When Alvin C. Hathaway Sr. says he “grew up in the womb” of Union Baptist Church in West Baltimore, he is not speaking metaphorically.

Rev. Dr. Hathaway’s family lived at 1211 Druid Hill Ave. as he was growing up, and the historic church stands at 1219 Druid Hill.

Even as a teenager, Rev. Dr. Hathaway says, he was involved in the spiritual, political and social justice lives of its ministries, particularly that of the Rev. Vernon Dobson, who served as senior pastor from 1967 until Rev. Dr. Hathaway took over in 2007 after serving three years as assistant pastor.

Al is kind of what we would call maybe a throwback of the Black preacher, who was shepherd to the flock, businessperson in the community and a voice, a civic leader in terms of speaking to the issues that were affecting everybody not just the congregation … In his mind, there isn’t any issue that affects the experiences of people that ought be off limits to the participation of clergy,” says the Rev. S. Todd Yeary, senior pastor of Douglas Memorial Community Church.

“If I were to sum Al up in two words, he’s visionary, but he is also a collaborator,” Rev. Yeary adds. “He not only sees big ideas, but he figures out ways to invite people in to be partners in the realization of those big ideas.”

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