Alumnus Makes His Mark in Activism, Ministry and the Law

At age 27, UNC Charlotte alumnus Reverend Brandon Fisher is the youngest pastor in his AME Zion Church district, and also is licensed to practice law in North Carolina and Washington, D.C. He has embraced social activism, recently challenging a new generation of leaders at the 2015 “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration” in Altadena, CA.

“I tried to convey that we are not called to just be recipients of Dr. King’s dream but must continue to work his dream out in our current context,” Fisher said, speaking from his Pasadena, CA home. “Dreams take diligence to become reality, and we have to work for it. I think that’s missing in our generation.”

Fisher delivered his keynote speech on January 18. The annual event is sponsored by the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Greater Pasadena and commemorates Dr. King’s life, dreams and influence.

Fisher grew up in Charlotte and took a full course load at UNC Charlotte while working mornings and nights; his perseverance allowed him to cover his tuition and graduate debt-free. He completed his bachelor’s degree in political science in 2009, having known at an early age the path he wanted to pursue.

Politics Appealed From Early Age

“Politics has always been something I was interested in from an early childhood,” Fisher said. “I knew I wanted to work either legally or politically in some way. UNC Charlotte showed me how to work and really think socially, and to properly evaluate each situation to make the proper judgment call.”

After receiving his degree, Fisher embarked in ministry in March 2011 at Grace African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Raleigh and served as the Youth Pastor at Mt. Zion AME Zion Church in Delway, N.C. for three years. Although he originally did not wish to join the ministry, Fisher said it grew on him.

“Both my parents are pastors and, although I enjoyed church, I just wanted to be the parishioner who did a little volunteer work,” he said. “But God worked on my heart to the point that I could not deny what he wanted me to do.”

Fisher continued his studies at North Carolina Central University School of Law, where he remained active in the Christian Legal Society and the Black Law Students Association. He served as a legal intern with AME Zion Corporate Headquarters and as a Juvenile Public Defender in Durham County.

Fisher worked closely with the Honorable L. Todd Burke in Winston-Salem as a judicial law clerk, and gained valuable experience traveling to Johannesburg in March 2013 to study post-apartheid legal systems in South Africa. Fisher earned his law degree in May 2013.

“There’s too little representation of African Americans in the legal field,” he said. “Black males make up the majority of new cases and those imprisoned but yet there are hardly any attorneys to represent them. I knew that this was another calling for my life, to represent my own.”

Alumnus Provides Insights, Counsel

Fisher’s experience in political science and law has allowed him to provide legal and spiritual guidance to members in his ministry involved in legal matters. He also mentors the youth of his church by teaching how laws can negatively affect them.

This social activist remains active in ministry and is Pastor of First AME Zion Church in Pasadena, CA. Being the youngest pastor in the Western Episcopal District of the AME Zion Church, is somewhat overwhelming, he said, but he expresses pride in being considered a role model in his denomination.

Fisher advises those pursuing a political science degree to understand they must have a clear direction on how they will use their education, since the discipline does not necessarily lead to a specific job. Instead, graduates are learning skills and knowledge that have broader implications. Law school students should realize their studies will be challenging, so passion for the law is necessary, and money should not be the priority, he said.

While serving in the ministry can be fun, it can prove difficult without balance. “This is a profession where you are in the trenches with others all the time, and there is no time schedule,” he said. “Being a people person is essential and understanding the purpose of ministry is vital. Patience and peace will be your best friends.”

Fisher currently studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, where he is pursuing the Master of Arts in Theology. Eager to return to practicing law, the California Bar Exam is in his future, as is the possibility of teaching at the college level.

“I’ve learned to take advantage of every opportunity, something I wish I knew as an undergraduate,” he said. “Grades are good, but remember to have a fun time and do something you wouldn’t do normally, like take a semester overseas or try an intramural sport. Don’t forget that success is in your hands; you determine your own future.”

Words: Tyler Harris, CLAS Student Communications Assistant
Image: Courtesy of Brandon Fisher