Dr. Cecil "Chip" Murray is a native Floridian with an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University. He received his Doctorate in Religion from The School of Theology at Claremont. He has lectured and been adjunct professor of Seattle University, School of Theology Claremont, Fuller Seminary, and Northwest Theological Seminary.

Dr. Murray served 10 years of active duty on flying status with the United States Air Force as a Jet Radar Intercept Officer (Air Defense Command), and a navigator (Air Transport Command). He was decorated with the Soldier's Medal of Valor in 1958 following an aircraft explosion in his two-seated fighter. He retired as a reserve Major with the United States Air Force.

The members of Dr. Murray's family begin with his devoted wife, Bernadine, and their one son, Rev. Drew David Murray. In 1977 Dr. Murray was assigned to First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the oldest black church in Los Angeles. His new church family had 300 active members in 1977. The fire and spirit of love spread, and the congregation grew to 17,300 members. The ministry of the church fills the sanctuary the church with some 40 task forces that include health, substance abuse, homelessness, emergency food and clothing, general and specialized housing, tutoring, entrepreneurial training, employment services and the like.

President George H.W. Bush named the First AME Church the 177th Point of Light for its courageous outreach in community services.

Dr. Murray retired in November 2004 as the senior minister at First AME Church. He currently serves as a professor, senior research fellow and holds the Tanzy Chair of Christian Ethics at the Center for Religion, at the University of Southern California.