Cecil L. 'Chip' Murray, Rel. D.

PROFESSOR - CENTER OF RELIGION, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

5MK Media: Hear Dr. Murray

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Biography

Dr. Murray is a native Floridian with an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University. He received his Doctorate in Religion from The School of Theology at Claremont and Doctor of Humane Letters from Hebrew Union College, Whittier College, University of Southern California, University of Judaism, and Antioch University . He has lectured and been adjunct professor of Iliff University, Seattle University, School of Theology Claremont, Fuller Seminary, and Northwest Theological Seminary. He has been featured in Time Magazine, Ebony Magazine, CNN, Network News, religious periodicals, The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles 900, and other print and television media.

In 1977 Dr. Murray was assigned to First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black church in Los Angeles. His new church family had 300 active members in 1977. They received his vision to set a fire in the hearts of his members to be a church that extends beyond the walls. The fire and spirit of love spread, and the congregation grew to 17,300 members. The ministry of the church spilled beyond the walls of the church with some 40 task forces that include health, substance abuse, homelessness, emergency food and clothing, general and specialized housing, tutoring, entrepreneurial training, employment services and the like. President George Bush named the First AME Church the 177th Point of Light for its courageous outreach in community services.

Rev. Murray retired in November 2004 as the senior minister at First AME Church, Los Angeles. Dr Murray currently serves as Professor, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Religion, University of Southern California and holds the Tanzy Chair of Christian Ethics, University of  Southern California.