Rev. Dr. James F. Miller
- Morris Brown College, Class of 1975
- John Marshall Law School, Chicago 75-76
- National Bank of Detroit, Bank Branch Manager 76 – 79
- Continental Bank, Chicago, Private Client Banker, 79-82
- McCormick Theological Seminary, MDiv (1986), DMin (1992)
- First African-American to get a million dollar loan in DuPage County
- Payne Theological Seminary Satellite Program Coordinator. Graduated 17 ministers from a three-year, weekly course of study. Cap and Gown ceremony was held at Woodlawn AME Chicago, with President Louis Harvey and Bishop J. Haskell Mayo speaking.
- Under Dr. Miller’s pastorate, DuPage went from 175th in the Fourth District to the 1st church in tithes and offerings.
- Delegate to General Conference, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016
- Alternate Delegate, 1996
- Member of AME General Board, 2004-2008
- Member of The Episcopal Committee, 2008, 2012, 2016
- Chaplain of The Episcopal Committee, 2012, 2016
- Elected General Officer, AME Department of Retirement Services, 2021
- Retired General Officer, General Conference 2024
- Presiding Elder – Milwaukee District 2024
“It’s faithraising, not fundraising!” – Dr. Miller
Dr. James F. Miller
Presiding Elder, Milwaukee District
Chicago Conference, Fourth Episcopal District
Prior to his election in July 2021 as the 8th Director of Retirement Services for the AME Church, Dr. Miller faithfully served as a pastor for over 35 years in the Chicago Conference of the Fourth Episcopal District. His last pastorate was DuPage AME Church in Lisle, Illinois where he served faithfully for 32 years. Since October 1989 he led that congregation in increasing membership from 150 to nearly 2000 and in building a $7 million worship facility. Several capital and stewardship campaigns undergirded the financial challenge. Dr. Miller is the proud author of, Go Build A Church: Spiritual Administration for Growth, the accompanying workbook, 40 Days to Spiritual & Statistical Growth, Go Grow Your Church: Spiritual Leadership for African American Congregations, and his latest book, INCREASE: A Path To Abundance for the Local Church. Under the umbrella of JFM Ministries, Dr. Miller shares his knowledge of stewardship and church growth with other congregations across Christendom.
Dr. Miller is a proud alum of Morris Brown College (BS, Psychology) and McCormick Theological Seminary (MDiv & DMin).
At the 2024 General Conference, Dr. Miller retired as a General Officer of the AME Church and in November 2024, Bishop Frederick Wright appointed Dr. Miller, the Presiding Elder of the Mighty Milwaukee District. This affords Elder Miller the opportunity to serve in his final days of ministry back where it all started – in his home Chicago Conference.
Dr. Miller is married to Rev. Lana Parks Miller and together they have four adult children and three granddaughters. To God Be the Glory!