Fondly known as “Bishop Byron,” Bishop Byron L. Smith is a respected LADAAC candidate, pastor, educator, and community advocate whose mission is to unite faith, mental health, education, and policy in the service of healing and justice. He is the Senior Pastor of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles, CA, and a dedicated practitioner in the field of trauma-informed care and adolescent mental health.

Bishop Byron holds a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and is currently a candidate for licensure as a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor (LADAAC). He brings more than 3,000 hours of clinical face-to-face experience, serving individuals and families impacted by trauma, substance abuse, incarceration, grief, homelessness, and mental illness. He currently works as a Primary Clinical Therapist in a residential treatment program in Orange County, CA.

An educator and public voice for culturally competent mental health services, Bishop Byron has served as an adjunct faculty member at:
- Pepperdine University (Los Angeles Campus), teaching master’s-level courses on Grief, Loss, and Trauma-Informed Care with a strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity;
- Azusa Pacific University, where he instructs in Pastoral Care and Church Health;
- and the University of Southern California (USC), where he has lectured through the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, focusing on trauma, faith, and community wellness.

Bishop Byron is a committed civic leader, active in the Empowerment Congress, Safer Streets LA, the LA County Faith Collaborative, and the Faith Collaborative on Homelessness. He also serves nationally as a Faith Leader for Vulnerable Children, advocating for systems change and equitable access to mental health care for youth and families.

His lived and professional experience spans a wide range of populations including foster youth, veterans, Orthodox Jewish men in treatment, LGBTQ+ clients, incarcerated individuals, and unhoused persons on Skid Row. He is widely recognized for his ability to merge clinical insight, cultural awareness, and spiritual care to meet the needs of those most often overlooked.

Bishop Byron also holds a Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology and a Doctor of Divinity from Saint James Convergence School of Ministry. His leadership and advocacy have earned recognition at both state and local levels in California and Illinois for his work in mental health, education, prison reform, and community empowerment.

At his core, Bishop Byron is a bridge-builder who brings together clinicians, faith leaders, public institutions, and grassroots voices to create transformative pathways of healing for those affected by trauma, marginalization, and systemic injustice. He is also a certified TBRI® (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) trained practitioner, equipping him to support individuals impacted by complex developmental trauma.