Rev. Robert Manley is a native of Birmingham, Alabama. He was educated in the Jefferson County Public Schools and received his high school diploma from Hooper City High School in 1965. He furthered his education at Morris Brown College where he earned the B.A. Degree and at Clark Atlanta University from which he graduated with the Masters Degree in Public Administration. He received the Master of Divinity Degree from Interdenominational theological Seminary.

Rev. Manley worked for the U.S. Government – General Services Administration for twenty-three years as the regional training officer for the Southeastern Region of the U. S. Robert believed that as regional training officer, his role was to mold the minds of future civil service employees, thereby potentially influencing all aspects of society.

He is the son of the late Mr. James Manley and Mrs. Orene Manley, and he is married to Dr. Ollie Irons Manley. He has two sons, Robert and Patrick and four grandsons. His family is very dear and important to him, and he believes that the way to cure many of the ills of society is to focus on the restructuring of the family unit.

Rev. Manley joined the church at an early age. He served as pastor of the Bentley Hill United Methodist Church, the St. Phillip United Methodist Church, the coordinator of the South Cobb Cooperative Ministries in the Atlanta Marietta District, and pastor of the Vinings United Methodist Church. Most of his ministerial career has been spent serving cross-racial congregations. He is a graduate of the Academy for the Practice of Christian Ministry sponsored by the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist church. He was appointed to Forest Park United Methodist Church June 22, 2006. His broad base of experiences makes him ideal for leading the Church in Forest Park.

He has a passion for playing golf and works to promote the game among urban youth. His favorite scripture is Philipians 4:13 which states that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. As Rev. Manley continues his journey through life, he understands that all that he has done, is doing, and will do is a blessing from God.