was ordained under the pastorate of Reverend Michael E. Haynes on November 11,1976 along with Reverends VaCountess Johnson and Bruce H. Wall.
As a member of the Ministerial Support Team, Reverend Gerald has served as the Minister to College & Young Adults and as Chairperson of the Budget, Pre School Board of Directors, African American History, Personnel and Nominating Committees. He has also served as Treasurer of the Mission Ministry, Chairperson of the Christian Education Ministry and member of the SAMH Corporation.
Reverend Gerald’s professional career spanned 38 years at Salem State College (now Salem State University). He retired as the Associate Dean of Academic and Cultural Affairs. Work at Salem State enabled him to gain expertise in finance and budgeting; skills that distinguished him in the administration of TBC’s Budget and Nominating Ministries.
In 1979, Reverend Gerald married Henrietta Williams of Mattapan. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Salem State College who majored in Business Finance and worked as a flight attendant for American Airlines for 36 years. God blessed them with two children Arthur- Michael and Alana- Michelle. Arthur-Michael is a graduate of Salem State College and like his mother, has an aptitude for finance. He is a Cash Analyst for Liberty Mutual. Alana-Michelle, a graduate of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia is pursuing a career in medicine.
Reverend Gerald’s leadership extends far beyond Twelfth Baptist Church. He has served on the Board of Directors for the Roxbury Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston and on a host of boards at Salem State College.
In 2004, Salem State College established an Endowment Scholarship in his name and in 2012; Reverend Gerald was awarded an honorary Doctorate from Salem State University. These honors attest to his legacy as a leader in the field of academia.
As the 13th Pastor of the Historic Twelfth Baptist Church, Reverend Dr. Arthur T. Gerald, Jr., is committed to an intimate relationship with our community and to a church that is willing to minister beyond its four walls.
God has charged him to lead Twelfth Baptist Church as a body of Purpose, Power, Praise and Prayer. Through Reverend Dr. Gerald’s vision, faith and humility to the will of God, TBC is climbing to higher heights.