Connecting Hearts and Minds at Franklin St. John’s UMC
We are an inclusive, vibrant faith community where everybody is a somebody
WHO WE ARE
Franklin-St. John’s United Methodist Church is a vibrant, Christ-centered community of faith where everyone is welcome.
We are a diverse and inclusive congregation united by our love for God and our commitment to love our neighbors. We believe the Church should reflect the beautiful diversity of God’s creation and be a place where people from every walk of life can worship, grow, serve, and experience genuine community.
At Franklin-St. John’s, you do not have to look a certain way, come from a particular background, have everything figured out, or have the same story as everyone else to belong. Wherever you are on your journey of faith, there is a place for you here.
Rooted in the Wesleyan tradition of The United Methodist Church, we seek to live a faith that moves beyond the walls of the sanctuary. We believe that following Jesus calls us to love boldly, extend grace freely, pursue justice, care for our neighbors, serve our community, and help create a healthier world in mind, body, and spirit.
At Franklin-St. John’s, all are welcome, all are valued, and all are invited to experience the transforming love and grace of Jesus Christ.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
As United Methodists, we believe in the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection reveal God’s saving and redeeming love. We believe in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit and in the Bible as the primary authority for our faith and Christian living.
We believe deeply in grace. God’s grace reaches us before we recognize it, meets us where we are, transforms us, and continually calls us toward lives of greater love and holiness.
We believe every person is created in the image of God and possesses sacred worth. Therefore, we seek to be a church characterized by welcome rather than exclusion, compassion rather than condemnation, and love rather than fear. We celebrate the diversity of God’s people and believe there is room within the Body of Christ for people of different backgrounds, cultures, generations, experiences, abilities, and circumstances.
We believe faith must be lived. Following the example of Jesus Christ, we are called to feed the hungry, care for those in need, welcome the stranger, seek justice, confront racism and oppression, build bridges across differences, and work for healing and reconciliation in our community and throughout the world.
We believe the Church is not simply somewhere we go. It is who God calls us to be.
OUR MISSION
The mission of Franklin-St. John’s United Methodist Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world by creating a healthy church in mind, body, and spirit.
We fulfill this mission by sharing the love and grace of Jesus Christ, welcoming all people into Christian community, nurturing spiritual growth, serving our neighbors, pursuing justice, promoting healing and wholeness, and empowering people to use their God-given gifts to transform our church, our community, and our world.
We are committed to cultivating a community where every person is seen, every voice is valued, and every story has a place to be heard. We believe our stories matter because they bear witness to where we have been, help us understand one another, deepen our sense of belonging, and reveal the many ways God’s grace is at work in our lives.
We seek to be a church where faith grows, stories are shared, people belong, communities are strengthened, and lives are transformed through the love of Jesus Christ.
Our Senior Pastor:
Rev Dr. William D. Carter III
Rev. Dr. William D. Carter, III is an alumnus of The Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts of Philadelphia, Pa., where he majored in classical voice. He graduated cum laude from Eastern University with a bachelor's degree in Organizational Leadership. Dr. Carter graduated on May 20, 2017, with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Princeton Theological Seminary. While at Princeton, Dr. Carter was selected to complete a summer internship at the Mowbray Presbyterian Church in Cape Town, South Africa for two and a half months. During his time in South Africa he read scripture in a service led by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and was afforded the opportunity to preach at Archbishop Tutu's church - St. George's Cathedral also in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Carter completed a 2-year internship at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, under the mentorship of Rev. Dr. Alyn E. Waller. Dr. Carter was ordained on April 10, 2017, at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church. Dr. Carter has served as the Chair for the Black History Month Committee for the Association of Black Seminarians. He completed internships with the Presbyterian Ministry at the United Nations in New York City. Dr. Carter is an alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania, where he obtained his master of education and doctorate of education in the Penn Chief Learning Officer Program. His dissertation was entitled, "What do Black male executives at Fortune 500 Companies perceive to be the uses and impact of DEI-based storytelling around belonging?" Beyond being a sought-after leadership and development and diversity and inclusion practitioner, he also serves as the Director of Interfaith Relations for the Institute for Multicultural Communications, Cooperation and Development, Incorporated in New York City. In this position, he plans the interfaith components of conferences the organization sponsors in consultative status with the United Nations Headquarters. Dr. Carter served as the Senior Pastor of the Pemberton United Methodist Church in Pemberton, NJ for 5 years. It is one of the three of the oldest United Methodist Churches in the country. Presently, he serves as the Senior Pastor of Franklin-St. John's United Methodist Church in Newark, NJ. Additionally, he serves as a Circuit Leader for the Meadowlands District.
Our Minister of Music: Rev Vincent Bohanan
Rev Bohanan is a four-time Stellar Award-winning gospel artist, choir director, songwriter, musician, and pastor. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Pastor Bohanan discovered his passion for music and ministry at an early age and began playing the organ at just 11 years old. He later earned a bachelor's degree in Music Business from Five Towns College. In 2014, he founded Vincent Bohanan & The Sound of Victory Fellowship Choir (SOV), providing a platform for young singers and musicians to develop their gifts while sharing the Gospel through music.
Pastor Bohanan and SOV have emerged as a celebrated force in contemporary gospel music. In 2025, Vincent Bohanan & SOV received their first Stellar Gospel Music Award, winning Contemporary Choir of the Year for VBSOV Summer Jam. In 2026, they reached another extraordinary milestone, receiving three Stellar Awards for their independently released project Live in New York: Album of the Year, Choir of the Year, and Contemporary Choir of the Year. These honors bring Pastor Bohanan and SOV’s total to four Stellar Awards.
In addition to his musical ministry, Pastor Bohanan serves as Lead Pastor and Overseer of The Winners’ Assembly NYC in Brooklyn, New York. He is also the founder of The Victorious Army in Atlanta and has devoted his ministry to developing the spiritual, musical, and creative gifts of the next generation.
At Franklin-St. John’s United Methodist Church, Pastor Bohanan brings his nationally recognized musical gifts together with a deep commitment to worship and ministry. As Minister of Music, he helps lead the congregation in creating a worship experience rooted in faith, excellence, and the transformative power of the Gospel.
Support Our Ministry
Franklin-St. John's depends on the generosity of our members, friends and partners in ministry to carry out the work of God. Our church is a beacon of light and hope in the Greater Newark community. People enter our doors to receive a spiritual breakthrough, food from the Agape Food Pantry, counseling, and to feel the Love of Jesus.
Every financial gift is greatly appreciated and used to further the work of Christ on the earth. Thank you for your generosity!
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