Bishop Quincy Lavelle Carswell
Bishop Quincy Lavelle Carswell was the beloved son of the late Elijah and Othessa Carswell. Born on February 4, 1953, in Miami, Florida—on his mother’s birthday—he was the youngest of five siblings: Celestine, Sandra, John, and his twin sister, Quintina LaJune. He was raised in Miami-Dade County before the family relocated to Providence, Rhode Island in 1968. There, he graduated from Mount Pleasant High School.
Bishop Carswell was nurtured in the faith within the Church of God and acknowledged the call of God on his life at the early age of eight. From that moment forward, he dedicated himself to fulfilling the Great Commission by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the United States and abroad. A powerful preacher and compelling lecturer, he became a highly sought-after voice at national conventions, crusades, and conferences.
He earned academic degrees from Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) in Daytona Beach, Florida; a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia; and a Doctor of Ministry from the University of California.
Bishop Carswell was nurtured in the faith within the Church of God and acknowledged the call of God on his life at the early age of eight. From that moment forward, he dedicated himself to fulfilling the Great Commission by preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the United States and abroad. A powerful preacher and compelling lecturer, he became a highly sought-after voice at national conventions, crusades, and conferences.
He earned academic degrees from Bethune-Cookman College (now Bethune-Cookman University) in Daytona Beach, Florida; a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia; and a Doctor of Ministry from the University of California.
Of all his accomplishments, none brought Bishop Carswell more joy than his role as a family man. He was lovingly devoted to the love of his life, his wife, best friend, and confidant, Lady Gwendolyn Jones Carswell. Together, they shared 39 beautiful years of marriage. He was the proud father of two children, Quinae’ Aresia and Bishop Quincy Lavelle II, and found great joy in his grandchildren—Matthew, Miya, Quincy III, and Wesley. To Bishop Carswell, his family was “the wind beneath his wings.”
In 1982, Bishop Carswell was appointed by the Reverend Jesse Jackson as the first President of the Atlanta Chapter of Operation PUSH, where he hosted the largest national convention in the organization’s history. He later served as a national strategist and leader in Reverend Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns. Bishop Carswell faithfully pastored the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta from 1975 to 1992. Prior to that, he worked at the historic Butler Street YMCA under the mentorship of DeWitt N. Martin, Jr., coordinating the Hungry Club Forum and the organization’s first citywide youth revival.
On July 4, 1993, Bishop Carswell founded Covenant Baptist Church and Ministries—now known as The Covenant Church. In a 2005 feature, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution described Bishop Carswell as “one of Atlanta’s most effective and influential pastors—a minister reaching the lost, the least, and the left-out, making an unparalleled impact across the nation.”
He was consecrated to the sacred office of Bishop on February 4, 2001, and later became the President and CEO of Quincy Carswell Ministries, Inc. For more than 50 years, Bishop Carswell preached the Gospel with boldness and compassion. He often declared with humor and confidence, “I’ve got 99 problems, but preachin’ ain’t one!”
His ministry was recognized widely. He was inducted into the Morehouse College Board of Distinguished Preachers, Sponsors, and the Collegium of Scholars in both 1995 and 2015. He received numerous honors, including the Benjamin E. Mays Award, the Butler Street YMCA Service Award (1997), the Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta (1999), and the American Education Services Award (2001). In 2006, he was named one of the World’s Most Loved Pastors. In December 2015, Mayor Kasim Reed honored him for his lasting impact on the people of Atlanta. In 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gospel Choice Music Awards.
Bishop Carswell was also featured in Jet (1983), Ebony (1985), and was highlighted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2004 for the community-focused outreach of The Covenant Church.
His influence extended globally. In 1972, he was selected by the Association of Colleges and Universities for International and Intercultural Studies (A.C.U.I.I.S.) as a Scholar in Residence at the University of Austria. He traveled extensively—ministering and studying the Word in Austria, Russia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and the Holy Land. He often echoed the words of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “It’s like fire shut up in my bones!”
Bishop Carswell leaves behind a rich and lasting legacy. He is survived by his devoted wife, Lady Gwendolyn Jones Carswell; his son, Bishop Quincy Lavelle Carswell II (Dr. April LaSha); his daughter, Quinae’ Aresia Ford (Elder Marques L’Mar); grandchildren Matthew Alexander, Miya Allison, Quincy Lavelle III, and Wesley Elijah; his sisters Sandra Carswell and Quintina Robinson (Melvin); his brother, Elder John Carswell; and a host of extended family members, cherished friends, faithful mentors, and beloved Covenant partners.
In 1982, Bishop Carswell was appointed by the Reverend Jesse Jackson as the first President of the Atlanta Chapter of Operation PUSH, where he hosted the largest national convention in the organization’s history. He later served as a national strategist and leader in Reverend Jackson’s 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns. Bishop Carswell faithfully pastored the historic Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta from 1975 to 1992. Prior to that, he worked at the historic Butler Street YMCA under the mentorship of DeWitt N. Martin, Jr., coordinating the Hungry Club Forum and the organization’s first citywide youth revival.
On July 4, 1993, Bishop Carswell founded Covenant Baptist Church and Ministries—now known as The Covenant Church. In a 2005 feature, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution described Bishop Carswell as “one of Atlanta’s most effective and influential pastors—a minister reaching the lost, the least, and the left-out, making an unparalleled impact across the nation.”
He was consecrated to the sacred office of Bishop on February 4, 2001, and later became the President and CEO of Quincy Carswell Ministries, Inc. For more than 50 years, Bishop Carswell preached the Gospel with boldness and compassion. He often declared with humor and confidence, “I’ve got 99 problems, but preachin’ ain’t one!”
His ministry was recognized widely. He was inducted into the Morehouse College Board of Distinguished Preachers, Sponsors, and the Collegium of Scholars in both 1995 and 2015. He received numerous honors, including the Benjamin E. Mays Award, the Butler Street YMCA Service Award (1997), the Phoenix Award from the City of Atlanta (1999), and the American Education Services Award (2001). In 2006, he was named one of the World’s Most Loved Pastors. In December 2015, Mayor Kasim Reed honored him for his lasting impact on the people of Atlanta. In 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Gospel Choice Music Awards.
Bishop Carswell was also featured in Jet (1983), Ebony (1985), and was highlighted by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2004 for the community-focused outreach of The Covenant Church.
His influence extended globally. In 1972, he was selected by the Association of Colleges and Universities for International and Intercultural Studies (A.C.U.I.I.S.) as a Scholar in Residence at the University of Austria. He traveled extensively—ministering and studying the Word in Austria, Russia, Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, and the Holy Land. He often echoed the words of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “It’s like fire shut up in my bones!”
Bishop Carswell leaves behind a rich and lasting legacy. He is survived by his devoted wife, Lady Gwendolyn Jones Carswell; his son, Bishop Quincy Lavelle Carswell II (Dr. April LaSha); his daughter, Quinae’ Aresia Ford (Elder Marques L’Mar); grandchildren Matthew Alexander, Miya Allison, Quincy Lavelle III, and Wesley Elijah; his sisters Sandra Carswell and Quintina Robinson (Melvin); his brother, Elder John Carswell; and a host of extended family members, cherished friends, faithful mentors, and beloved Covenant partners.