Gerald Everett Harris was born September 27, 1952, in Los Angeles, California and was raised in Madera, a small town on the outskirts of Fresno, California. Gerald was born with many gifts; among them were the gifts of leadership, oration, music, and wisdom, which guided him on his journey of service to God and God’s people. 

His dedication to the Church, school, and community was apparent at an early age. During his high school years, he organized the Afro-American Club and was Public Prosecutor on the Student Council. He was also a member of the Student Legislature, Drama Club, and Varsity Wrestling Team. Involvement in the community included sitting on the Drug Committee and serving as a representative to the Governor’s Conference for Youth and Children, while still being active in his Church Youth Group. In his senior year, Gerald was awarded the Ford Foundation Scholarship, which gave him the opportunity to attend California State University Fresno, acquiring a degree in Business Administration and Criminal Justice. Gerald began his law enforcement career at the campuses of Fresno City College and California State University of Fresno as a Law Enforcement Officer.

Gerald acknowledged his call to the Ministry at an early age under the guidance and supervision of Pastor Andrew L. Brown, Pastor of Grace Tabernacle Church of God in Christ in Fairmead, California. In January 1975, Minister Gerald Harris was ordained by the late Bishop S.R. Martin, Jurisdictional Prelate of California Northwest.

Gerald’s Evangelical and Pastoral development and training was overseen by Superintendent W.M. Peterson, Pastor of White Rose Church of God in Christ in Stockton, California, where he served as Youth Pastor and Musician. A career assignment relocated Elder Harris to the Bay Area. There he continued his post-graduate education at Golden Gate Theological Seminary Mill Valley, and attended Hamilton Memorial Church of God in Christ, in San Francisco, California. It was under the tutelage and guidance of Pastor James Langston that his administrative skills were cultivated, polished, and refined. Elder Harris returned to White Rose Church of God in Christ in Stockton, California, to serve as Business Administrator and Assistant Pastor to Superintendent W.M. Peterson. 

During these years, Elder Harris’s commitment to service extended into various capacities for the California Northwest Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction. He served as Vice President of the State Evangelism Department in 1977, under the leadership of the late Superintendent A.C. Macklin, Senior and Regional Vice President of the State Youth Department in 1985. In 1988, Bishop W.W. Hamilton appointed Elder Harris to the position of State Youth Department President; a position he held for 13 years.

On December 30, 1987, Gerald married his soulmate, Barbara Meredith Harris. A graduate of Howard University, Barbara had always lived in the D.C. area, but she left that all behind to join Gerald in California. She wholeheartedly supported him as First Lady, and complemented his strength with her own wisdom and grace.

The path that God had prepared for Elder Harris brought him to Gilroy, California, where he acknowledged his call to the Pastoral Ministry and founded Bethany Community Church of God in Christ in March of 1992. Pastor Harris immediately became an integral part of the community. Mentoring youth, and preparing them to be leaders in the future had always been a priority for him. He taught Future Leaders of SWAG at San Andreas High School and led the Martin Luther King Awards breakfast. He was part of Gavilan College’s Leadership Conference, and was a member of the Gilroy Leadership Institute. Pastor Harris also received the John Maxwell Coach Lifetime Achievement Award by the Assembly and City of Gilroy.

Pastor Harris expanded the vision of Bethany Community Church with the addition of the campus in Los Banos, California, and an on-campus Bible Study at San Jose State University in San Jose, California. Services at Bethany were heard every week on KCBC 770 AM radio, and local TV cable station 20.

In 1993, Gerald was appointed by Bishop W.W. Hamilton as an Executive Board Member and Administrative Assistant.

Pastor Harris was appointed National Chief of Security for COGIC, Inc. in 2001, by the late Presiding Bishop G.E. Patterson. He was reappointed in 2007, by Presiding Bishop C.E. Blake.

Pastor Harris has served as an advisor for the United States Department of Justice. He has also served as a Board of Trustee member for Bethany University in Scotts Valley, California, and as an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, California.

