Marcellus Norris
Rev. Marcellus Alexander Norris was born in Newark, NJ to Bishop Richard F. and Mrs. Mary Ann Norris. Rev. Norris is married to Mrs. Anethia Theress Norris and have two sons, London Nicholas & Marcellus II
Rev. Norris accepted the call to preach in 1995 at St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, Philadelphia, PA. He preached his trial sermon and received the license to preach on in 1995. A third generation A.M.E. preacher, Marcellus graduated in May 2007, from Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg with a Master’s of Divinity Degree. In May 2021, Dr. Norris earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, OH.
Pastor Norris began his pastoral journey in January 1997 as the Supply Preacher at Bethel A.M.E. Church, McConnellsburg, PA. In May 1997, he was assigned as the Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, McConnellsburg, PA. At Bethel, Pastor Norris was able to increase membership and get the people to have an understanding of the A.M.E. Connection.
In December 1997, while attending Shippensburg University, Pastor Norris was assigned to St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church, Shippensburg, PA. Under his leadership, Pastor Norris was able to purchase the new church edifice at 38 Stewart Place which included a parking lot and parsonage. He also formed 3 choirs and increased the membership from 14 to 91.
In May 2001, Pastor Norris was assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, West Chester, PA. Under his leadership, he was able to increase membership and install Central Air Conditioning in the sanctuary. He was also able to increase the ministries of the church by forming the following: Women’s Choir, Youth Choir , Youth Usher Board, Women’s Fellowship Ministry, M.O.B. (Men of Bethel), and the Prison Ministry Outreach.
In November 2003, Pastor Norris was assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, Byrn Mawr, PA. Many accomplishments were achieved.
In June 2007, Pastor Norris was assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, Norwalk, CT. At Bethel, the Praise Team was reinstituted. New ministries were formed such as the Unlimited Praise Dance Ministry, the Men’s Mime Ministry, Trinity Step Team, and the Bethel Drill Team. A new sound system was installed and Bethel was able to purchase a 47 passenger bus. Pastor Norris led Bethel in the renovation of the parsonage at a cost of $50,000.
In June 2009, Pastor Norris was assigned to St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Cambridge, MA. Rev. Norris served for three years growing and invigorating several church ministries including the Young Adult Network, the Liturgical Arts and the Married Couples Ministries. Under his leadership, the church purchased a 25 passenger mini-bus, a four bedroom parsonage, upgraded and revitalized the computer laboratory and put into place Insource Services, a financial accounting service whose work results in stabilizing church finances and related systems. St. Paul also celebrated the 200th birthday of Bishop Richard Allen with a city-wide Block Party attended by St. Paul members and hundreds of Cambridge and Boston area residents. Coupled with Sunday afternoon radio broadcasts, the Block Party drew an increasing number of people into the St. Paul A.M.E. Worship Experience.
On January 22, 2012, Pastor Norris was assigned to St. Luke A.M.E. Church, New York, NY. Rev. Norris came in and hit the ground running with a Vision and a Ministry of Excellence for St. Luke. Pastor Norris introduced to St. Luke, the “E” Factor, which constitutes the Principles of Excellence. Under his leadership, he was able to stabilize the finances of the church by paying off one loan in two years. Since St. Luke loves to travel the world to worship and evangelize, Rev. Norris and the congregation purchased a new 25 passenger minibus and a new 15 passenger van. Under Rev. Norris’ leadership, St. Luke started an after school program in 2013 which served over 60 children. This program expanded in 2014 by teaching the Hispanic community English as a second language.
Rev. Norris has liquidated $1,000,000 in nine years as a testament of financial stewardship. The mortgage was burned on November 7, 2021. The administrative building has been updated with high tech security cameras and the phone system has been upgraded. Pastor Norris took St. Luke through a critical period when the roof of the church was in dire need of repair. The hairline fractures in the roof trusses made the church inhabitable. Pastor Norris led the church in a fight with the insurance company that lasted for over 2 years. Rev. Norris led the church into a season of prayer and St. Luke was awarded $638,000 for the repairs. The roof was repaired and the church marched back into the sanctuary on November 7, 2021.
On July 11, 2021, in Orlando, FL, at the 51st Session of the General Conference of the AME Church, Rev. Dr. Marcellus A. Norris was elected the Executive Director of Church Growth and Development of the AME Church.
Currently along with his Church Growth duties, Dr. Norris serves as the pastor of St. Luke AME Church, Nashville, TN. Under his leadership, St. Luke has installed a new sound system, as well as tv screens and cameras for media and worship presentation software. Dr. Norris also led St. Luke in renovating the narthex, the pastor’s office, and new handicap ramp handrails.
Dr. Norris served as the First Episcopal District Chairman of Christian Education for 10 years. Dr. Norris also served as the President of the New York Police Department 30th Precinct Clergy Council for seven years.
Pastor Norris is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Pastor Norris is a Master Mason and member of Xenia Lodge #50.
From 2009-2021, Dr. Norris has served on the AME Board of Examiners as a member and as an instructor, teaching AME Polity, urban Ministry and Evangelism & Church Growth classes.
From June 2014-2018, Pastor Norris was elected the Connectional Parliamentarian for the Richard Allen Young Adult Council.
