Rev. Dr. Malcolm T. Byrd is the founding pastor of the Hope’s Beacon Baptist Church in Philadelphia. Since 2009, he has served as an adjunct faculty member of Eastern University, where he teaches undergraduate Bible, Theology, and Interdisciplinary courses. In 2020 he joined the adjunct faculty of Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary and Graduate School.
He is the retired Sr. Manager of Community Relations with the American Bible Society. He is the former Director of the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Faith-based Initiatives, where he served for approximately 12 years. Dr. Byrd also served in other professional and administrative roles in local government and retired after twenty–eight years of service. He has expertise in Behavioral and Ambulatory Health Care and Health Promotions.
Dr. Byrd completed the Doctor of Ministry degree, in Renewal of the Church for Mission, at the Palmer Theological Seminary where he previously earned both Master of Divinity and Master of Theological Studies degrees. Dr. Byrd’s secular education includes a Master of Governmental Administration degree earned at the, Fels Center of Government of the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees at Antioch University.
Dr. Byrd continues to serve as an Associate Minister of the Zion Hill Baptist Church of Philadelphia. and also previously served at the Cathedral of Praise Community Church and the Monumental Baptist Church in Philadelphia where he was licensed and ordained into the gospel ministry. He is a chaplain with the Christian Legal Clinic of Philadelphia. His interest in Interfaith Dialogue has facilitated travel to the nations of Israel, Sierra Leone, South Korea, and Turkey.
Dr. Byrd is a member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs. He has served in volunteer leadership roles with multiple local nonprofit organizations devoted to Prevention, Hunger Relief and Education. He is President and Co-Convener of NewCORE a local Interfaith forum dedicated to racial reconciliation Dr. Byrd is also the President of Forum Philly, a nonprofit social welfare organization.