Rev. Norman A. Tate is a native of Chicago, Illinois, where he was reared and attended public schools.  After graduating from high school, he attended the Washington Bible College in Lanham, Maryland, receiving the Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education.  During this time Rev. Tate held the positions of Director of Christian Education and later Pastoral Assistant to Rev. Frank D. Tucker of the First Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.

He attended seminary at the Howard University School of Divinity receiving the Master of Arts in Religious Studies and Master of Divinity degrees, and was the recipient of the H.G. Maynard Award, an honor granted annually to a student demonstrating excellence in the areas of preaching and ministry. While in seminary he pastored churches on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and later served as a Staff Chaplain with the District of Columbia's Department of Corrections.   In 1995 Rev. Tate began to serve the people of the Heritage Fellowship United Church of Christ in Reston, Virginia.  Initially as Interim Pastor, in November of 1998 he was elected as the Shepherd of Heritage.  His vision for the church is to be a Bible believing, Bible preaching, Bible teaching, and Bible living church.  Every member of the church is strongly encouraged to attend the church's Bible Institute, which is a program of systematic Biblical study accredited by the Evangelical Training Association.  The church also has recently opened it's own book store, "The Agape Resource Center."

Rev. Tate was awarded the Doctor of Ministry degree from the United Theological Seminary of Dayton, Ohio.  His doctoral thesis was entitled: "The Transforming Effect Of Systematic Biblical Education Upon the Local Church."  He credits the emphasis on the study of God's Word to the church now having grown from 250 members to over 1700 members and 900 family units. This has led the church to adopt the slogan that "Heritage Fellowship is the end of your search for a family church."

His favorite verse of scripture is Ephesians 2:8-9, "For it is by grace that ye are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, not of works; lest any man should boast." 

Rev. Tate is married to Joyce Thomas Tate, and together they have five wonderful children, two grandchildren, and two miniature schnauzers.