Rev Harvey L Vaughn III
- Senior pastor
Rev. Harvey L. Vaughn, III is the Senior Pastor of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church of San Diego. He is from St. Louis, Missouri and is a third generation Pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, who served the Church for more than 40 years.
Pastor Vaughn holds a B.A. from Columbia College, Columbia, MO and has an extensive background in Business Marketing; Management and in Housing Development for Non-Profits. His experience lies in working with the City of St. Louis Housing Authority, providing housing for vulnerable populations through—“Bridge to Home Ownership” programs and as a Certified Housing Trainer for Neighborhood Housing Service—NeighborWorks.
Rev. Vaughn is passionate about connecting Church and Community via outreach initiatives and ministries that extend beyond the “church walls.” He began his ministry at twenty-two years of age and served five Congregations in the Missouri Conference of the 5th Episcopal District of the AME Church before relocating to the Southern California Conference in 2010.
In 2010, He was appointed to (Fountain of Hope A.M.E. Church) in the Henderson Community of Las Vegas, NV, where he built a New Sanctuary and added many new ministries.
Pastor Vaughn also served the community in the city of Las Vegas on the Federal Task Force on Sex Trafficking and as one of the Clergy Organizers for Non-Unionized Hotel Workers. He was also instrumental in helping to facilitate dialogue on Race and Policing by organizing many Town Halls with elected officials and law enforcement agencies.
In 2015, Pastor Vaughn was appointed as Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church of San Diego… Since 2015, He has lead our congregation in renovations of the Church Edifice; Grounds and Properties and is presently expanding our outreach, by developing Low to Moderate Income Housing through Bethel Community Development Corporation. Pastor Vaughn has lead the expansion of the Bethel Food Distribution Program and has acquired Bethel Day-Care, a partnership with Neighborhood House for the Logan Heights Community.
In addition to his duties as Senior Pastor; He has (represented the 5th District) as a member of its General Board and presently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for Southern California Conference.
Pastor Vaughn has many accomplishments in both his clergy and secular careers but is most proud of his ministry to his family! He is married to Deidra M. Kirkland-Vaughn and is the proud father of three adult children and grandfather of three.
