The People Of Grace

St. Ambrose Episcopal Church welcomes the Reverend Robert Jemonde Taylor as its eleventh rector. Most recently Father Jemonde served as a priest at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (http://www.saintmichael.org/) in Dallas, Texas, a 7,200-member congregation. The Reverend Taylor served Saint Michael by teaching, preaching, and providing pastoral care as part of the clergy team. Part of his ministry was in a Spanish speaking, 62-block, southeast Dallas neighborhood called Jubilee Park (http://www.jubileecenter.org/). Taylor also served as chaplain and teacher at St. Philip’s School (http://www.stphilips1600.org/), a historically African American Episcopal elementary school in south Dallas. He directed the St. Michael 20s and 30s ministry.  While at General Seminary, Father Jemonde served as seminary assistant with Grace Church in White Plains, New York.

Father Jemonde grew up in St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church (http://stmatthias.dionc.org/index.html) in Louisburg, N.C. He received his Master of Divinity degree at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (http://www.gts.edu/) in New York City, serving as student body president. While at seminary, Father Jemonde served as seminary minister with Grace Church in White Plains, New York. Before ordained ministry, Father Jemonde worked as an automotive performance and design engineer for Michelin Tire Company in Greenville, SC.  Michelin named him Pôle de Compétence, making him responsible for worldwide research. He was the youngest and first African American to hold this position. He graduated from North Carolina State in 2000 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He also holds a master of science in mechanical engineering with a concentration in robotics from Stanford University. Father Jemonde has made several trips to Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia.  He continues to study the history, worship, and spirituality of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Father Jemonde plays the trumpet. He also enjoys practicing an African Brazilian form of martial arts called capoeira. Father Jemonde had a weekly Sunday segment on the Cheryl Smith Radio Show on KKDA in Dallas. He has interests in digital media, design, and photography. The Reverend Jemonde Taylor’s ministry is one of reconciliation and transformation.

You may contact Father Jemonde at jemonde@me.com.

YouTube site: http://www.youtube.com/user/jemonde