Dr. W. Fitzgerald Kerr graduated from the Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. After graduation, he worked with the New York City Board of Education as a Substance Abuse Intervention Prevention Specialist.
Since Dr. Kerr was an experienced ordained pastor who previously served in the South Caribbean Conference of the Inter-American Division, he subsequently, joined the Northeastern Conference as a district pastor in February 1992. He served in Springfield, MA, Providence, RI, and Brooklyn, NY.
While in Brooklyn, he facilitated the development of a series of community ministries initiatives in the local church where he pastored. As a result, this church was open all day every day of the week. One ministry focused on training individuals to enter the world of work as office receptionists, secretaries, cashiers, and retail salesclerks. Another ministry was the operation of a dental clinic. They also offered classes in computer literacy, computer repair, and GED. In addition, one ministry focused on a community exercise with the establishment of a full gym, while another focused on a night shelter to accommodate homeless individuals.
Dr. Kerr joined Northeastern Conference ACS in 1998 and has served in this department as ACS Director and Disaster Response Director for the past twenty-one years. During this time, he also served as Health Ministries Director, and Sabbath School Ministries Director.
While serving as ACS Director, he facilitated the Northeastern Conference in hosting numerous workshops and seminars. The major ones dealt with Non-Profit Leadership, Philanthropy, Proposal Preparation for Funding, Crisis Counseling, Emergency Sheltering, Disaster Residential Assessment, Donation Operation, Introduction to Disaster Preparedness, Immigration Legal Services, Medicare/Medicaid/Welfare Education, and Adventist Community Services Operation.
During his time as Disaster Response Director of the Conference, Dr. Kerr undertook numerous disaster response missions locally and internationally. Some of these included responding to:
- Hurricane Ivan, Grenada, W.I. 2004
- Hurricane Gustav, Louisiana, 200
- 2010 Earthquake in Haiti, 2010 – 2016
- Hurricane Matthew, 2016
- Southern Haiti, 2016 – 2018
- Tornado of Springfield, MA, 2011
- Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, New Orleans, Louisiana, 2005 – 2012
- Super Storm Sandy, 2011 – 2012
- Hurricane Harvey, Houston TX, 2017
- Hurricane Maria, Dominica, W.I. 2017 – 2018
- Hurricane Florence, Wilmington NC, 2018
- Hurricane Michael Panama City, Fl, 2018
- Typhoon Yutu, Saipan, 2018 – 2019
The time has arrived for Dr. Kerr to step aside and allow new leadership to move Northeastern Conference ACS to the next level. “I am ever grateful and appreciative for the privilege and opportunity of serving and developing in the ACS department and Northeastern Conference”, stated Dr. Kerr.
It has truly been a privilege and an honor to have Dr. Kerr serve in the ACS ministry. We want to express our sincere gratitude to him for his dedication, commitment, and remarkable leadership skills; and also want to wish him the best in his next phase of life.