Senior Pastor & Auxiliary Bishop of Archives and Research in Christ Holy Sanctified Church
Ulysses Stephen King, Jr.
Ulysses Stephen King, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of Memorial Tabernacle Church in Oakland, CA.
He was born and raised in Oakland, California. He graduated from Oakland Technical High School and Southeastern University (BS). He is the proud son of the late Bishop Ulysses S. King, Sr. and Tryphosa King, and he is the grandson of the founders of the Christ Holy Sanctified Church (1910) – Bishop Judge and Mother Sarah King. Stephen, as he likes to be called, is the last child of five siblings.
Upon returning home from the 1983 CHSC National Convocation in Beaumont, TX, Bishop Ulysses Stephen King, Sr. responded to the Lord’s voice on the future of the local church. In March 1984, Bishop and a few of his faithful friends including Bishop A. Edward Bell and Pastor Bill Beatty consecrated the then Elder Ulysses Stephen King, Jr. to the role of Senior Pastor of CHSC Oakland at the age of 33.
On July 5, 1985, Bishop Ulysses S. King, Sr. was called home to be with the Lord. Because of the faithful leadership of our church Fathers, Memorial Tabernacle Church was established as the new name of the church in 1985. Despite grieving, effective and transformative change was evident in the local church under Stephen’s leadership but not without great sacrifice to his responsibilities as a husband and father.
He has written a book entitled, “Running Away: The Memoir of a Bishop’s Son” (Westbow Press, 2015), a memoir of truth and relationship between a son and his father, and the church that defined them.
Understanding vision for the church, Stephen developed building methods with intentionality, and the church continued to emerged as an influential center of Christian outreach in our city, denomination, and Christian community at large. MTC moves with a great sensitivity to the needs of the unsaved and their resistance to church and Christ.
Stephen has a long, extended, and colorful professional resume in ministry and community work for over 40 years. He has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Africa preaching, teaching, and sharing the Good News about Jesus Christ.
He also published “Fountainhead: The Beginning” (Xulon Press, 2020), a comprehensive narrative and history of the founding of the Christ Holy Sanctified Church.
Stephen was consecrated to Auxiliary Bishop of Archives and Research in Christ Holy Sanctified Church by the Presiding Prelate and Chief Apostle of Christ Holy Sanctified Church, Bishop Craig E. Brown and the presbytery of Bishops at the 2024 Holy Convocation of CHSC in Ft Worth, TX.
Stephen is married to his beautiful and loving wife and best friend, Tiffany E. Grant King, who also serves as his administrative assistant. Lady Tiffany is her husband’s biggest encourager, understanding the seasons of his life and the paths to his future. Lady Tiffany’s commitment to community only amplifies her husband’s vision for MTC to be that beacon of light and hope for all.
At his 40th Pastoral Celebration (March 2025*), Stephen summarized his journey in the church with one word – “obedience”. Pastoring 7 generations of believers has developed Stephen into a leader known for his unwavering commitment to Christ and God’s Word – the Holy Bible.