Dr. Jasper E. Peyton
Reverend Peyton is a Graduate of the Armstrong High School in Richmond, Virginia. He entered the military service while a student at Virginia Union University. While serving in the Philippine Islands, he attended the University of Philippines in Manila and majored in Business Administration. After being discharged from the military he enrolled in City College and graduated in 1952. His education also includes Labor Studies at Wagner College, Staten Island, New York; School of Journalism at Rutgers University and the New York Theological Seminary. Reverend Peyton served as an adjunct Professor in the Black Studies Department at Fordham University, Manhattan Campus.
Reverend Jasper Peyton joined the International Ladies Garment Workers Union in 1950 and served in several capacities including: organizer, shop steward, editor of local newspaper, education director locally, assistant education and political director nationally, art class instructor, a founder of the Fulton Art Fair, Brooklyn, New York and ILGWU training institute coordinator. During his Labor career, Reverend Peyton participated in international labor conferences in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ghana, Africa. He was listed in Who's Who in American Labor. He retired in 1995.
Reverend Peyton is the former President of the Congress of Christian Education of the New York State Progressive National Baptist Convention, and served as Chaplain in the New York State Supreme Court Officers Association, ILA-AFL-CIO.
Some of the most unforgettable highlights of his ministerial career includes: participating in a Communion Service in the Upper Room in Jerusalem; conducting a Worship Service on the Sea of Galilee, and preaching from the pinnacle of the Mount of Transfiguration, where the Apostle Peter uttered the words, Lord, it is good for us to be here: If thou wilt, let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah. One of his most cherished memories is that of walking where Jesus walked, along the pathway en route to Calvary.
Reverend Peyton's many commitments at Bethany Baptist Church have included former President of the Senior Choir, President of the Presidents Council, President of the Virginia Club, Chairman of the Board of Deacons. He is presently the Adult Sunday School Instructor. In February of 2007 Reverend Peyton was presented the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Eastern Theological Seminary. Dr. Peyton served as Interim Pastor at Bethany Baptist Church until January, 2008. He then served as Assistant to the Pastor under Dr. David A. Hampton, the tenth pastor called to the Historic Bethany Baptist Church of Brooklyn until Dr. Hampton's departure in December of 2011 at which time, Dr. Peyton again took the helm as Interim Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church.