Dr. Eleazor Merriweather
Executive Director of the Department of Church Growth & Development
Reverend Dr. Eleazar Merriweather was born in Demopolis, Alabama. He is a graduate of John Essex High School, Demopolis, AL; Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (1981); a graduate of Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, TN where he received a Masters of Arts in New Testament Studies and Preaching Exposition (1997) and he received a Doctor of Divinity, Livingstone College, May 2011.
Reverend Dr. Merriweather served as Pastor of the Lomax Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Knoxville, TN (1990-2000), where he led the congregation in building a new Church, St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church, Grand Rapids, MI (2000-2009), and currently the St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Detroit, MI (2009-); there he led the congregation in paying-off major debt.
In addition to his pastorates, Reverend Merriweather served as Presiding Elder of the Western Michigan District for one year, and he currently serves as Presiding Elder of the Trinidad District, Trinidad & Tobago Conference.
On July 31, 2021, he was elected a General Officer as the Executive Director of Church Growth and Development of the A.M.E. Zion Church Connection. God has tremendously blessed the ministry, and thus all three Churches under his leadership has experienced rebirth, renewal, and restoration. Reverend Dr. Merriweather is a dynamic teacher, preacher, and leader.
Before receiving his call to pastor, Reverend Merriweather was employed at Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (1981-2001), Oak Ridge, TN. During his tenure there, he held positions of Systems Manager for the Emergency Power System, Site Energy Conservation Manager, Acting Division Training Manager, Group Leader, and Field Maintenance Engineer. Reverend Dr. Merriweather is married to the former Wanda Waiters, they have two daughters; Laquitta and Alesia, and three grandchildren.
Ms. Edna M. Littlejohn
Administrator
Mrs. Edna M. Littlejohn, started employment in the Bureau of Evangelism in May 1994, since then the Department has been renamed the Department of Church Growth and Development (General Conference 2016) of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church as the Administrative Assistant. She has been with the Department of Church Growth and Development for more than twenty-four years. Her job skills and responsibilities has proven to be invaluable to the department’s success. She is in touch with many persons throughout the denomination as God continues to use her ministry for the up-building of God's Kingdom. Her outstanding support and loyalty, management of the day-to-day office duties, connecting with the area staff, and general support to the Executive Director is a blessing to Zion Methodism.
Her responsibilities of managing workflow, balancing time between the Ministry of Evangelism (Church Growth and Development, the Ministry of Home Missions of the A.M.E. Zion Church, and daily office Administrative duties ensure that all deadlines are met and the work is correct and completed in a timely manner.
Bishop Darryl B. Starnes
Chairman
Bishop Starnes serves as the Chairman of the Department of Church Growth and Development. Bishop Starnes served as the Director of the Bureau of Evangelism the A.M.E. Zion Church from 1996 to 2008. Building on the awesome legacy of his predecessors, Dr. Starnes traveled across the country and oversea leading thousands to Christ, training thousands in Church growth, and Christian discipleship, and equipping God’s people in the ministry of evangelism. He was active in World Methodist Evangelism and in 2006 planted a church outside Charlotte, North Carolina. Dr. Starnes was elevated to the office of bishop in 2008.
Board of Church Growth & Development
Bishop Seth O. Lartey
1st Vice Chairman
Bishop Uduak U. Effiong
2nd Vice Chairman
Mr. Robert L. Benton
3rd Vice Chairman
Board Members
Piedmont District
Reverend Doctor J. Wardell Henderson
Mrs. Carolyn Quick
Western District
Reverend Jawad Love
Mrs. Sandra K. Black
Eastern North Carolina District
Rev. Brian R. Thompson, Sr.
Mr. Joe Cromartie
North Eastern District
Reverend Doctor Douglass L. Maven
Mrs. Dorethea Stevens
Mid-West District
Reverend Doctor Eric L. Leake
Mr. David A. Jenkins
Southwestern Delta District
Reverend Arthur Lee Gilliam
Mrs. Vicki L. Breaux
South Atlantic District
Reverend Frankie Smith
Mr. Robert L. Benton
Mid-Atlantic District
Reverend Scot Moore
Ms. Loretta Sutton
Alabama-Florida District
Reverend Doctor O’Neil Wiley
Ms. Denise Pedro
Central South Africa District
Reverend Doctor Haven O. Anderson
Mrs. Veronica Williams
Western West Africa District
Reverend Doctor Richard M. Gadzekpo
Doctor Yvonne Tracy
Eastern West Africa District
Reverend Doctor Godson N. Elijah
Mr. Iniobong F. Udoeyo