Bishop James Levert Davis is the newly appointed Presiding Prelate of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
He is a fifth-generation African Methodist Episcopal minister and the son of the late Mother Dorothy Lynch, the late Reverend Sam Davis, and Mother Alma Davis. Bishop Davis attended both the public and private schools of Alabama. He received the call to ministry at age 12. Upon high school graduation, he enrolled at Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, earning a Bachelor of Science degree and, subsequently, a Master of Divinity degree from the Turner Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia.
Bishop James L. Davis has preached and taught the good news of Jesus the Christ for over 45 years. After seeking the divine guidance of He who called him to higher service in Kingdom building, he campaigned for twenty-two months on his mantra— “I Showed Up for Work, and God Blew My Mind.” On July 3, 2004, in Indianapolis, Indiana, he showed up for an opportunity to serve and was elected and consecrated the 123rd Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church during its 47th Quadrennial General Conference.
He was appointed to the 19th Episcopal District, which encompasses the Republic of South Africa. While serving his first assignment, Bishop Davis’ vision of furthering the legacy of self-help and self-reliance led to many accomplishments while he lived on the continent for four years, from 2004 to 2008.
From 2008-2016, Bishop Davis served as the servant prelate of the 9th Episcopal District, comprising the entire state of Alabama. As the spiritual shepherd, in 2008 and 2014, he visited all 275 churches throughout the state of Alabama. Under his leadership, the 9th Episcopal District purchased and renovated the District Headquarters located in the Downtown area of Birmingham, AL. Twenty-five months later, the District celebrated the mortgage burning while still reporting $1.8 million in budget assessments and giving back to the local churches over $60,000 to assist in various areas of need.
Bishop Davis is the former Presiding Prelate of the 2nd Episcopal District (Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Western North Carolina, and Washington, D.C.).
Arelis Beevers Davis serves as our newly appointed Episcopal District Supervisor.
Mother Davis was born in Samana, Dominican Republic, to the late Mr. Federico Beevers and the late Mrs. Luz Francisca Beevers. She moved to the United States at an early age and was educated in the Belmar Public School System (New Jersey). She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morris Brown College in Atlanta, Georgia, and a Master of Education degree (Spanish Education concentration) from the University of Alabama in Birmingham. While fulfilling the requirements for her Master’s degree, she studied at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico.
Before becoming the 7th Episcopal District Supervisor, she was the 2nd, 9th and the 19th Episcopal District Supervisor (Republic of South Africa). Mother Davis initiated the “Hope and Healing” ministry for health and wellness support which involved, but was not limited to, breast cancer awareness and HIV/AIDS. Dutifully, she served as First Lady of Big Bethel AME Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
Mother Davis’ travels have included Hong Kong, Bermuda, Bahamas, England, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Brazil, Canada, and East, West and South Africa.
Mother Davis recently retired as an exemplary Spanish teacher from Frederick Douglas High School in Atlanta, Georgia. Among her numerous awards and honors are Who’s Who Among Black Americans and the National Hispanic Society. Her community memberships include the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Married to Bishop James L. Davis for over forty years, her dedication to God and Kingdom building exemplifies the essence of true partnership in ministry and marriage. Mother Davis considers one of her greatest gifts being a mother to her two daughters, Damarys Monique Burnett and Nicole Tatiana Pass, and her son-in-law, Christopher Burnett. The greatest joys of her life are her grandchildren Patrick James, Ashton James Pass, Baron Christopher Valentino Burnett, Noel Olivia Burnett and Violet Joy Cristina.