During his career in law enforcement as a State of California Peace Officer, Pastor Harris held multiple positions that showcased his dedication to train and educate others; such as T for T (Trainer for Trainees), Defensive Driving Trainer, and Speaker for Upward Mobility. He held the positions of Master Trainer Sexual Harassment Prevention, Master Trainer Cultural Diversity, EEO Investigator, and Advanced Hostage Negotiator for the CRT (Critical Response Team). He was also Founder of the Monterey Peninsula Association of Black Correctional Workers. Pastor Harris had a heart for helping troubled youth and did so by being a Group Supervisor and Youth Counselor for California Youth Authority. Pastor Harris’s dedication and diligence was recognized as he rose through the ranks to become Probation Officer, Program Administrator, Interim Warden, Associate Warden, and Chief Deputy Warden.

In 2006, Pastor Harris retired from the California Department of Corrections with over 37 years of service in law enforcement. That same year he was a featured soloist on the  album Bishop G.E. Patterson & Congregation Singing The Old Time Way, singing “I Know the Bible Is Right”. The album was nominated for two Grammy’s.   

In 2013, at the National Leadership Conference, Pastor Harris was appointed to be the Chairman of the Sexual Misconduct Review Board of the Church of God in Christ by Bishop C.E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop. 

At Greater White Rose Church of God in Christ in Stockton, in 2014, Pastor Gerald Harris was installed as Stockton District Superintendent by then Auxiliary Bishop N.A. Bullock, who is the current Presiding Bishop of the California Northwest Jurisdiction. On May 30, 2015, Pastor Harris was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Good News Seminary in Tracy, California.

For many years, Pastor Harris served as the Chief Adjutant for California Northwest. He also served as a National Adjutant Overseer for The Church of God in Christ, Inc., and was the First Administrative Assistant for Bishop Bullock in the California Northwest Jurisdiction Churches of God in Christ.   

Throughout his life, Pastor Harris has worked tirelessly to do the work assigned to him, and all of these titles and accolades are a testament to his dedication and commitment. Even though Pastor Harris was extremely busy with his duties, he found time to travel the world with his wife. Their travels took them to Europe, Asia, and Africa, which often involved missionary work. For example, Pastor Harris served as a Missionary in Nigeria, Africa, and was Keynote Speaker to the National Pastors’ Conference in Owerri, Africa. 

In 2024, Pastor Harris fought against the ravages of diabetes. He lost both of his legs, but he never lost his spirit of hope and optimism. From his hospital bed or his home, he would continue to counsel others and conduct church business. His wife Barbara and his daughter Sandie worked tirelessly to help him fight his illness and to help him with his vision for Bethany and his Ministry. With God’s mercy, on March 16, 2025, he was able to attend the 33rd anniversary of the day he founded Bethany Community Church. Later that day, he was called Home; his job was done, his race was won, and our Father said, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Pastor Harris will be deeply missed by his family and all who love him. He leaves a legacy of service above self and love for his family to embrace and cherish: his lovely wife of 37 years, First Lady Barbara Meredith Harris; three children: Sandie Patrice (Bena) Johnson; Gerald Everett Harris II; Gregory Jamal Harris; five sisters: Cynthia R. Bradley; Cheryl Bradley (Ronnie); Angela Burton; Judge Kimberly Dotson (Keith); Lynette Kimble;  three brothers: Richard Porter; Mark Burton (Cassandra); Sylvester (Sy) Jordan (Lisa); Devin Watkins, who was like a son to him: stepmother; Dorothy Dotson. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Dotson; mother, Juanita Harris; his grandparents who reared him: Bessie and Frank Harris; sister, Keisha Dotson. Those who will deeply miss him also include his conscientious and loving Caregiver: Hamphrey Diez;  Nurse Consultant: Linda Payne; a host of family members, the Bethany Community Church Family and the members of the California Northwest Jurisdiction.

His viewing will take place on Thursday, April 3rd from 5pm-9pm at Greater Victory Temple, 1620 Broadway Ave. in Seaside.  His Home Going Celebration will be Friday, April 4th at 10am at Greater Victory Temple followed by burial at Garden of Memories Memorial Park, 850 Abbott St. in Salinas.