TRINITY AME CHURCH

        Dominique Isaac Grate was born June 8, 1990 in Long Branch, NJ.  He is the son of retired Major Willie James Grate, Jr. and Felicia A. Grate.  He matriculated through Richland School District Two schools in Columbia, SC graduating from Richland Northeast High School in June 2008.  After finishing high school, he obtained his B.A. from the University of South Carolina where he studied under the world renowned Dr. Stephanie Mitchem, majoring in African American Studies, with a minor in History. 

        In 2008, Pastor Grate received his call to serve in the ordained ministry of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.  A 2013 inductee into the National Academy of Young Preachers, Rev. Grate studied at Wake Forest University School of Divinity, where he was an Ed & Jean Christman Fellow, graduating in May 2015.  A Life Member of the NAACP, Columbia Urban League Young Professionals, Alpha Psi Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., My Carolina Alumni Association, Rotary International, and Capital City Lodge #47 (Prince Hall), Pastor Grate has served as the Senior Pastor of Historic Trinity AME Church in Manning, SC where he was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr. on November 8, 2019 at the God First Theological Institute and Planning Convocation.  His ministry passions include: rural ministry, humanitarian missions, and historical preservation. 

            For fun Pastor Grate enjoys playing the board game RISK with friends, reading non-fiction, and watching Netflix/Hulu.  A middle child, Pastor Grate’s older brother Steven is a resident of Nashville, TN and his younger sister Kayla resides in Dayton, OH.  Prior to serving as the Senior Pastor of Historic Trinity, Pastor Grate served two charges in the Columbia Annual Conference: Calvary AME Church (Batesburg-Leesville) and New Mt. Zion AME Church (Lexington).