Outstanding Leadership in Queens
2015 Honoree of the Queens Federation of Churches

The Reverend Darryl F. James

Darryl Farrar James graduated from Howard University in 1976 receiving a bachelor of arts degree and entered the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA to begin his studies in ministry. Father James Matriculated at Yale Divinity School where he received his Master of Divinity Degree 1979. He was ordained Deacon June 29,1984, at St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s in Detroit Michigan under the tutelage of then rector, Orris G. Walker, Jr., now retired Bishop of Long Island.

In 1985, Father James was ordained to the priesthood in Detroit, Michigan by the Right Reverend John M. Burgess, the first African-American diocesan bishop in the United States. He was called to Messiah-St. Bartholomew in Chicago in October 1985 where he was instituted as Rector and served with distinction for more than 20 years.

In 2007, the Rt. Rev. Orris G. Walker, Jr, of the Long Island Diocese assigned Father James to serve as Priest-in-Charge at Grace Episcopal Church. He served in that capacity until 2010 when the Vestry of the church voted to call him as their Rector, with the expressed permission of the Rt. Rev. Lawrence Provenzano.

Both his involvement in public service and commitment to social ministry are endless. He was a distinguished member of the Chicago Board of Education (1990-1995), Vice-President for Membership for the Howard University Alumni Association and former National President of the Union of Black Episcopalians (1996-1998).

Father James is a board member of the Queens Federation of Churches which he now serves as president, Jamaica YWCA board of managers, a member of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Board of Managers for the Episcopal Health Services-Diocese of Long Island, and the Rufus King Museum Board of Directors.

Father James has traveled extensively throughout the world, and on February 2nd, he is traveling with 28 church members and friends to South Africa, visiting some of the churches and community where he served while on sabbatical in 1992 and 2005.