The Reverend Doctor Frank Portee III, a native of South Carolina, is the Senior Pastor of the Church of the Redeemer (PC-USA) in South Central Los Angeles since 1999. He has pastored congregations in South CarolinaSouthern California for more than 15 years. He served as the Director of Empowerment and Organizing for Interfaith Impact on Capitol Hill; the Executive Secretary for African American Ministries and National Shalom Coordinator for the General Board of Global Ministries-UMC in New York City. 

His skill set includes the theological discipline of socio-theological ethics, with a focus on urban politics, congregational transformation and community-based organizing. A gifted preacher and teacher, Frank has served as Adjunct Professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, The Union Institute, and the Southern California School of Ministry, a Research Fellow with the Candler School of Theology, Emory University.