Rev. Dr. Allen Paul Weaver, Jr., Pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church, Passes Away at 75

NEW ROCHELLE, NY – On Monday, June 19, 2023, one of New Rochelle’s great spiritual leaders transitioned to his final reward. The Rev. Dr. Allen Paul Weaver, Jr., Senior Pastor of one of New Rochelle’s oldest churches, Bethesda Baptist Church, has passed away. Dr. Weaver was scheduled to retire at the end of 2023 but due to complications from major surgery, he slipped away from this life to continue to his next chapter.

Dr. Weaver was well beloved by his family, his Bethesda congregation and the New Rochelle community at large. He was known nationwide by his peers as a “Preacher’s Preacher” and well respected by his fellow colleagues. Dr. Weaver was affiliated with the American Baptist Churches, USA and the National Baptist Convention, USA. He served as a past president of the historic Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Greater New York and Vicinity, as well as the Dean of the United Missionary Baptist Association. He also served as a past president of the New Rochelle Chapter of the NAACP, a past board member of the Inter-Religious Coalition of New Rochelle, a past president of the Ministerial Alliance of New Rochelle, a past member of the Board of Directors of the New Rochelle YMCA, and a past member of the City of New Rochelle Commission on Charter Revision.

While at Bethesda, Dr. Weaver established a School of Prophets and mentored many ministers (male and female) who went on to pastor their own churches or lead their own ministries.

Pastor Weaver loved to teach and has lectured abroad and nationally over his many years of ministry. He has also been an adjunct professor at the historic Bethune-Cookman College (now University), served as an instructor at New York Theological Seminary in NYC and at the Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY. He has written a multiplicity of articles and created numerous ministry resource materials which have helped thousands of Christians to deepen their relationship with Christ and impact their communities. Dr. Weaver graduated from Florida Memorial University in Miami, FL, Colgate Rochester Divinity School in Rochester, NY and went on to receive his doctorate from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH.

Dr. Weaver was a larger than life, passionate preacher of the gospel and an excellent Bible scholar. He loved his congregation and was a true Shepherd for 43 years guiding each covenant disciple to seek to be biblically literate, have a true relationship with God and, at the same time, uplift one another through fellowship.

For the last 8 years of his pastorate, Dr. Weaver worked with his son, Rev. Allen Paul Weaver, III who presently serves as Co-Pastor of Bethesda. Pastor Weaver’s passing has not only been a great shock to his congregation and wider community, but it has also created a great void for his devoted wife, Nettie Jean Weaver, his two loving sons, Rev. Allen Paul Weaver III and Cyrus-Charles Weaver, his daughter-in-law, Ijnanya Weaver, his grandson, Noble Weaver, and his son-in-law, Ryan Birch, along with a host of family and friends.

A great Servant of God has left a true legacy for us all to follow: “to glorify God by reaching, teaching, and motivating people to become genuine disciples of Jesus Christ.”

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bethesda’s “Debt Free in 2023 Campaign.”

For further information or directions, call (914) 632-6713.