Marcellus Norris
Rev. Marcellus Alexander Norris was born in Newark, NJ to Bishop Richard F. and Mrs. Mary Ann Norris. Rev. Norris is married to Mrs. Anethia Theress Norris and have two sons, London Nicholas & Marcellus II
Rev. Norris accepted the call to preach in 1995 at St. Matthew A.M.E. Church, Philadelphia, PA. He preached his trial sermon and received the license to preach on in 1995. A third generation A.M.E. preacher, Marcellus graduated in May 2007, from Lutheran Seminary at Gettysburg with a Master’s of Divinity Degree. In May 2021, Dr. Norris earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, OH.
Pastor Norris began his pastoral journey in January 1997 as the Supply Preacher at Bethel A.M.E. Church, McConnellsburg, PA. In May 1997, he was assigned as the Pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, McConnellsburg, PA. At Bethel, Pastor Norris was able to increase membership and get the people to have an understanding of the A.M.E. Connection.
In December 1997, while attending Shippensburg University, Pastor Norris was assigned to St. Peter’s A.M.E. Church, Shippensburg, PA. Under his leadership, Pastor Norris was able to purchase the new church edifice at 38 Stewart Place which included a parking lot and parsonage. He also formed 3 choirs and increased the membership from 14 to 91.
In May 2001, Pastor Norris was assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, West Chester, PA. Under his leadership, he was able to increase membership and install Central Air Conditioning in the sanctuary. He was also able to increase the ministries of the church by forming the following: Women’s Choir, Youth Choir , Youth Usher Board, Women’s Fellowship Ministry, M.O.B. (Men of Bethel), and the Prison Ministry Outreach.
In November 2003, Pastor Norris was assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, Byrn Mawr, PA. Many accomplishments were achieved.
In June 2007, Pastor Norris was assigned to Bethel A.M.E. Church, Norwalk, CT. At Bethel, the Praise Team was reinstituted. New ministries were formed such as the Unlimited Praise Dance Ministry, the Men’s Mime Ministry, Trinity Step Team, and the Bethel Drill Team. A new sound system was installed and Bethel was able to purchase a 47 passenger bus. Pastor Norris led Bethel in the renovation of the parsonage at a cost of $50,000.
In June 2009, Pastor Norris was assigned to St. Paul A.M.E. Church, Cambridge, MA. Rev. Norris served for three years growing and invigorating several church ministries including the Young Adult Network, the Liturgical Arts and the Married Couples Ministries. Under his leadership, the church purchased a 25 passenger mini-bus, a four bedroom parsonage, upgraded and revitalized the computer laboratory and put into place Insource Services, a financial accounting service whose work results in stabilizing church finances and related systems. St. Paul also celebrated the 200th birthday of Bishop Richard Allen with a city-wide Block Party attended by St. Paul members and hundreds of Cambridge and Boston area residents. Coupled with Sunday afternoon radio broadcasts, the Block Party drew an increasing number of people into the St. Paul A.M.E. Worship Experience.
On January 22, 2012, Pastor Norris was assigned to St. Luke A.M.E. Church, New York, NY. Rev. Norris came in and hit the ground running with a Vision and a Ministry of Excellence for St. Luke. Pastor Norris introduced to St. Luke, the “E” Factor, which constitutes the Principles of Excellence. Under his leadership, he was able to stabilize the finances of the church by paying off one loan in two years. Since St. Luke loves to travel the world to worship and evangelize, Rev. Norris and the congregation purchased a new 25 passenger minibus and a new 15 passenger van. Under Rev. Norris’ leadership, St. Luke started an after school program in 2013 which served over 60 children. This program expanded in 2014 by teaching the Hispanic community English as a second language.
Rev. Norris has liquidated $1,000,000 in nine years as a testament of financial stewardship. The mortgage was burned on November 7, 2021. The administrative building has been updated with high tech security cameras and the phone system has been upgraded. Pastor Norris took St. Luke through a critical period when the roof of the church was in dire need of repair. The hairline fractures in the roof trusses made the church inhabitable. Pastor Norris led the church in a fight with the insurance company that lasted for over 2 years. Rev. Norris led the church into a season of prayer and St. Luke was awarded $638,000 for the repairs. The roof was repaired and the church marched back into the sanctuary on November 7, 2021.
On July 11, 2021, in Orlando, FL, at the 51st Session of the General Conference of the AME Church, Rev. Dr. Marcellus A. Norris was elected the Executive Director of Church Growth and Development of the AME Church.
Currently along with his Church Growth duties, Dr. Norris serves as the pastor of St. Luke AME Church, Nashville, TN. Under his leadership, St. Luke has installed a new sound system, as well as tv screens and cameras for media and worship presentation software. Dr. Norris also led St. Luke in renovating the narthex, the pastor’s office, and new handicap ramp handrails.
Dr. Norris served as the First Episcopal District Chairman of Christian Education for 10 years. Dr. Norris also served as the President of the New York Police Department 30th Precinct Clergy Council for seven years.
Pastor Norris is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated. Pastor Norris is a Master Mason and member of Xenia Lodge #50.
From 2009-2021, Dr. Norris has served on the AME Board of Examiners as a member and as an instructor, teaching AME Polity, urban Ministry and Evangelism & Church Growth classes.
From June 2014-2018, Pastor Norris was elected the Connectional Parliamentarian for the Richard Allen Young Adult Council.