Meet Pastor Spann

Rev. Peter J. Spann is a gifted and prophetic preacher and teacher of the Word of God. He embraces a ministry of civic engagement and social justice. As a result, his ministry extends beyond the 4 walls of the church. He has preached at various revivals, special occasions, and events. He has ministered in detention facilities, nursing homes, homeless shelters, and other outreach settings. Shortly after Hurricane Katrina, he went with other missionaries to New Orleans, Louisiana where he ministered to survivors through revitalization efforts, evangelism, and outreach.  

Rev. Spann is the Pastor of the Carron Baptist Church in Washington, DC. The church’s motto is: Where love is shown, and God’s truth is made known! As a visionary pastor and leader, Rev. Spann emphasizes spiritual growth, pastoral care, cultural identity, community outreach and social justice to connect the community and the church while facilitating change in the surrounding neighborhoods. He led the church in a revitalization project that included installing an elevated lift and enhancing both the sanctuary lighting and the media ministry. Additionally, Rev. Spann has led the church in giving away backpacks filled with school supplies, coats during the winter, serving Thanksgiving Day and Christmas season meals to the community, hosting a job training program, and collaborating with community leaders to help curb neighborhood violence.  

Rev. Spann is the author of the book: We Gon’ Be Alright: A Message of Hope for Believers in a God of Social Justice. This book, with its infusion of biblical truth, hip-hop and social criticism, is an easy read for believers who are looking to counter the narrative embraced by neo-conservatives that ignores social justice and caring for the poor. This book is a call to action to believers in a God of social justice and a reminder that though it looks like society is temporarily taking a moral downturn, in the end, we will be alright because God promised we will.  

Rev. Spann’s civic engagement includes: 

• An former elected member of the Howard County, Maryland Democratic Central Committee where he works to strengthen and sustain the grassroots work of the Party.  
• A 2020 graduate of Leadership Howard County, a program for senior-level business and community leaders that immerses participants in experiences that address specific aspects of the community.  
• A 2020 graduate of the Skinner Leadership Institute’s Masters Series for Distinguished Clergy, an intensive training program that equips high-performing clergy leaders with effective advocacy skills, and character strength training to become Promise Driven Leaders in their community. The program equips clergy leaders to move past the symptoms of injustice such as poverty and racism and address the systems that produce these symptoms.  
• A proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.  
• Chairperson for the Advisory Board of the Coalition of Churches and Community, U.S.A., an organization comprised of individuals and entities who desire to make a meaningful difference in the world by impacting humanity.  
• Co-lead a Faith and Blue March from Carron Baptist Church, designed to strengthen the relationship between the community, faith leaders and law enforcement. 

As well, Rev. Spann served as a former faculty member at the Washington Baptist Theological Seminary, where he taught 2 undergraduate level courses. A guiding principle in Rev. Spann’s life is a quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”  

In addition to serving as pastor of the Carron Baptist Church, Rev. Spann works as a Housing Justice Attorney for a Maryland non-profit.  He views both his legal work and ministry as callings to continue the work of Christ to fight for justice and usher in the beloved community. 

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rev. Spann is the son of a Pastor, the late Rev. James W. Spann II, and Educator, Dr. Wilma N. Spann. Being the 7th of 8 children, it was impressed upon him at an early age the importance of faith and family.  

Rev. Spann earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. He also received his Juris Doctor degree from American University, Washington College of Law and a Master of Divinity from Howard University, School of Divinity, both in Washington, DC.  

Rev. Spann is happily married to the lovely and virtuous Shurlonda Spann, and they have two beautiful and creative children, Peter II and Anissa (pronounced AH-NEE-SAH). His favorite scripture is Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”