Pastor Juan L. Morrison, Sr. has served as the celebrated pastor/founder of Emmanuel Temple Church of God in Christ since November 1983. Under his leadership, the church has experienced significant growth, three building programs have been initiated. More recently, Emmanuel Temple Family Life Center has been added to the church. Pastor Morrison has been a Superintendent and 1st Administrative Assistant, and the president of the COGIC Ministerial Alliance of Springfield.

Pastor Morrison's academic and professional background include more than 35 years as an educator in Springfield in the public schools system and at the community college level. For more than 32 years he was professor of psychology at Lincoln Land Community College, and has also taught for the Charles Harris Mason Bible College. He has been consistently saluted throughout the community and academia for a job well done. Dr. Morrison holds a B.S. Degree in Political Science and Sociology/Psychology from Illinois State University and two Master Degrees from University of Illinois, Springfield and a PhD in Higher Education with an emphasis in Counseling Psychology.

He is the devoted husband of Mrs. Clementine L. Morrison and loving father of 3 adult children: Elder Juan Morrison Jr., Elder Daryl Morrison and Cheryl Morrison-Doss. They have 10 grandchildren. In 1996, pastor Morrison was awarded a “Community Service Award” by the NAACP.