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Leadership
Rev. Dr. Paul P. Martin, Esq.
Pastor
The Reverend Paul P. Martin, Esq. was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church on April 5, 2014 at the 142th Session of the New Jersey Annual Conference under the direction of the Right Reverend Gregory GM Ingram, Presiding Bishop and was thereafter appointed to his first charge as Pastor of Mount Carmel AME Church, New Rochelle, New York at the 192nd Session of the New York Annual Conference on April 27, 2014.
Rev. Martin served at Mt. Carmel AME, New Rochelle for more than six years. During his tenure the church went from the 9th Church in the Brooklyn Westchester District to the 6th Church. At end of Rev. Martin’s tenure at Mt. Carmel the church was on solid ground financially, as the church not only met all the denominational requirements but was in zero debt and a healthy savings account.
On August 27, 2020, The Right Reverend Gregory G. M. Ingram, the Presiding Bishop transferred Rev. Martin back to the New Jersey Annual Conference and appointed him as Senior Pastor of St. Mark AME Church, East Orange, New Jersey.
During his time at St. Mark Rev. Martin did major renovations to the church campus including a new roof, new floors, renovate the fellowship hall, new musical instruments, new sound system and a new HVAC system. Rev. Martin not only renovated the physical building but was intentional about touching those outside the four walls of the buildings, welcoming those who were not AME but did want to learn about Jesus.
On December 15, 2024, The Right Reverend Samuel L. Green, Sr. the Presiding Prelate of the First Episcopal District appointed Rev. Martin as the 13th Pastor of the Historic Mt. Pisgah AME Church, Jersey City, New Jersey.
Rev. Martin is a graduate of New York Theological Seminary obtaining his Master of Divinity Degree in 2013. He was previously a member of the ministerial staff at St. James AME Church in Newark, New Jersey under the direction of Rev. Ronald Slaughter and Rev. William D. Watley (retired pastor of St. Phillip AME Church, Atlanta, GA).
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Rev. Martin is the son of the late Rev. Paul P. Martin and Merva K. Martin of Erie, Pa. His father served as Presiding Elder of the Scranton District in the 2nd Episcopal District of the AME Church. His father was not his only ministerial influence, his grandfather the Rev. Van Hardy served as Pastor of Marine Baptist Church Pittsburgh, PA. His cousin, Rev. Richard Burgess is the Pastor of Nazarene Baptist Church, Pittsburgh PA and his brother in law, Rev. Edward Cross have also impacted his journey.
Rev. Martin credits his ability to reach out beyond himself and to look to the needs of others to his spiritual father, Rev. William D. Watley, who thru his mentoring, advice and chastising Rev. Martin was able to stay focused on God and believe that God has a plan for our lives that is greater than any plan we can have for ourselves or others can have for us.
An accomplished attorney, Rev. Martin was admitted to practice law in the State of New York in 1990. He commenced his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County, New York from 1989-1995. As a trial assistant working in the Narcotics Bureau and the Trial Division.
After serving as an Assistant District Attorney, Rev. Martin transitioned to the private sector as an associate at a downtown law firm. His experience as an Assistant District Attorney coupled with his work at the law firm prepared him to open his own law practice in New York City in 1996. Since then he has successfully represented hundreds of individuals accused of crimes and represented clients in such notable/high profile cases such as the Martha Stewart Case, the New York State Governor Patterson Investigation, the Sean Bell Murder Case and numerous other press cases.
Rev. Martin is a frequent legal commentator on television and radio appearing on NBC's the Today Show, CNN, HLN and Fox News. He has also been showcased in documentaries such as Investigation Discovery's Fatal Encounters.
Rev. Martin was the first participant in the St. John's University School of Law and the United Negro College Fund Dual Degree Program. He is a graduate of Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio (B.A.) and St. John's University School of Law, Queens, New York (J.D.). He is a member of the New York State Bar and is also admitted to the United States District Court of the Southern and Eastern District. He is a member of the New York State Defenders Association. He is an active member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated and he is a Prince Hall Mason, 32 Degree.
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Rev. Martin is married to Maria Belquis Martin and he is the father of four daughters and one son; Aundrea, Renee, Natalie, Jackie and Paul Pricey Martin.
