Our Leadership

Dr. Avery Danage

Senior servant

The Reverend Doctor Avery Jerome Danage Sr. is a gifted servant of God whose ultimate desire is to do God's will. Dr. Danage, a native of Warren Ohio is the son of the late Elaine Danage and is a first-generation Pastor serving as the Senior Pastor at the historic Providence United Church of Christ, in Chesapeake, Virginia, the oldest African American congregation in the Southern Conference of the United Churches of Christ. Dr. Danage is a committed man of God, loves his family, and loves God's people. He is committed to the work of transformation and reconciliation in the body of Christ. His motto for ministry is "Real Ministry, 4 Real people with Real issues, serving a Real God." Dr. Danage serves as the Justice Minister for the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ; the Board of Directors of the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ; and the Eastern Virginia Association Commission on Ministry. Dr. Danage also serves as Professor and Assistant Director of the Doctoral Ministry program at Providence Seminary and Bible College in Portsmouth Virginia. Dr. Danage is a graduate of Kent State University with associate and bachelor's degrees in criminal justice, a Master of Divinity, and Doctor of Ministry in Transformational Leadership from Ashland Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. Dr. Danage and his wife Semone of 34 years are the proud parents of one son and three daughters, one granddaughter and four grandsons. Dr. Danage and Lady Semone reside in Chesapeake, Virginia.