EMPOWERING PASTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY

The African American Pastors Council (AAPC) is a coalition of African-American pastors and clergy representing approximately fifteen (15) congregations in Charlottesville and the surrounding five-county region (Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Nelson, and Louisa) in central Virginia. The Vision of AAPC is to empower pastors through information, instruction, and inspiration, benefiting our congregations and communities.

The mission of AAPC is to engage in community support and growth. Our coalition of pastors empower their church communities by unifying their joint efforts towards this mission. This efforts include engaging with local organizations such as Sentara Starr-Hill Health Clinic, UVA Health System, UVA Division for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Blue Ridge Health District, Charlottesville Police Department, Albemarle County Police Department, University Police Department, Albemarle County Schools, and numerous other community stakeholder organizations.

Formed in 2007, the AAPC began as a support group of African-American pastors in the central Virginia region, providing networking, encouragement, and a platform where issues and challenges unique to African-American Pastors can be brought and addressed. Over the years, calls were made by our community for more pastoral engagement, visibility, and active participation to address growing social and legal inequities, education, violence, and the deterioration of the family. AAPC has responded through active engagement with area decision makers to give voice and impetus to historically ignored needs in area communities-of-color, and to increase representation of these targeted groups.