The Reverend Marben Bland was appointed the 38th Pastor of Greater Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia, by Bishop Reginald T. Jackson on June 3, 2022; Presiding Elder Toni Belin Ingram presented him to the congregation on June 5.

A native of Gray, Georgia, Pastor Bland holds a B.A. in Political Science, English, and Business from Mercer University; an M.P.A. from Georgia College & State University; and an M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) in Intergenerational Black Church Studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

An ordained Itinerant Elder in the AME Church, he previously served the Sparta Circuit (Hall Chapel and Mitchel Chapel) in Sparta, New Bethel AME in East Dublin, and Greater Saint Peter AME in Jonesboro. A U.S. Army officer and veteran of Operation Desert Storm, Pastor Bland later spent three decades in senior leadership roles at Sara Lee Corporation, Fiskars Brands, and Advanced Micro Devices. During the pandemic, he founded 2 The Point Theological Media Corporation, a nonprofit providing media solutions to churches, small businesses, and nonprofits.

A multimedia storyteller shaped by the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20), he embraces podcasting, video, print, and social media to teach the Gospel.

He serves on the board of Bethany Christian Services and has held fellowships with Stand and See, The Ministry Collaborative, and SHIFT.

Pastor Bland rejoices in his family—son Chandler, daughter-in-love Erika, and grandchildren Nina, Elisha, Rosie, Noa, and Jack