About Dr. James.
Reverend James was educated in New York City's Public School System. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. He studied Economics at the master level for one year. Following college, he worked as a Management Information Analyst and Accountant for Bankers Trust Company in New York City. He also worked as a Financial Planner at New York Life Insurance Company.
In 1985, Reverend James responded to God's call to ministry and left his job, family and friends to enter the Seminary. He graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from Methodist Theological School, Delaware, Ohio in 1988. That same year, Reverend James was ordained by the American Baptist Churches of Metro, New York and the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Rev. James earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio in 1993, where he was a Samuel D. Proctor - Otis Moss Jr. Fellow. He served as Pastor of churches in Ohio and New York prior to the call to Mount Zion Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Pastor James was or is currently in service with the following organizations: American Baptist Churches, USA - General Board of Directors; American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis Region - Representative; Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition - Board of Directors and Treasurer; Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) - Field Education Supervisor and Richard Pettigrew Seminar Committee; Black American Baptist Caucus - Executive Committee; Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (GIPC) - Board of Directors, an appointment by Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson.
Listed in Who's Who in Black Indianapolis (4th Edition, 2007).
In May 2012, Pastor James was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Divinity by the Board of Trustees, Faculty and Staff of Franklin College of Franklin, Indiana.
Dr. James is the most recent past President of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial State Convention of Indiana, affiliated with the Progressive National Baptist Convention.
Dr. James was named Affiliate Professor at Christian Theological Seminary, November 2017; Chair of the American Baptist Biennial Mission Summit Plannning Committee for the 2019 National gathering.