Biographical Sketch
Rev. William D. Watley, Ph. D. is the beloved Senior Pastor of the historic St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church in Newark, NJ. Under his leadership, St. James has grown spiritually, numerically, and financially. Membership has tripled, the number of weekly worship services has doubled, and the annual church income has increased by 700%.
Dr. Watley’s ministry is characterized by a multifaceted approach that aims to provide holistic care to those he serves. To this end, he established the St. James Social Services Corporation which oversees a daily feeding program and food pantry that dispenses over 89,000 meals annually, a clothes closet that distributes over 20,000 articles of clothing per year, an Intergenerational After School Care Program and Safe Haven Summer Peace Camp for children, as well as various emergency service, mentoring, literacy and employment training programs for adults. Dr. Watley is the chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Visions Academy Charter High School in Newark, NJ. In addition, Dr. Watley is the chairperson of the Board of Directors for the 220 unit St. James Towers.
Dr. Watley is an innovative worship leader who has made the Wednesday “Sweet Hour of Praise” Service world renowned for its dynamic worship and inspirational messages. This service has become a model for the other ministries across the nation. Now in its eighteenth year, the service has grown from a one worshipper to nearly eight hundred weekly. Most recently, Dr. Watley has launched his 1 church in 2 locations initiative by adding a contemporary, multi-cultural Sunday worship service which is held at the South Orange Performing Arts Center in South Orange, NJ. In addition, a “Dot.com” ministry was implemented to execute Dr. Watley’s vision for a global ministry. “Dot.com” has made weekly worship services, sermons, bible studies, and prayers easily accessible to the masses via the internet where viewers from over 45 countries regularly log on.
A preacher par excellence, Dr. Watley’s homiletical ability is both nationally and internationally recognized. He has the distinction of being the Conference Preacher for the Hampton University Minister’s Conference for two consecutive years as well as a Conference Lecturer. At the invitation of the Church of God in Christ, Inc., Dr. Watley preached to over 20,000 people at their annual International Holy Convocation. He was a lecturer for the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church’s Pastor’s Conference held at Philips School of Theology. Dr. Watley has preached at the Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas, as well as Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Men Are Builders Conference. Moreover, Dr. Watley has preached on the continents of Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and South America in addition to the island nations of Cuba, Barbados, Bermuda, and Trinidad.
A mentor and educator, Dr. Watley has served as a visiting professor at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary as well as a guest lecturer at Harvard University, Payne and Turner Theological Seminaries.
A prolific author, Dr. Watley has written and edited twenty-one books and has authored several booklets and articles throughout the past two decades. He is the founder and C.E.O. of New Seasons Press, the publishing division of William Watley Ministries.
Dr. Watley has served as both a member and officeholder for several prominent organizations over the last twenty years. An ecumenical leader, Dr. Watley served as the Associate General Secretary of the Council on Church Union (COCU), a member of the Missions Unit for the World Council of Churches (WCC), and a member of the Governing Board for the National Council of Churches (NCC). He served on the Board of Directors for Beth Israel and Horizon/Mercy Hospitals, the United Negro College Fund and the Fund for Theological Education. In addition, he was a member of the Advisory Boards for First Union Bank, the African American Pulpit, and the Interpreter’s Bible Commentaries.
Dr. Watley received his Bachelor of Arts in Theology from St. Louis University and a Master of Divinity from the Interdenominational Theological Center. He received a Master of Philosophy and his Doctor of Philosophy in Ethics from Columbia University. He holds a Doctor of Divinity from Payne Theological Seminary, and in addition, completed post-doctoral work at the Ecumenical Institute in Celigny, Switzerland and Harvard’s Institute for Education Management.
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