Reverend Dr. Shirley Wigfall Pinckney 

The Reverend Dr. Shirley Wigfall Pinckney, an Ordained Elder, is the enthusiastic Pastor of St. John AMEpiscopal Church, Cottageville, SC and the First Lady of Bethel AME Church, Gourdine, SC where her husband Rev. William Pinckney is the pastor. 

She graduated from Voorhees College, Denmark, SC, with a BA degree in English; South Carolina State University, Orangeburg, SC, with an MA degree in Counselor Education; and Erskine Theological Seminary, Due West, SC, with her MDiv degree, an MA degree in Practical Ministry, and  a DMin degree.  Dr. Pinckney is a retired high school teacher and guidance counselor of Orangeburg Consolidated School District 3.

She is a strong advocate for Christian leadership training to equip, evolve, empower, and transform leaders for organic outreach ministry through collaborative impacts. She has served as an SED and SC Annual Conference Lead Teacher for the Board of Examiners. Presently, she has been appointed as the board’s registrar. Dr. Pinkney also serves as the South Carolina Annual Conference Church School Superintendent.

Because Dr. Pinckney has a passion for youth and senior ministries, she has reactivated the YPD and YAM ministries at the church. With the aid of other passionate members for outreach, she also has created two community outreach ministries:  J.E.L.L.O. (Just Expressing Love while Lifting Others) to offer educational and medical information, encourage and initiate discussions on matters of community concerns, and provide back-to-school packages for school-age children; and a Spiritual Faith-Based Respite Care Breakroom through the SC Respite Coalition, Columbia, SC. to provide release/relief time to family and friends who provide caregiving services to the elderly. Dr. Pinckney provides volunteer services with Jean’s Angels Community Outreach Nonprofit Organization in helping individuals and families in need.   She is the Past Grand Supervising Deputy of District 2 of the Prince Hall Grand Chapter Order of the Eastern Star Rite of Adoption for the State of South Carolina and Jurisdiction.

She enjoys spending time with family, reading, teaching, and collaborating in organizational and creative endeavors. The scriptures that govern her life and expand her thoughts and visions for her family and ministry are “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need” (Matthew 6:33 NLT); and “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (Matthew 19:26 NLT).