Biographical Snapshot

Bishop Charley Hames, Jr. was elected the 66th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church on June 29, 2022, notably winning on the first ballot. A dynamic leader and media personality, he currently serves as the Presiding Prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District, overseeing a vast region including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and California.

Current Roles & Leadership

• Presiding Prelate: Ninth Episcopal District, CME Church (assigned 2022).

• Board Leadership: Trustee for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and the Phillips School of Theology at the ITC.

• Civic Engagement: Life Member of the NAACP and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.; member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity.

• Media Presence: Known for fifteen years as the "Voice of Inspiration" on KBLX (102.9 FM) in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Ecclesiastical Career

• Pastoral Leadership: Served for 20 years as the Senior Pastor of Beebe Memorial Cathedral (BMC) in Oakland, California. Under his leadership, the church grew from 81 members to over 3,400, becoming one of the fastest-growing congregations in the CME Church.

• Honors: Twice named "Pastor of the Year" by his former Bishops and served as a congressional chaplain on Capitol Hill.

• National Advocacy: Invited to the White House in 2012 to discuss social justice issues with President Obama; subsequently featured on CNN as a community spokesperson.

Education & Academic Background

• B.A. in African-American Studies: Chicago State University.

• Master of Divinity: Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.

• Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism: Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

• Literary Contributions: Author of three books: Pressing Reset, Exchange, and Notes From The Doctor.

Historical Service & Contributions

• Community Leadership: Former President of the National Action Network (Oakland chapter) and past Chairman of the Oakland African-American Chamber of Commerce.

• Chaplaincy: Served as chaplain of 100 Black Men of the Bay Area, Inc.

• Spiritual Foundation: His ministry is guided by 1 Corinthians 15:58, emphasizing steadfastness and labor in the Lord.

Personal Life

Bishop Hames is married to Lady Michelle J. Gaskill-Hames, President for Kaiser Permanente Southern California and Hawaii. He is the father of three children—Charles Jonathon, Elijah Immanuel, and Jael Deon—and the grandfather of Maxton.

Bishop Charley Hames, Jr.

9440 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 301
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

323-294-3830

bishop@9thdistrictcme.org / info@9thdistrictcme.org