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Rev. Dr. Clyde W. Oden, Jr.
The Temple is one of the fastest growing A.M.E. Churches in Southern California, and has nearly doubled its active membership in the last two years. There are now more than 700 persons who call The Temple their home church. The Temple has developed a number of new ministries which are indicative of direction of pastoral leadership of Rev. Oden and his wife Velma. They have begun a Heath Ministry with a focus on Diabetes, Mental Health, HIV/AIDS and Bone Marrow and Blood donations. There is also the Free N One Ministry directed at those persons and families dealing with drug and alcohol addiction, a Couple's Ministry, a Street Ministry, the Just Us (Prison Ministries), a Women's Ministry, a Men's Ministry, a Love in Action Ministry which provides food each month to families in need. Prior to being appointed to The Temple, Pastor Oden was Senior Pastor at Holy Trinity A.M.E. Church in North Long Beach, where he served for seven (7) years. Dr. Oden also, during his tenure at Holy Trinity was bi-vocational, having served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Family Savings Bank, and President and Chief Executive Officer of Watts Health Systems and the Watts Health Foundation, Inc.
Preparation and education have always been a hallmark of Dr. Oden. He has four earned degrees from the University of California, at Berkely including a Doctor of Optometry and a Masters in Public Health. He also has earned Masters Degrees from Pepperdine University and Claremont School of Theology.
Rev. Dr. Oden is married to Velma, a retired R.N., and they have three adult children and three grandchildren and one great grandson.
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Dr. Oden sees the world as part of his
mission field and is involved in a number of
other organizations and causes that reflect
this philosophy. He is Chairperson of the
Working Committee that serves the Statewide
HIV/AIDS Church Outreach Advisory Board. He
is a member of the Board of Directors and
Treasurer of Community Build, Inc., Vice
Chairman of the African American Summit on
Violence Prevention, Inc., member of the
Board of Directors of Freedom from Hunger,
Inc., member of the leadership team of ONE
LA-IAF, a member of the Board of Visitors of
the Graziadio School of Business and
Management, Pepperdine University, and
Chairman Emeritus of the Medicaid Health
Plans of America. 