Reverend T. Kenneth Venable

Rev. Venable was born in Baltimore, Maryland and was raised in a small community known as Turners Station. He received his early education in the Baltimore County Public School System. Rev. Venable, later, received a Bachelor of Arts degree Elementary Education from Morgan State University (MSU) and a Masters of Arts degree in Management and Supervision from Central Michigan University. He received theological training from the School of Theology, Virginia Union University.

Upon his graduation from Morgan State, Rev. Venable was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. Most of his duties involved Personnel Administration and instructing in Personnel Management. Highlights of Rev. Venable’s military career included assignments to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and as Associate Professor of Military Science at his Alma Mater (MSU). He retired as a major after twenty (20) years of service.

Upon his retirement from military service, Rev. Venable was employed as a Field Manager for the Southland Corporation. He subsequently joined the Petersburg City Public School Division as a sixth grade teacher so that he could devote more tine to his “call” as a preacher of the Gospel. Rev. Venable continued his participation in the field of education as Transfer Coordinator at Virginia State University until his move to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

His community activities are numerous, to include membership in the Omega Psi Phi International Fraternity, The Interdenominational Ministers’ Conference of Greater Harrisburg, Inc., Spiritual Care Advisory Committee for Pinnaclehealth, Advisory Board of the Harrisburg Area Salvation Army and a consultant to the Harrisburg School District Committee for Children of Incarcerated Parents.

Rev. Venable was ordained an Elder in February, 1994. His first pastoral appointment was to the Saint Mary A.M.E. Zion Church, Sebrell, VA. A year later he received an appointment to the Oak Street A.M.E. Zion Church, Petersburg, VA, the Mother Church of the Virginia Annual Conference where he pastured almost eleven years. In June of 2005, Rev. Venable received an appointment to Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion Church. On June 13, 2009, Bishop Warren M. Brown, Presiding Prelate of the Mid-Atlantic II Episcopal District, appointed Rev. Venable to his current position as pastor of Clinton AME Zion Church. In addition to his pastoral duties, Rev. Venable serves the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church positions on various boards and committees at every level.

Rev. Venable is married to the former C. Gene Coffey and they have two children: Keith of New York City and Dr. Erika (Rodney) Venable-Johnson of Chester, VA. They also have three grandchildren, Taylor, Mya and Tyler.

Reverend and Mrs. Venable

Our First Lady

C. GENE VENABLE

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Mrs. Venable, the former C. Gene Coffey, was educated in the public schools there and attended Morgan State University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. Her career started as a schoolteacher in Killen, Texas, later entering the military and attending Officer Basic and Advance Courses, and then entering civil service employment with the Federal Government, holding positions as a Day Care Director, Educational counselor, and subsequently retiring as the Chief of Personnel Processing at Ft. Lee, Virginia in 2003. Mrs. Venable did further work with the YMCA as a pre-K teacher in Harrisburg, PA.

Mrs. Venable is a past co-chair of the Lula G. Williams Education and Wellness Center Board of Directors. She has served as Superintendent of Buds for the Virginia Conference, Petersburg District and Children’s Director for the Christian Education Department, Petersburg District. Mrs. Venable is a member of Church Women United, The World Federation of Methodist Women United and the National Council of Negro Women. Additionally, Mrs. Venable was appointed as the District Coordinator of YAMS for the Harrisburg District and has worked on several projects for the General President of the Women’s Home and Missionary Society and the General Coordinator of YAMS.

Her community activities included a Charter member and Treasurer of Petersburg Chums, Inc., Women’s Committee for the Petersburg Symphony and member of the Petersburg Junior Civic League.
Mrs. Venable travels extensively with her husband to Connectional Conferences.

She is married to Rev. T. Kenneth Venable and they are the proud parents of Keith Venable of New York City, and Dr. Erika Venable-Johnson, son-in-law Rodney Johnson of Chester, Virginia and grandparents of two adorable granddaughters Taylor Craft, Mya Johnson and grandson Tyler Johnson.