REVEREND DR. CHRISTOPHER N. BURNETT
Reverend Doctor Christopher Paul Burnett, also known as "Pastor Chris," was born in Charlotte, N.C., and he spent his formative years in Columbia, S.C., and Atlanta,
GA.
Pastor Chris is a distinguished scholar and spiritual leader, holding a B.S. in Microbiology from Pennsylvania State University — where he became a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. — a Master of Divinity from Turner Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of
Ministry from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. His doctoral work centered on helping people answer the divine call, a “Say Yes” theology that remains the heartbeat of everything he does.
His pastoral journey began as Youth Pastor at Trinity A.M.E. Church in Atlanta, GA, under the mentorship of Bishop Jeffery B. Cooper. He then served faithfully for nearly a decade across multiple congregations in Alabama’s 9th Episcopal District, followed by nearly ten years as pastor of St. Stephens A.M.E. Church in Essex,
MD. Appointed by Bishop Harry Seawright on May 1, 2026, Pastor Chris now serves as the pastor of Union Bethel A.M.E. Church in Brandywine, MD.
God already made the way — our responsibility is to see it, choose it, and live like it’s real.
Pastor Chris’s vision for Union Bethel is to help people encounter God in such a way that their lives are never the same — exposing them to the Union at Bethel, and learning like Jacob how to set up camp in wilderness places so God can do exceedingly and abundantly. At his core, Pastor Chris is a coach. What he does inside the church, he does outside it. Whether he is working with children in local schools, mentoring coaches and players on the field, organizing community meetings, or walking alongside a CEO toward their best — his mission is the same: help every person arrive at their full potential by saying yes to everything God assigns, so that they might experience everything God has for them.
He is most passionate about helping individuals discern God’s voice, respond obediently, and get everything God has for them.
Pastor Chris is happily married to Damarys Davis Burnett. Together, they have been blessed with three amazing children — Baron Christopher Valentino, Noel Olivia Gabriella, and Violet Joy Christina. As a family, they are committed to
being a guiding light, leading people to their ultimate destiny, purpose, and fulfillment.
God already made the way — our responsibility is to see it, choose it, and live like it’s real. My goal is to help people
stop missing what God has already made available.