The Reverend Dr. R.J. Chandler Sr. is a native of Buffalo, NY, where he was installed as an Acolyte at the age of eight under the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Robert L. Graham at the St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Later, he answered the call of God into the Christian Ministry in 1997. There, he started his ministerial journey in the Western New York Annual Conference under the leadership of the Right Reverend George W.C. Walker Sr. He later transferred to the Philadelphia Baltimore Annual Conference under the Right Reverend Milton A. Williams in 1999. He served as the youth pastor at the John Wesley AME Zion Church (National Church of Zion Methodism) under the guidance of the senior pastor, The Rev. Dr. Vernon Shannon, from 1997 to 2005 in Washington, DC.

 

In 2005, he was appointed by the Right Reverend Warren Matthew Brown to the CH Foggie AME Zion Church in Bridgeville, DE. Upon his arrival, the church was on a one-year hiatus. He reorganized and renamed the church into the Liberating Power African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. The church grew from 0 to 50 disciples. Through his leadership, a new shingled roof and flashing were installed, chandeliers were installed in the sanctuary, track lighting in the pulpit, new sound equipment, new banquet tables, new front doors, and the basement was renovated and named “The Charles Herbert Foggie Fellowship Hall!” Dr. Chandler led the pastors and community on a “Black Lives Matter” rally in Bridgeville, DE where many notable public leaders gathered to speak against the injustice in the nation against black and brown persons.

 

In October 2016, God led Dr. Chandler to plant the Transformation AME Zion Church in Dover, DE. In May 2017, the Right Reverend W. Darin Moore (Presiding Prelate of the Philadelphia Baltimore Annual Conference of the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District) appointed Dr. Chandler to the historic Scott African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Wilmington, DE, as well as Transformation AME Zion Church in Dover, DE. In September 2018, the Transformation congregation relocated from its previous location at Delaware State University to its new home on 702 Maple Parkway, Dover, Delaware, which was purchased for $180,000.  During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Transformation and Scott churches experienced significant growth.  Partnering with the Delaware Department of Health, both locations became vaccine and food distribution sites, meeting the community's needs. Dr. Chandler and the Transformation congregation rallied the community to distribute 1,000 turkeys and non-perishable items in Dover, Delaware. Mayor Robin Christiansen (Dover), Governor John Carney, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, and many other notable public servants were regular supporters of the Transformation. Through community partnerships, the Transformation AME Zion Church initiated the “HealthNUT” virtual conference to address health disparities in Black and Brown communities.  Some of the guests included: Bishop W. Darin Moore, Bishop Brian R. Thompson, Bishop Anthony N. Witherspoon, Dr. Sandra Gadson, Mrs. Joy Williamson-Foster, and many others.  With the help of Darin Kent and the Star of Zion, the virtual conference was attended by 2,000 people worldwide.  Dr. Chandler led Scott to complete three of the four roofs, totaling $80,000, and to become registered with the National Register of Historic Places of the United States. 

 

On December 10, 2022, Bishop Moore appointed Dr. Chandler to the Freedom Temple African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.  Dr. Chandler led the congregation in a $225,000 lower-level renovation that included state-of-the-art classrooms, a conference room, new bathrooms, and a pastoral suite.

 

Dr. Chandler is the author of numerous publications, including "Planting on Purpose (Department of Church Growth & Development, 2024), 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting will make a difference (2024), God, Help Us (2017), The Little Book of Prayers (2015), and many articles for the Quarterly Review and Star of Zion (www.revrjchandler.com). He earned a Bachelor of Architecture & Planning and a Master of Divinity from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and a Doctor of Education from Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida.

 

He is a member of the noble bond of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and an Associate of the American Institute of Architects. Upon the appointment of the Governor of the State of Delaware, the Honorable John Carney, the Reverend Dr. R.J. Chandler Sr. was appointed to the Kent County Vocational-Technical Board of Education.  Dr. Chandler is the former Faculty Senate President and Lead Faculty of Architecture, Engineering, and Construction Management Technologies at Delaware Technical Community College in Dover, DE. He is happily married to the Reverend Shameka LaKiya Chandler and the father of Reginald Jermayne Jr., Riley Josiah, Reid Jeremiah and Raelyn Joy Chandler.