The hand of God has been evident on the life of Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell since he was a young child. Born August 4, 1960, in Perry, Florida to the late Reverend Arthur L. Mitchell, Sr. and the late Mrs. Mary L. Mitchell, he is the ninth of their fifteen children.
Bishop Mitchell is a life-long member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, who was raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and is a product of Duval County Public Schools. While in high school, He answered the call to the ministry and preached his trial sermon at age 17, on August 28, 1977 at New Saint James AME Church. Determined to achieve God’s purpose for his life, Bishop Mitchell began his ministerial training and study under the African Methodist Episcopal Church and was ordained an Itinerant Deacon in 1979 and an Itinerant Elder in 1981. His first pastoral assignment came in 1985 at the A.M.E. Church of the Master (Jacksonville, FL). He also pastored Mount Zion (Arcadia, FL), Saint Luke (Tampa, FL), and Martin Memorial (Miami, FL).
As a pastor, Bishop Mitchell worked tirelessly at all of his charges to implement improvement projects to benefit the physical and economic growth of the churches. Under his leadership mortgages were liquidated, renovations enhanced aesthetic and functional capabilities, and real estate holdings increased. These physical enhancements were matched only by the spiritual enrichment of the membership and sparked a new attitude toward active Christian Stewardship and the up building of God's Church.
In September 1992, Bishop Mitchell was chosen to succeed Bishop Robert V. Webster (retired) as pastor of Saint Stephen A.M.E. Church in Jacksonville, Florida. He served the congregation and community faithfully for 24 years, building on the legacy of great pastors before him. Ministries were expanded, additional land purchased, and the church’s outreach broadened through the establishment of a Mission Outreach Center, the founding of a state-of-the-art Child Care & Learning Center, and the initiation of a business complex to house and encourage African American entrepreneurial endeavors. Bishop Mitchell left an indelible mark of compassion, innovation and service before being elected and consecrated the 134th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, at the 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference in Philadelphia, PA.
Bishop Mitchell is married to Supervisor Cordelia D. Mitchell and they have two daughters, Courtney and Channing. They are blessed to be assigned as the Episcopal Leaders of the 12th Episcopal District of the AME Church, comprising the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. They arrived in 2016 with the theme, “Lifting Christ, Loving the People and Leading the Church through Evangelism,” and strive daily to live by example of these words. Bishop Mitchell continued the legacy he began as a pastor, by building upon that which he found. He rendered direction to the leadership of the District to complete projects begun by his predecessors. The mortgage of the Episcopal Residence was liquidated, and construction of the 12th Episcopal District Headquarters (which also houses Jackson Theological Seminary) was completed within two years of his arrival.
An anointed man of God whose concern for the people is not only spiritual, Bishop Mitchell is actively involved in the social, economic, and educational needs of the community. He was appointed by Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas to serve on the Economic Recovery Task Force Committee. He serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Shorter College and Jackson Theological Seminary. He serves as the First Vice President of Turner Theological Seminary Board of Trustees and is a member of the Interdenominational Theological Center Board of Trustees. He is also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Bishop Mitchell graduated from Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio in 1982 and received a Master of Divinity Degree from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta, Georgia in 1986. He received a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological
Seminary in Dayton, Ohio in 2012.
A true servant leader, Bishop Mitchell possesses a heart for the parish and the people, a mind for productivity and progression of God’s plan, and the spirit to powerfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.
Supervisor Cordelia Daniel Mitchell is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and is the only child of Ms. Alice Rowe and the late Mr. John May. She is a long-time human resources executive in the Jacksonville market focused on the financial and healthcare industries, while specializing in leadership development, executive coaching and diversity and inclusion, to name a few. She is currently the Vice President and Director of Human Resources at EverBank. Cordelia graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Organizational Management. She holds a certificate in Leadership Development from the Harvard Kennedy School. She is active in many organizations, including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Bold City Chapter of The LINKS, Inc., the Society for Human Resource Management, Spelman College National Alumni Association, and the Mortgage Bankers Association. Cordelia loves utilizing her more than 25 years of business experience helping non-profits and small businesses with human resource management expertise and counsel. Cordelia has a passion for volunteerism and giving back to her community, especially with projects related to under-served and at-risk children. She serves as a mentor to high school students and volunteers her time teaching social etiquette, career planning, and college readiness to high school students.
As first lady of St. Stephen AME Church, Cordelia worked along side her husband and was a vital supporter of the ministries of the church. Through the Women’s Missionary Society and Women’s Ministry she could be found working with young people, promoting health and education, and ministering to incarcerated women. Cordelia and her husband, Bishop Michael Mitchell, have two daughters, Courtney and Channing. They love traveling and hope to one day have visited every continent. Cordelia is a political junkie and her dream job would be either a TV Political Analyst or Strategist. She is a closeted interior designer (HGTV junkie) and stylist (loves shopping).
The Presiding Elders of the Twelfth Episcopal District
OKLAHOMA STATE CONFERENCE
WESTERN DISTRICT
The Reverend Dr. Harvey G. Potts
P.O. Box 1775 | Oklahoma City, OK 73101
Phone: (405) 410-4850
Email: revhgpotts@aol.com
EASTERN DISTRICT
The Reverend Dr. Ruth Holmes
4704 NW 47 th Place | Lawton, OK 73505
Phone: (405) 706-3771
Email: holmesruth8@gmail.com
WEST ARKANSAS CONFERENCE
Camden-El Dorado District
The Reverend Dr. Kent J. Broughton
1221 Highway 425 South, #24 | Monticello, AR 71655
Phone: (870) 540-7656
Email: broham2000@yahoo.com
HOT SPRINGS-ARKADELPHIA DISTRICT
The Reverend Dr. James H. Giles, Sr.
P.O. Box 1152 | Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Phone: (870) 230-2869
Email: jameshgs54@suddenlink.net
EAST ARKANSAS CONFERENCE
MONTICELLO/WARREN DISTRICT
Rev. Dr. Angela Brewster
2505 Cathedral Heights
Texarkana, AR 71854
Phone: (870) 571-7722
Email: angelbrewster55@yahoo.com
PINE BLUFF/HELENA DISTRICT
The Reverend Dr. James R. Hooper - President
40 Rea Circle | Warren, AR 71971
Phone: (870) 226-5320
Email: hooper_james@att.net
CROSSETT DISRICT
The Reverend Dr. Harriel White
212 Michael Street | Hot Springs, AR 71913
Phone: (501) 318-7056
Email: harriel.white@yahoo.com
ARKANSAS CONFERENCE
NORTH LITTLE ROCK/FORT SMITH DISTRICT
The Rev. Dr. Tyrone A. Broomfield
766 Jamestown Circle
Jacksonville, AR
Phone: (870) 305-6520
Email: tbroomfield@phoenixyouth.com
LITTLE ROCK DISTRICT
The Rev. Dr. Truman Tolefree
2924 Shadow Creek Drive
Little Rock, AR 72212
Phone: 501-517-1284
LITTLE ROCK/JONESBORO DISTRICT
The Rev. Dr. Reginald Cleaver
PO Box 1036
Little Rock, AR 72203
Phone: (501) 416-7686
Email: reginaldcleaver@att.net