Bishop John R. Bryant - African Methodist Episcopal Church

Bishop John Richard Bryant is the son of the late Bishop Harrison James and Edith Holland Bryant. He was elected and consecrated the 106th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church at the 1988 General Conference in Fort Worth, TX.

He earned his B.A. in 1965 at Morgan State University, his Masters in Theology in 1970 at the Boston University School of Theology, and his Doctorate in Ministries at the Colgate Rochester Divinity School in 1975.

Bryant also holds an Honorary Doctorates from Paul Quinn College, Wilberforce University, Payne Theological Seminary and Virginia Seminary. He received the Outstanding Alumnus Award from both Boston University School of Theology and Morgan State University. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame of his high school, Baltimore City College. 

Bishop Bryant is married to the Rev. Dr. Cecelia Williams Bryant and is the father of Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, pastor and founder of the Empowerment Temple AME Church in Baltimore, MD, and Dr. Thema Simone Bryant Davis.

Bishop George W.C. Walker, Sr. - African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

George Washington Carver Walker, Sr. was born 10-11-40 to the Rev. Roosevelt Leon
and Lemon Louise Pace Walker in Montgomery, Alabama.  Upon graduation from High School, he entered Clinton Junior College, Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he earned an A. A. Degree.  He attended Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina and Benedict College, Columbia, South Carolina, where he earned an A. B. Degree.  He later entered Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, North Carolina, where he earned a Master of Divinity Degree. 
 
His pastorates include Rock Hill and Piney Grove, Pageland, South Carolina; St. James and Mt. Airy, Chesterfield, South Carolina; Foundation and Tabernacle, Rock Hill, South Carolina; Jones Memorial, Columbia, South Carolina; and Greater Walters, Chicago, Illinois.

Bishop Walker was elected bishop on August 5, 1988 at the 43rd General Conference as the 81st bishop of the A.M.E. Zion Church. Bishop Walker was also elevated to the Senior Bishop post of the A. M. E. Zion Church in 2004.

He has served in leadership positions on several boards of the A. M. E. Zion Church and with ecumenical organizations, representing the Church and mankind. Some include: Publishing House Board; Harriet Tubman Foundation; Restructuring Committee; Balm in Gilead; conference and connectional level positions.

As Presiding Bishop of the North Eastern Region Episcopal District, he led the conferences in the purchase of a stately Episcopal residence, located in Farmington, Connecticut. The residence was dedicated on October 11, 1997. As Presiding Bishop of the Piedmont Episcopal District since 2004, he has led these conferences in the purchase of an Episcopal residence in Waxhaw, NC, which is in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. This residence was dedicated in the fall of 2006.

Bishop Walker is married to Geraldine J. Walker.  He is the father of four adult children and seven grandchildren.

Bishop William H. Graves - Christian Methodist Episcopal Church

William H. Graves, the 42nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, is the eighth child born to Johnnie and Leatha Graves.  He was born June 19, 1936 in Brownsville, TN.  At an early age he migrated with his family to Detroit where he spent the majority of his childhood and youth.  His public school education began in Tennessee and was completed in Michigan.   Upon receiving the BA degree from Lane College, he matriculated at Phillips School of Theology of the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA.  He pursued his Doctor of Ministry degree from the Claremont School of Theology.

After being licensed to preach, Bishop Graves served as the assistant pastor of his home church, the St. John's CME Church of Detroit, under the pastorate of Walter H. Amos, (who later became the 32nd Bishop of the church).   Prior of his election, he served pastorates in Georgia, Indiana, and Wisconsin.   He rose to prominence in the church during an outstanding pastorate of the Phillips Temple CME Church of Los Angeles, CA, where he led that historic congregation to a renovation/restoration project of its worship facility.  While there, he earned a reputation as an unusual leader in stewardship motivation of local congregations.

The role of William H. Graves as a representative of Christian Methodism began early in his ministry.  He was elected President of the National Youth Conference, and represented the denomination in the World Council of Churches in India; and in the World Methodist Conference on several occasions London, England; Dublin, Ireland; and Honolulu, Hawaii.  For two General Conferences he served as the Chair of the Committee on Episcopacy of the CME Church.  Throughout his ministry he has been actively involved in the social and political issues of the community.

Bishop Graves presides over the First Episcopal District, with headquarters and residence in Memphis, TN.
At the 2006 General Conference, held in Memphis, TN, Bishop Graves was elevated to the position of Senior Bishop and CEO of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.

Bishop Graves is the Chair of the Department of Finance of the CME Church.  He also serves as a National Board Member of the NAACP and the Tennessee Valley Authority.  Bishop Graves is the Immediate Past President of the Board of Directors of the National Congress of Black Churches.   Bishop Graves is married to the former Donna Bentley.  He is the father of three adult children, Jacquelyn Graves Thomas, Ameera, and William II.