Reverend Steven A. Cousin
Steven A. Cousin was born in Danville, Virginia, April 22, 1958. He is the second of five sons born to Bishop and Mrs. Philip R. Cousin, who are now retired after serving for thirty-two years in Episcopal ministry.
Rev. Cousin has a BA in Political Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Masters of Divinity from Turner Theological Seminary, a component of the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia. He is listed in the fourteenth edition of The National Dean's List (1990-1991) for outstanding scholarship at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a recipient of the R. C. Briggs award in New Testament. This award is granted to the graduating senior with the highest level of achievement in the area of New Testament. He is a third generation Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a third generation member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a third generation Master Mason.
Rev. Cousin answered the call to preach in 1976 at St. Joseph's A.M.E. Church, Durham, North Carolina (the church where his father was stationed). Immediately following graduation from Jordan High School, in Durham, North Carolina, his father was elected and consecrated the 96th Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 1976 General Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and assigned to the Ninth Episcopal District, the State of Alabama. He comes from a long line of preachers. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Sylvester Alvin Cousin was the Presiding Elder of the West Miami District until his passing. His paternal uncle, Rev. Cecil "Chip" Murray, is the former Pastor of First A. M. E. Church in Los Angeles, California. His paternal great uncle, the late Rev. Lee Andrew Cousin served as a Chaplain in the United States Army and retired from active duty with the rank of Full Colonel. Another paternal great uncle, Rev. Leonard Bruce, was a Chaplain in the Air Force and served for many years at Grant, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rev. Cousin's pastoral assignments have spanned more than thirty-nine years and several churches. As a Licentiate, he served the following churches: Streeter Chapel, Brighton, Alabama (six months) and St. Matthew, East Thomas, Alabama (two years). As an Itinerant Deacon, he served St. Luke, Hueytown, Alabama (two years). As an Itinerant Elder, he served St. Paul, Adamsville, Alabama (four years); Gaines Chapel, Anniston, Alabama (four years); the Tuskegee Circuit, Tuskegee, Alabama (one week); St. Paul, Lanett, Alabama (two years); Gaines Chapel, Phenix City, Alabama (two years); Wayman Chapel, Union Springs, Alabama (twenty-three days); Gregg Tabernacle, Kansas City, Missouri (two years); St. Paul, Wichita, Kansas (four years); Ebenezer, Kansas City, Missouri (four years). At the 2004 Fifth District Planning Meeting, Bishop John Richard Bryant appointed Rev. Cousin to the Kansas City District of the Kansas/Nebraska Annual Conference. Rev. Cousin served in that capacity for three years. When the Kansas/Nebraska and the Northwest Missouri Annual Conferences merged, Rev. Cousin was appointed to the Midwest South District of the Midwest Annual Conference. He served in that capacity for eleven years. At the eighth session of the Midwest Annual Conference, Bishop T. Larry Kirkland appointed Rev. Cousin to Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas.
Rev. Cousin is married to Linda Childress-Cousin and they are the parents of seven children and six grandchildren
Rev. Cousin has a BA in Political Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a Masters of Divinity from Turner Theological Seminary, a component of the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia. He is listed in the fourteenth edition of The National Dean's List (1990-1991) for outstanding scholarship at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia, and is a recipient of the R. C. Briggs award in New Testament. This award is granted to the graduating senior with the highest level of achievement in the area of New Testament. He is a third generation Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a third generation member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a third generation Master Mason.
Rev. Cousin answered the call to preach in 1976 at St. Joseph's A.M.E. Church, Durham, North Carolina (the church where his father was stationed). Immediately following graduation from Jordan High School, in Durham, North Carolina, his father was elected and consecrated the 96th Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 1976 General Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and assigned to the Ninth Episcopal District, the State of Alabama. He comes from a long line of preachers. His paternal grandfather, Rev. Sylvester Alvin Cousin was the Presiding Elder of the West Miami District until his passing. His paternal uncle, Rev. Cecil "Chip" Murray, is the former Pastor of First A. M. E. Church in Los Angeles, California. His paternal great uncle, the late Rev. Lee Andrew Cousin served as a Chaplain in the United States Army and retired from active duty with the rank of Full Colonel. Another paternal great uncle, Rev. Leonard Bruce, was a Chaplain in the Air Force and served for many years at Grant, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Rev. Cousin's pastoral assignments have spanned more than thirty-nine years and several churches. As a Licentiate, he served the following churches: Streeter Chapel, Brighton, Alabama (six months) and St. Matthew, East Thomas, Alabama (two years). As an Itinerant Deacon, he served St. Luke, Hueytown, Alabama (two years). As an Itinerant Elder, he served St. Paul, Adamsville, Alabama (four years); Gaines Chapel, Anniston, Alabama (four years); the Tuskegee Circuit, Tuskegee, Alabama (one week); St. Paul, Lanett, Alabama (two years); Gaines Chapel, Phenix City, Alabama (two years); Wayman Chapel, Union Springs, Alabama (twenty-three days); Gregg Tabernacle, Kansas City, Missouri (two years); St. Paul, Wichita, Kansas (four years); Ebenezer, Kansas City, Missouri (four years). At the 2004 Fifth District Planning Meeting, Bishop John Richard Bryant appointed Rev. Cousin to the Kansas City District of the Kansas/Nebraska Annual Conference. Rev. Cousin served in that capacity for three years. When the Kansas/Nebraska and the Northwest Missouri Annual Conferences merged, Rev. Cousin was appointed to the Midwest South District of the Midwest Annual Conference. He served in that capacity for eleven years. At the eighth session of the Midwest Annual Conference, Bishop T. Larry Kirkland appointed Rev. Cousin to Trinity African Methodist Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas.
Rev. Cousin is married to Linda Childress-Cousin and they are the parents of seven children and six grandchildren
