Grace Catherine Schultz Osborne was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Bishop David and Grace Schultz. She received her early education in Louisville, Kentucky. She then continued her education in Columbus, Ohio at Franklin University, Capital University and Aenon Bible College. She furthered her education at Warner Pacific College and Portland State University, where she is honored with a “Women’s Federation for World Peace” plaque (the plaque is a permanent fixture in PSU’s Garden), as well as other institutions of higher learning. She received her Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from the International Institute and Seminary.
In 1960, Grace Catherine Osborne was ordained in the ministry in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1963, she and her late husband Bishop L.W. Osborne Sr. founded the Faith Tabernacle Church, Inc., later reorganized as The Faith Tabernacle Corporation of Churches. She served as the Minister of Education for 17 years at the Faith Tabernacle Church until 1986 when Bishop Louis W. Osborne, Sr. retired as pastor and appointed her in his stead. She served faithfully for seven years and then resigned to establish another work which she named Grace Covenant Fellowship in 1993 and later consecrated to the office of Bishop, the first female to be elevated to that position in her organization. In 1994, she was again elevated to the office of Presiding Bishop of the Faith Tabernacle Council of Churches, Inc.(FTCC). In 1996, the Lord led her to change the name to the Fellowship of Christian Believers (FCB) to reflect our relationship more accurately within the Body of Christ.
In 1964, Grace was the first African American teacher employed with the Head Start program in the city of Portland, Oregon. She also held the position of Principle of the Louis 1st Elementary Christian School. She was elected president of the Oregon Association of Ministers Wives and Ministers Widows and served as one of the Regional Vice Presidents in the International Association. Her region included the states of Oregon, California, Alaska, and Hawaii. She now serves as the president Emeritus for the State of Oregon. In 2011, Mrs. Grace C. Osborne was nominated as Portland’s American Mother of the Year, an organization founded in 1935 by Eleanor Roosevelt.
Grace served as a Chairman of North Portland Bible College for several years. She has served her community through her involvement as a board member of the Black United Fund, Portland Released Time Educational Program, One Church One Child, Friends of Sister of the Streets, 1st and 2nd Vice President of Albina Ministerial Alliance. Additionally, Bishop Grace has served on the Services for Children and Families Adoption Committee, the Franciscan Loan Committee and on the Advisory Committee for the Center for Health Research Committee. Grace is also President of Grace Cathedral Ministries, an organization designed to address the needs of the drug affected, homeless population and the health-related problems including AIDS. Bishop Grace continues to serve as the Presiding Prelate and CEO of the Fellowship of Christian Believers, Inc., formerly known as the Faith Tabernacle Council of Churches, Inc., and pastor of Grace Covenant Fellowship Ministries in Portland, Oregon.