J. Delano Ellis

Who is J. Delano Ellis?

J. Delano Ellis, II, an African American prelate, is a leader in African-American Pentecostalism in the United States and is the founding President/Chairman and Archbishop Metropolitan of the Joint College of African-American Pentecostal Bishops.

He is senior pastor of the Pentecostal Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, a ministry to which he was called on May 14th 1989. His wife, Dr Sabrine Ellis, currently serves as co-pastor with him.

Bishop Ellis is also the founder and former presiding prelate of the United Pentecostal Churches of Christ and presiding prelate of Pentecostal Churches of Christ.

Bishop Ellis is widely known as a progenitor of unity among African-American Pentecostals. He has worked to introduce order, identity, and an appreciation of Christian history among Pentecostal churches. As a promoter of ecumenism, Bishop Ellis has put the Pentecostal movement, as it is manifested among African Americans, in conversation with the broader Christian community around the world.

J. Delano Ellis began as a clergyman in the Church of God in Christ before being asked to lead a local congregation outside of that denomination.