Rev. Charles T. Smith

Rev. Charles T. Smith is the pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Baton Rouge with membership of over 3,000.  He is a graduate of McKinley High School and Southern University.  He attended New Orleans Baptist Seminary. He received his Doctor of Divinity from Union Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rev. Smith’s religious and community affiliations (past and present) are numerous.  He is currently a member of the Board of the following organizations: General Health Systems; Baton Rouge Rotary Club; Istrouma Area Council Boy Scouts of America; former board member of Young Leaders Academy; Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance; and a member of the Advisory Board with Volunteers in Public Schools.  He also holds membership in the 100 Black Men of Metro Baton Rouge, Alpha XI Boule’ Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Prince Hall Masons -33^rd Degree.

Rev. Smith is President Emeritus of the Fourth District Baptist Association, former Vice President of Budget of Louisiana Baptist Convention, former Vice President at Large of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education, and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

He has received many awards and honors including the Phi Beta Sigma Humanitarian Jubilee Award of 1988, Whitney Young Humanitarian Award for contribution to the underprivileged boys in Scouting, Baton Rouge Brotherhood Award by the National Council of Christians and Jews for contributions to racial unity.  Rev. Charles T. Smith was recognized as the 2003 Distinguished Citizen of the Year at the 83^rd Annual Council for Humanities Banquet 2004.  On July 22, 2009, Rev. Charles T. Smith was presented the 2009 Racial Justice Award for Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and Shiloh Baptist Charitable Foundation, Inc, by the YWCA.  Annually, there are three scholarships awarded to three students from East Baton Rouge Parish School System that are not members of Shiloh: one African American, one Caucasian, and one of another race.  This scholarship program, begun by the Rev. Charles T. Smith in 2001, is intended to promote multiculturalism and unity, as well as to provide financial assistance to students, who are awarded $5,000 each.   Each scholarship applicant must submit an essay addressing what racial harmony means to him/her and what he or she does to promote it.  The students contribution to racial justice and harmony must be substantiate by the school’s principal or guidance counselor.

Rev. Smith is married to Eula Vercher Smith and together they have four children and seven grandchildren.