James R. Wright Sr. Phd
Bishop James R. Wright, Sr. was born in Fayette, Alabama. He grew up at the First Baptist Church in Fayette, Alabama. At the age of eleven, he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal savior, and was subsequently filled with the Holy Ghost at Victory Temple Church of God in Christ in Fayette, Alabama.
He received his formative education at Fayette County Training School in Fayette, Alabama. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, 1962; a Master of Arts Degree in Library and Informational Science from the State University of New York, Geneseo, New York, 1970; and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree from the Union Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio, 1977.
He received his call into the gospel ministry in 1979 and in October 1981 he became Founder and Pastor of Progressive Church of God in Christ in Rochester, New York. In April 2004, he was appointed and consecrated as Jurisdictional Prelate of New York Western First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Church of God in Christ, Inc. with over eighty-five (85) churches under his charge. In July 2006, the Lord blessed Bishop Wright & local congregation to purchase a new edifice with a seating capacity of 1,500, and the church became “New Progressive Cathedral Church of God in Christ” where it also serves as the Jurisdictional Headquarters for New York Western First Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction.
Bishop Wright has former experience in Library Management. He was employed with the Rochester Public Library System in Rochester, New York, where he served as Director of the Phyllis Wheatley Library (1969 to 1987); he was previously employed as an Assistant Librarian at the Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, Alabama, 1968 to 1969, and the Gary Public Library System as Branch Librarian in Gary, Indiana, 1966 to 1968; Teacher/Librarian at St. Jude Educational Institute, Montgomery, Alabama, 1962 to 1966. He is also a former educator, lecturer and writer. He has published numerous publications as an educator.
Bishop Wright has been married to his lovely wife Maritha for 18 years. He has three adult children; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Remarkable Rochesterian Interview:
