Bishop Walter E. Jordan I
(1940-2012)
Bishop Walter Earl Jordan was born on June 11, 1940 to Sylvia and Felix Jordan in Mansfield, Ohio. A child prodigy, Bishop Jordan was blessed by God with the gift to play the piano at age three. Beginning at age seven, he traveled extensively as a revival pianist.
At the age of nine, Bishop Jordan accepted Christ and joined the St. John Church of God in Christ, under the pastorate of the late Elder John Edward Ward. As an accomplished pianist and organist, Bishop Jordan expressed his love for the Lord and music, serving as church musician.
He later answered his call to Word Ministry, joining the ministerial staff. Bishop Jordan received his early education through the Public Schools of Mansfield. He continued his studies at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, Ohio State University in Mansfield, Ohio and the Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio.
Bishop Jordan married Ms. Shirley Ann Ralls on September 12, 1964. They are the proud parents of Nikki Darlene (Christopher) Thorpe, Addi Louise, Walter Earl II and Sylvia Caprice. They are wonderfully blessed with two granddaughters, Christin Nikole and Tilo Shirlee, and two grandsons, Nikolas Christopher, Christopher Neal.
In 1965, Bishop Jordan was appointed Pastor of the Greater St. John Church of God in Christ. Bishop Jordan served as a true and humble Shepherd, providing and sustaining ministries that meet the multifaceted needs of men, women and children. Sister Shirley Jordan is an inspirational and diligent servant in the ministry. In August of 1992, the church dedicated a new "mortgage free" multimillion dollar sanctuary under his leadership. Debt free renovations of the old sanctuary resulted in the completion of an educational wing and commercial quality kitchen facilities in the fellowship hall. Bishop Jordan's unique and powerful presentation of the gospel has helped to edify the body of Christ.
Bishop Jordan was consecrated as Jurisdictional Prelate of the Ohio First North First jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ on October 21, 2000. Vision and anointing are the hallmarks of his ministry in serving the Jurisdiction. During his tenure, Bishop Jordan served honorably and with distinction as Jurisdictional Prelate. He is described by others as a gracious, innovative and progressive Man of God. Under his leadership, the Jurisdiction has grown to a collective of 115 congregations representing large and small, urban and rural churches, throughout the State of Ohio. “Reclaiming the Ministry of Community” was the Jurisdictional theme for the first year of Bishop Jordan’s administration.
Every level of ministry was challenged to reach out beyond our congregations to impact the community. As reflected in the Ohio North mission statement, the Jurisdiction has worked to edify the body of Christ on every level by “Encouraging individuals, equipping local churches and their leaders, and enhancing districts.” The Bishop exercised visionary gifts by developing an infrastructure from which to supply benefits, expertise and technical support to local churches in all areas.
After 40 years of faithful service, Bishop Walter Jordan entered into retirement from pastoral service on May 30, 2004. His legacy continues at Greater St. John under the current leadership of his son, Dr. Walter Jordan II. Following his tenure, the Ohio North Jurisdiction is committed to carry on his strong legacy of vision and excellence in ministry.
Bishop Jordan went home to be with the lord on December 30th, 2012 after an extended illness.
Co-Pastor Shirley Jordan
Shirley Ann Jordan loves our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This emanates through her smile and her words of encouragement for all she meets. She served as Co-Pastor alongside her husband, the late Bishop Walter E. Jordan for over 40 years and she also serves on the board for the Ohio North First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. To this day, she remains a strong supporter of her church home, the Oasis of Love Church of God in Christ in Mansfield, Ohio. She shares the Gospel through speaking engagements in her community and throughout the State and Country. Her testimony regarding God's healing power in her victory over cancer has encouraged and delivered many. She also shares God's love and message of salvation through her inspirational writing and church play productions.
Mrs. Jordan remains active in her community. For six years, Mrs. Jordan served as the hostess of a weekly television program entitled "BLACK FORUM" that was seen on Mansfield television station WMFD Channel 68. During her tenure she had the honor of interviewing many esteemed Community and National leaders, including Bishop Paul Morton, the Presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Fellowship; Bishop Chandler D. Owens, the former Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ; Bishop Gilbert Earl Patterson, and has personally hosted at her home Bishop Charles E. Blake the present Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ and Ernest Thomas, the actor who played "Rog” on the television show "What's Happening”.
She has served on the Board of Directors of the Rehab Center, the Y.W.C.A., the Committee for Racial Equality, Richland Academy of Arts, the Tindley Foundation, and the NAACP Freedom Fund Committee. Mrs. Jordan has also served as a guest speaker for the Annual Community Action Program Banquet and had the distinct privilege of introducing the late Shirley Chisholm for the NAACP. She recently was the Poster Woman for the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign of the Pat Kracker Breast Cancer Foundation.
Mrs. Jordan loves her family. She was happily married to the late Bishop Walter Jordan for 49 years. She is the mother of four children: Nikki, Addi, Walter, and Sylvia the proud grandmother of five grandchildren: Christin Nikole, Tilo Shirlee, Nikolas, Christopher, and Alec Edward. Mrs. Jordan loves swimming, roller skating, walking and fishing. Her favorite quotations are “I wouldn’t be caught dead without Jesus” and “My job is to take care of the possible and to trust God for the impossible.