Strength for the Journey

The Reverend Dr. Kenneth Q. James, a native of New York City, is the second son of three children born to the late Earl M. and the late Joan E. James. He is a graduate of Clinton Junior College in Rock Hill, South Carolina,; Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina, from which he graduated in 1980 with honors; and Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury, North Carolina, from which he graduated in 1984. Dr. James earned the Doctor of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary in Salisbury in May, 2006.

Entering the Christian ministry in 1975, he was ordained to the ministry by the late Bishop Herbert Bell Shaw, and was ordained an Elder in the A.M.E. Zion Church by the late Bishop Ruben L. Speaks in 1984. Dr. James has served as pastor of Pierce Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Clarkton, North Carolina, Blackwell Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Jamestown, New York, Bailey Avenue A.M.E. Zion Church in Buffalo, New York (which he organized in 1987), Duryee Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Schenectady, New York, and currently, Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church in Rochester, New York.

Dr. James is committed to working with youth. He is the Director of Evangelism for the Western New York Annual Conference, and Secretary of the Western New York Annual Conference, and serves as a board member representing the Northeastern Episcopal District on the Bureau of Evangelism of the A.M.E. Zion Church. Dr. James is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He is also Adjunct Assistant Professor of Preaching at Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, New York. He is the author of The First Yes: Rediscovering the Integrity of the Call to Preach.

He has one son, Frank, and two granddaughters, Ajaya and Ajanae.