Rev. Bernard E Connelly was born and raised in Selma North Carolina and is the son of the late Herman Louie Connelly and Marguerite Lovie Connelly. Rev. Connelly received his early education in the Smithfield Selma Public School System. He is a proud graduate of Shaw University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration.

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Pastor Connelly is an ordained Elder in the A.M.E. Church. He begun his ministerial career at his home church St. John A.M. E. Church, Selma North Carolina under his spiritual father, Rev. James Shears Jr. While at St. John AMEC, Pastor Connelly served as a licentiate and Men’s Ministry President. In 2009 at the meeting of the North Carolina Annual Conference, Bishop Adam J Richardson transferred Pastor Connelly to the Washington Annual Conference. Pastor Connelly became a member of Mount Pleasant AMEC, under the leadership of Clifton Sparrow. Pastor Connelly was Minister to Men where the men of the church grew in numbers, and men grew spiritually in their faith. While serving at Mount Pleasant AMEC, Pastor Connelly received his final ordination, at the 2016 meeting of the Washington Annual Conference where Pastor Connelly was ordained an Itinerant Elder by Bishop James L. Davis.