Pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church dies @ 50

By Edmund Tijerina - Express-News


The Rev. E. Thurman Walker, (photo) the pastor of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church who tripled the membership of his congregation, united local African American churches, built interfaith bridges and expanded his church's reach through partnerships with business and political leaders, died Mondayafter a decadelong battle against cancer.He was 50.


“Rev. Walker was a tremendous leader of the San Antonio religious community,” said Rabbi Barry Block, senior rabbi at Temple Beth-El, who worked with Walker on many interfaith activities. “He was a towering figure, not just on the East Side, but for all of San Antonio.” In his role at Antioch, Walker balanced his duties with his own congregation with that of building a coalition of African American churches and interfaith efforts.

A longtime friend who worked with him on projects, Juan Sepúlveda, a San Antonian who now serves as the director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, described it as working on “parallel tracks.”

“A lot of folks don't realize the role he played in making things happen,” Sepúlveda said. “He was able to build upon the struggles of where the African American community came from and do it in a way that made you want to join him.”

A San Antonio native, Walker began his ministry here in 1987 as the assistant pastor to the Rev. John Joseph Rector Sr., who had served 40 years in that position. Walker became pastor after Rector died in 1993. Under Walker's leadership, Antioch grew to around 3,000 members and tripled its budget. In 1995, he founded the Christian Academy, a private school at the church.

In 2000, Walker founded a nonprofit corporation, the Antioch Community Transformation Network, to provide an alternative way to serve the community in addition to traditional church-based programs.

Meanwhile, he led the creation of Community Churches for Social Action, a coalition of East Side churches that gave them a larger voice as a group. He also worked behind the scenes in business and politics, and last year he delivered the opening prayer at a campaign appearance by then-Sen. Barack Obama.

Walker came to the ministry well-prepared in business and religious matters. He received his bachelor's in accounting from Colorado College, his master of divinity degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center at Morehouse College in Atlanta, and his doctorate in ministry from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio.

Walter L. Starks, pastor emeritus of Grace First Baptist Church, called Walker a people-person and dynamic leader. “He will be so missed,” Starks said. “He made a tremendous impact and leaves a tremendous loss in the East Side community.” Walker's cancer was diagnosed in 2000. In declining health, he turned over the church's daily operations several months ago.

Staff Writer Vincent T. Davis contributed to this report.