meet the Pastor

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Rev. Kahlil G. James is a native of Harlem, New York. He is married to his best friend and partner Deborah Clark-James, and they have one son, Anthony Copeman.

Rev. Kahlil G. James is an ordained Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Kahlil has dedicated his life to the service of the Church and has a passion for seeing people reach their Kingdom potential.

Rev. Kahlil accepted the call to ministry at the age of 28, while attending the historic Million Man March on Washington, DC and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Business Management from Monroe College and a Masters of Divinity Degree from New York Theological Seminary. 

His commitment to LOVE is directly attributable to his capabilities, not only as an anointed preacher of the gospel but also as an effective teacher in practical instruction. With a gift for connecting with the unchurched, Rev. Kahlil's work takes him beyond the walls of the Church into the community.

In November of 2008, Bishop Richard F. Norris appointed Rev. Kahlil to Allen A.M.E Church in Newark, New Jersey, where he passionately served for three years. During his tenure as Pastor, he made tremendous personal and financial sacrifices to bring Allen out of foreclosure, thus bringing financially accountable to the Church. Under his leadership, the Church was also able to install new restrooms and implement the Children's Choir.

In June of 2011, Bishop Richard F. Norris appointed Rev. Kahlil to New Bethel A.M.E Church (of Germantown) in Philadelphia, PA, where he served for three years. Under his leadership, the Church purchased a parsonage and implemented several ministries and programs, including a Food Pantry, a Prison Reentry Program, an HIV/AIDS Ministry, and a Praise Dance Ministry.

On June 14, 2014, at the First Episcopal District Annual Planning Meeting of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Rev. Kahlil G. James as Pastor of Allen Chapel A.M.E Church Hartford, CT, where he served for five years. Under his leadership, the Church received a Worship Renewal Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship which led to a revitalization of the Music and Liturgical Dance Ministries and installation of monitors in the sanctuary. Also during Rev. James' time with Allen Chapel, the trustees were able to expand the parking, repoint bricks, paint the interior and exterior of the Church, and erected a new sign. 

Under his leadership, Allen grew spiritually, physically, and emotionally as each member embraced the positive affirmation statement crafted by Rev. James, "I am the manifestation of God's Omnipotent Power. I have been empowered to connect with God, discover my purpose, and to make a difference in the world by empowering others. The beauty of empowering others is that my own strength is not diminished in the process but greatly strengthened.  Love God, Love Yourself, and Love Your Neighbor." 

The members of Allen Chapel embodied this Mantra as they walked the community—building relationships, organizing people, and appropriating assets by distributing homemade soup, brown bag lunches, toiletries, and hats and scarves made by the Knit & Crochet Ministry also birthed under his leadership. On June 15, 2019, at the First Episcopal District Annual Planning Meeting, Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram appointed Rev. Kahlil G. James as Pastor of Mt Zion A.M.E. Church in Harlem, NY.