Pastor Ella Bernadette Johnson-Clay, a wise woman called by God to teach and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She loves God and God’s great people and committed to heal and restore lives through the work of social justice. Ella Bernadette Johnson- Clay was born on June 11, 1963 and reared by loving parents, Eugenia Pearl Allen- Johnson and Johnny Frank Johnson. She graduated from Glenclff High School.

 Pastor Clay’s theological education consist of graduating from American Baptist College where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree (B. A.) graduated Summa Cum Laude, received Delta Epsilon Chi Award, and served as president of her class. She holds a Master of Theological Studies (M.T.S.) from Vanderbilt University Divinity School (VDS) where she received Dean’s Scholarship and served in the office as treasurer for Vanderbilt Black Seminarians. She was sponsored by Kelly Miller Smith Institute to represent VDS at the Samuel DeWitt Procter Conference in Norfolk, Virginia. On behalf of The Turner Center and The Center for Transforming Communities she represented VDS in Indianopolis, Indiana for “The Spot,” a community organization designed to empower young girls. In 2017, she was the recipient of the Charles A. Trentham Homiletics Award of International Council of Community Churches (ICCC).  

Being an advocate to encourage and promote wellness for women, she served with Meharry Medical College Advisory Board for Centering Pregnacy and on the Advisory Board member of the Congregational Health and Educational Network at Meharry. She has worked with mothers of the John Henry Hale community organizing various educational sessions that embraced and inspired women. She served as president and spiritual director for the International Council of Community Churches (ICCC) Women’s Christian Fellowship.  

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