Bishop W. James Thomas, II is the Senior Pastor of the historic Calvary Baptist Church in Dover, DE, where he has served since October 2017.
Bishop Thomas graduated cum laude from Crichton College (now Victory University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biblical Studies. In January and August 2006, he completed the pilot program intensive of the Graduate School of Theological Studies at Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, MA. He then matriculated to Memphis Theological Seminary, where he graduated magna cum laude with a Master of Divinity degree in June 2010. In 2014, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. In 2021, after concern for the mental health of the Church amidst COVID, he enrolled at the Institute of Psychological Studies at Divine Mercy University and, in 2023, earned a Master of Science in Psychology degree. In 2023, he also became a Board-Certified Mental Health Coach. In 2024, he completed 4 units of the ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education Chaplaincy program. He is currently completing the Associates degree program at Knoxville College, the first college he attended upon graduating high school.
In May 2008, he participated in a theological immersion to Oxford, Cambridge, and London, England, to study the life and writings of C.S. Lewis. In May 2010, he studied Celtic Spirituality
in the cities of Belfast, Portrush, Galway, and Derry in Ireland. In May 2016, he returned to Ireland to study Church History.
His concern for both the church and the community in his completion and roles as graduate from the Memphis Police Department Clergy Academy (2014), adjunct professor at the Memphis Center for Urban Theological Studies (Union University), Institution Evaluator for The Association of Biblical Higher Education; President, Calvary Bible College & Seminary; Board Member and Treasurer of the Academy of Dover Charter School; Board Member, Dover Interfaith Mission Housing; current President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Dover & Vicinity; Chaplain for the Dover Police Department and a Chaplain for Bayhealth
Hospital.
His love for the Church has given him the opportunity to serve in many national leadership capacities. In 2011, he was duly consecrated to the Sacred Office of Bishop and is currently a
member in good standing of the Joint College of Bishops. He also currently serves as the General Overseer of the Apostolic Covenant of Churches International, Inc., and often serves as
an episcopal consultant.
Bishop is a Grand Chapter Life Member and former chapter officer of Kappa Alpha PsiFraternity, Inc.
He is married to Elder Antonia R. Thomas, and they have one daughter, Joshlyn.