THE REV. JOHN A. CREASY ’06 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS IN MISSION

John Creasy is the founder and executive director of the Garfield Community Farm. He is also the founding co-pastor of The Open Door Presbyterian Church, a missional community in the Pittsburgh neighborhood of Garfield.

John is passionate about helping people and faith communities connect with God and nature through works of social justice, environmental justice, and eco-theology. Garfield Community Farm is a place of experimentation of missional faith practices, sustainable urban food production, ecological restoration, and community activism. The Farm has become an example of what can happen with creative missional theology and a partnership of diverse churches and community groups.

In 1987, Harry became the first African American minister appointed to The Citadel. He later served as director of pastoral care at UPMC Squirrel Hill and as a community chaplain at Carolinas Medical Center.

As a health educator, Harry trains professionals and laypersons in the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of health care. He has done this work in partnership with the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, United Family Services (Charlotte, N.C.), and Johnson C. Smith University. Harry was one of the founders of the Mecklenburg County Health Department program Village Heart Beat. In 2010, the American Heart Association honored Harry with the Mid-Atlantic Affiliate Award.

Harry serves on several nonprofit boards in the Charlotte region. In professional and volunteer service, he has worked hard to bring a message of hope to faith and health communities.

He currently serves as pastor of Tranquil AME Church in McCormick, S.C., and is married to the Rev. Beverly Jean Burns.

In 2016 John was given a 40 Under 40 Award by Pittsburgh Magazine and the Community Pioneer Award from the Bloomfield Garfield Corporation.

John was a founding board member of Open Hand Ministries, a local ministry working to equip lower income people of color to build equity and wealth through home ownership, and Lamppost Farm in Columbiana, Ohio, from 2009 to 2011. Both are mission partners of The Open Door Church.

John and his family practice permaculture in their 90-year-old home with rainwater collection, solar power, off grid heating, and a backyard food forest. Together they love exploring nature through hiking and backpacking. John and his wife, Alyssa, also create instrumental and Americana music as the musical group This Side of Eve.