Sylver

Bishop Gerald Sylver is the senior pastor and founder of Freedom Temple Church located in Raleigh, North Carolina where he has served as the Senior Pastor since March of 1980. He is supported in this ministry by his wife, Pastor Sarah Sylver. They have four daughters: Adina, Shannon (Marcus), Geralynn (Brandon) and BJ (Vincent); one son, Branden, who resides in Annapolis, Maryland; and seven grandchildren: Lael, Omari, Greysen, Bennet, Sylver, Bailey and August.

Bishop Sylver is a native of Raleigh and attended the Raleigh public schools. He graduated from Virginia Union University in Richmond, Virginia where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Work. Bishop Sylver has also earned a Master of Divinity Degree from Duke Divinity School in Durham, North Carolina.

Bishop Sylver has been a member of several civic and religious organizations. He is a past President of the Raleigh Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance and a member of the Interfaith Alliance of Raleigh. He served for two years as the Interim Vice-President of the Method Civic League. He partnered with Reverend William Barber during the Moral Monday movement protesting against politics negatively impacting voting rights, cutting social programs and the repeal of the Racial Justice Act. In 2017 he was honored as the NAACP Raleigh-Apex Pastor of the Year to recognize his many achievements in the Raleigh area.

In 2002, Freedom Assembly was formed which recognizes Bishop Sylver as the President and General Overseer. Freedom Assembly is a network of churches, valuing local autonomy, that are joined together by relationship and mutual benefit. This fellowship promotes theological and leadership training, as well as church development with the hope of producing healthy leaders, churches and ministries.

Bishop Sylver exercises his gift of teaching to enlighten members both biblically and theologically. He uses his pastoral gifts to guide and instruct in the truth that brings liberty and freedom. He uses his prophetic gifts to speak to current issues and challenges the church to be a prophetic presence in the world.