The Reverend Carlton Rashard Worthen is the 27th anointed Senior Pastor of St. John African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church in Eufaula, Alabama, where he has served faithfully for thirteen years. A proud native of Tallahassee, Florida, and a fourth-generation A.M.E., he is the son of Reverend Charlie Carlton Worthen (Pastor of St. Hebron A.M.E., Quincy, FL) and First Lady Dreamal Worthen, Ph.D. His passion for ministry was inspired by his father, who has dedicated over forty years to pastoring in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Reverend Worthen answered the call to ministry in 2006. He was licensed to preach and admitted to the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference of the Sixth Episcopal District (Georgia) of the African Methodist Church in 2007. In 2010, Reverend Worthen was ordained an Itinerant Elder in the Atlanta North Georgia Annual Conference.
Reverend Worthen began his pastoral ministry in January 2007 under the guidance and mentorship of his spiritual father, Dr. Jeffery B. Cooper. His first ministerial staff assignment was at Trinity A.M.E. in Atlanta, GA, where he served as the Singles Ministry Pastor and Worship Leader. His next appointment elevated him to Senior Pastor at Bethel A.M.E. in Barnesville, GA (Macon Annual Conference). During this time, Reverend Worthen’s dedication to community outreach sparked several grassroots initiatives and contributed to substantial membership growth for the local NAACP. In 2012, he was appointed to St. John A.M.E. Church in Eufaula, Alabama, where his leadership and vision flourished.
Under Reverend Worthen’s leadership at St. John A.M.E., he demonstrated exceptional executive skills and thought leadership. He is committed to ensuring the church’s ministry experiences are progressive and transformative, reaching God’s people in the 21st century. This commitment led to the renovation and creation of a state-of-the-art media room, which enables St. John to spread the gospel and win souls for Christ across various media platforms, live streams, and websites. Additionally, Reverend Worthen launched “Mentoring Moments with Pastor Worthen,” a program designed to encourage St. John’s youth to know God’s Word, develop a relationship with Jesus Christ, and become active, productive citizens in their community.
Throughout his tenure at St. John, Reverend Worthen’s outreach ministries have had a significant impact. They have provided Thanksgiving baskets and Christmas care packages to hundreds in need, and currently, the church partners with the State of Alabama to provide hot meals to underprivileged children in low-income communities during the summer months. This program has delivered approximately 100,000 meals at a cost of 1.5 million dollars, employing numerous teens, young adults, and adults each year. Reverend Worthen’s leadership has seen growth in tithes and a continuous influx of souls into the ministry. In addition to his work at St. John, he serves as the Board of Examiners Chair for the 9th Episcopal District, Southeast Conference, and is a long-standing advisor and board member of the Eufaula, AL Barbour County Branch of the NAACP. Reverend Worthen holds a Bachelor of Science in Political Science from Florida A&M University and a Master of Divinity degree from Turner Theological Seminary. He is a 2024 Turner Theological Center Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee and the author of two books. In March 2024, he married Arlena Jackson Worthen, a corporate communications executive, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, whom he met in high school.