About Gilt Edge Baptist Church
Reverend Douglas L. Motley, Jr., Senior Pastor
Douglas L. Motley, Jr. is a prophet called by God to teach His people. He was born on April 12, 1950 in Tuskegee, Al. to Rev. D. L. Motley, Sr. and Fannie Ernestine Smith Motley. Motley, Jr. received his call to the ministry at an early age while on a music scholarship at the University of Kentucky in 1969. He was ordained by his father at Peace Baptist Church, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1972. Rev. Motley, Jr. was called to Pastor the Gilt Edge Baptist Church in September, 1972.
Motley, Jr. comes from a long lineage of ministers and Pastors in his family. His father, Motley Sr., Pastored for 50+ years in Alabama & Ohio. His uncle, Nelson Smith, Pastored for 40+ years in Birmingham, Al. His brother, Anthony A.W. Motley, is Pastor of Lindsay Street Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. Nelson Smith was also the President of the Progressive Baptist Convention for several years.
Motley, Jr. is a community minded Pastor and serves on several boards in the community i.e., Community Action Southern Indiana, Haven House, Housing Authority, and the Drug Court Advisory Board. Motley was the catalyst in securing the Haven House for the homeless in the Claysburg area and starting the Martin Luther King Food Pantry. God has given Motley a passion for helping those persons who are hungry, imprisoned, or homeless. The King’s Table, a program that feeds the homeless on a daily basis at Gilt Edge, is a testament to the concern of others that Motley has instilled in his congregation.
Rev. Motley is married to the former Shajuana Kirby and they are the proud parents of Chole and Kyndia Motley. Pastor Motley is also the proud father of Rev. Kamya Motley Dunn of Springfield, Ohio and granddaughter Rhyen.
History of Gilt Edge Baptist Church
In 1921, a group of Christian believers had a dream. Excusing themselves from the fellowship of Trinity Baptist Church, the small group set out to make their dream a reality. To the people of faith, theirs was not an impossible dream, and the Brown’s Mission was founded under the pastorate of Reverend E.D. Brown at 9th and Missouri Ave. Over coming many obstacles and problems they encountered, the small group purchased property from Charles Thomas at 7th and Missouri Ave. for the sum of $1,000.00. Through their commitment and determination, they were able to liquidate this debt within ninety days. After burning the mortgage, the name of Brown’s Mission was changed to “Gilt Edge Baptist Church”.
Charter members were: James Grishum, Fannie Ford, Susie Johnson, Ada Ellis, Rev.E.D. Brown, Ella Brown, Mary Harris, Fannie Simcoe, Archie Robinson, Mary Thomas, Erma Grishum, Hubert White, and Mollie Groves.
Deacons: Frank Johnson, Arthur Davis, Archie Moore, Repsie Jones, Waverly Hillyard, and George Shrewsberry. Trustees: James Grishum, Abraham Ellis, Isaac Hardin, John Thomas, and Robert Collier. Rev. Brown served as Pastor from 1921-1926.
In 1926, Rev. Isaiah H. Mason was called as the Pastor and served for three year’s. The deacon’s and trustees remained the same. Rev. Mason vacated the pulpit in 1930. In 1930, Marshall L.Gardner was called to serve as Pastor. He served us for thirty (30) years until illness forced him to vacate the pulpit in 1959, however, he remained Pastor Emeritus until his death in October, 1960.
In 1959, Robert E. Campbell Sr., was called to pastor the church. Through Pastor Campbells leadership, we were able to remodel our church at 7th and Missouri Ave. With the expansion of the I-65 expressway, we had to move our church from 7th & Missouri and secured a plot of land at 1713 Green St. Rev. Campbell served faithfully for thirteen (13) years until he was called to rest on March 19th, 1972 during Sunday School.
Following Rev. Campbells death and during the interim of seeking another pastor, Rev. Charles Ingram served as acting Pastor of the church.
In August 1972, Douglas L. Motley, Jr., was called, by God, to lead the Gilt Edge Baptist Church. During Pastor Motleys’ leadership, we have built a new sanctuary, became a lifetime member of the NAACP, first site for the Title Seven Nutritional Program for the Age & Aging, established a Prison Ministry, Emergency Food Store, and the King’s Table , where the homeless are fed nutritious meals daily.
Under Pastor Motleys’ leadership, he has taught us that we must study Gods word in order to bring others to Christ. We pray that God will continue to bless the “Edge”. Top of Page