Reverend Dr. William Marcus Small is the Senior Pastor of New Calvary Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to serving in his current capacity, Dr. Small was Senior Pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Englewood New Jersey for 8 years and the Executive Minister of the historic Salem Baptist Church in Jersey City, New Jersey for 5 years. Dr. Small is a New Jersey native where his faith foundation was prepared at New Hope Baptist Church in Hackensack, New Jersey and Imani Baptist Church in East Orange, New Jersey.

Dr. Small is a gifted, sought after preacher, teacher and lecturer and has been awarded numerous honors and commendations for his commitment to ministry, education, and social justice. In addition to serving the church, Dr. Small is a Clinical Social Worker under supervision to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Virginia. Dr. Small currently serves as a Mental Health Counselor at Western Tidewater Regional Jail in Suffolk, Virginia providing mental health services to incarcerated individuals. Dr. Small is a Pastoral Counselor and PreMarriage workshop facilitator at Tidewater Pastoral Counseling Services in Norfolk, Virginia. His first publication “Becoming Married, Staying Married: A Guide for African American Couples” (Westminster John Knox Press) is a book designed to provide guidance for couples as they work through the early stages of the marriage process.

Dr. Small has long been an advocate for Social Justice and empowerment initiatives and is consistent about reaching the African American community within the surrounding areas. Dr. Small believes in hearing the voices of the community, thereby initiating town hall meetings to bring various branches of the community together to discuss hot topic issues such as race, police relations, and community focused issues. Dr. Small has developed a ministry entitled “Calvary Cares,” which is a informational ministry designed to inform citizens of Norfolk about community resources. He continues to address the community through workshops and forums to discuss gang activity, mental health challenges that affect the community, and HIV/AIDS awareness workshops. Under Dr. Small’s Pastoral leadership, New Calvary has sponsored Narcotics and Alcohol Anonymous sessions, HIV/AIDS screening and testing, financial empowerment seminars, as well as food and clothing events for the city of Norfolk and surrounding areas.

Under Dr. Small’s leadership, New Calvary Community Development Corporation (NCCDC) formed with a focus to address issues relative to assisting low-income residents, ex-offenders, elders, and disabled individuals with affordable housing, supportive services, and job opportunities, while contributing to the revitalization of the community.

Dr. Small was instrumental in organizing the Norfolk Interfaith Outreach Organization (NIOO), a church cooperative with more than 20 churches involved to help provide food for families in the surrounding Norfolk communities. NIOO provides seasonal support for over 2,800 families in the Norfolk area. Dr. Small sees the importance of completing social justice work through partnerships with other organizations within the community and continues to seek opportunities to broaden the lens and reach of New Calvary. He continues to engage with local government and community organizers to obtain optimum success for endeavors that will benefit the community. The NCCDC has also incorporated senior citizen programs at Calvary Towers, a senior low-income housing facility managed by New Calvary Baptist Church.

Dr. Small is a gifted preacher and teacher whose conversational sermonic style helps to make scripture come alive and helps listeners to apply it to their daily lives. As an advocate for education, Dr. Small’s academic accolades include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Religion from Virginia Union University, a Master of Divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University, a Master’s degree in Sacred Theology from Drew University, a Doctor of Ministry degree with a concentration in Marriage and Family Counseling from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Master’s degree in Social Work from Norfolk State University. Dr. Small serves as Adjunct Professor of Practical Theology at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University.

Dr. Small believes in community and civic engagement and has previously served in local community capacities such as the Board of Adjustments for the City of Englewood, New Jersey, President of the Black Clergy Council of Englewood, Teaneck & Vicinity, and the Director of Pastoral Care and Public Institutions for the Bergen County Council of Churches. Dr. Small currently serves as a Board Member of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, a social justice conference and platform that is committed to global justice, the Norfolk Pastors Coalition, the Tidewater Metro Baptist Minsters’ Conference, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated.

Dr. Small is a proud husband and father to his partner in life and love, his lovely wife Cassandra, and they are the proud parents of two adult children.