St. John A.M.E. Church

Carlton Worthen is a “Florida Boy,” and is the oldest child of Reverend Charlie C. Worthen and Dreamal Worthen, Ph.D. Carlton was born and raised in the Capital City of Tallahassee, FL and attended the prestigious Florida A&M University, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science, with a minor in Public Administration. Carlton has his Master of Divinity Degree from Turner Theological Seminary of The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), with a concentration in Homiletics and Worship, and was commended for receiving one of the highest honors in his class.

Carlton’s passion for community outreach prompted several grass roots initiatives that fostered dialogues with community leaders and called communities to action. In 2001 Carlton launched the “C.W. Presents” talk show which brought fresh perspectives regarding political and current events to the homes of thousands of viewers in the Tallahassee Big Bend community. This venture afforded Carlton recognition as one of Tallahassee's favorite talk show hosts.

In 2004, Carlton conceptualized, produced, and hosted the “Make Your Vote Count” city wide symposium in Tallahassee, FL. The symposium illuminated the cause and effect relationship of voter inaction and similarly emphasized the importance of the voter’s empowered position to their cast ballot for the 2004 presidential elections between President George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry.

In addition to Carlton’s community level involvement, he has also demonstrated a commitment to public service. He has served as top adviser to former Mayor of Tallahassee, FL Dorothy Inman-Johnson, provided volunteer and consulting services to United States Representative Allan Boyd and Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell and to the former candidate for the Leon County Commission, Bob Henderson. Carlton has also served on the Board of Directors for the 2-1-1 Big Bend, a subsidiary of The United Way.

Carlton’s faith based upbringing and devotion to community, among many other things, were all part of God’s divine plan to call Carlton to the ministry in the right season. As stated in Ecclesiastes 3:1, to every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. In 2005 Carlton began his faithful pursuit of living out God’s special design for his life. Carlton received confirmation of this calling when in 2007 he was selected to participate in ITC’s distinguished program “Faith Journey”, a program which selects only the “chosen few” students who demonstrate superb academic excellence and extraordinary promise in parish ministry.

In 2008, God encouraged Carlton to begin “Carlton Worthen Ministries” in Atlanta, GA and charged Carlton to plant this ministry into the lives of others. “Carlton Worthen Ministries” is an evangelistic outreach ministry that is determined to guide lost souls back to Christ, and to empower individuals in their everyday Christian walk. With his higher calling, Carlton has continued to serve his community but with Christ centered purpose. In 2011, Carlton was elected by the Turner Theological Seminary Alumni/ae Association to serve as their national President. In 2012, Carlton gave an inspiring keynote address to the Barnesville, GA Lamar county NAACP Annual Banquet themed “Team Work Makes the Dream Work” during which numerous people demonstrated acts of commitment with the initiation of NAACP memberships.

Carlton currently serves as the Senior Pastor of St. John African Methodist Episcopal Church in Eufaula, AL where he works tirelessly to win lost souls for Christ, and to empower individuals in their everyday Christian walk. Carlton lives by the motto, “Be prosperous in all that you do.” He enjoys watching comedy movies, reading, resting on the sandy beaches of Florida and attending FAMU football games.