Rev. Dr. Paul Greene Murphy is currently serving as pastor of Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church in Southern Pines, NC.  He is an ordained Elder of the A.M.E. Zion Church. He is a member of the Sanford District of the Central North Carolina Annual Conference where he serves as District Instructor of Local Preachers and Conference Examiner of Evangelists preparing for ordination.  He has also served as a missionary in the US Virgin Islands, South Africa, and Zimbabwe and is a candidate for Bishop in the AME Zion Church.

 

Paul is the first-born son of Robert and Thomasina Murphy, who created a most engaging and inspiring musical context for him and his siblings.  After attending the NC Governor’s School in 1978, he graduated from Pinecrest High School in 1979 and completed the coursework at Perkins School of Piano Tuning and Technology in 1980.  Paul then served his country as a paratrooper in the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division.  In 1991 he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Theory and Composition from UNC Chapel Hill.  In 2000, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School, and in 2011 Paul received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary.

 

Under the episcopal oversight of Bishop George Edward Battle Jr., Bishop Richard Keith Thompson, Bishop James E. McCoy, and Bishop Kenneth Monroe, Paul was able to serve four wonderful congregations--Jordan Chapel in the Manly section of Southern Pines, Spaulding Chapel in Taylortown, Franklin Chapel in Laurinburg and Trinity in Southern Pines.

 

Dr. Murphy’s professional career shows great versatility.  His teaching experiences include The O’Neal School--Band, Robbins Elementary School –K-8 General Music, Pinecrest High School -- String Orchestra A.P. and I.B. Music Theory, and K-5 Principal of the Renaissance School (STARS) in Vass, NC.  He is currently the CEO of Fisherman’s Frontier, (a music production and publishing company), and is the co-founder of The Heritage Creative Arts School (THCAS).

    

As a musician, Paul has performed alongside some of the musical world’s giants, such as Carl Anderson, George Winston, Clifton Davis, and Lou Rawls.  Paul studied music composition with Roger Hannay, Stephen Jaffe, T.J. Anderson, Thea Musgrave, Scott Lindroth, Ellen Taft Zwilich, and Louis Andriessen.  He was coached by the legendary Tony Bennett.

 

Dr. Murphy composed, recorded, and published, "MLK the Anthem," to honor the life and legacy of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  After sharing this song with Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Dr. Murphy composed "The Dedicatory Anthem," (for brass ensemble) to commemorate the life of 2nd Lieutenant Robert Hoyle Upchurch during a collaborative service between the United States and China.  

 

Dr. Murphy serves on several boards:  Moore Health, Sandhills Cooperation Association, Friend to Friend, Bold Initiative, Moore Montessori School, Sandhills Community College Foundation, HEAL—Health Equities Advocates and Liaisons (a collaboration between Duke Clinical Research and the AME Zion Church), and is the Mayor Pro Tem for the Town of Southern Pines.

 

Paul is married to Sharon Campbell Murphy and they have four children; Kent, Drake, Anna, and Greene--and four grandchildren; Fitzroy, Violet, Greene Jr., and Blue David Paul.