Rev. James Foster Reese, a native of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Knoxville College, a Master of Divinity from Pittsburgh-Xenia Seminary, and a Master of Education in Religious Education from the University of Pittsburgh. He was ordained in the Tennessee Presbytery of the United Presbyterian Church of North America. From that time on, he has faithfully and fervently performed the duties and functions that are important to the life of many communities of faith.
Rev. Reese was first called to be Pastor of Trinity United Presbyterian Church and Miller's Ferry Presbyterian Church in Wilcox County, Alabama. He was next called to serve as Pastor of First United Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. He took a study sabbatical from Knoxville to be a professor of Homiletics at St. Paul's Theological College in Limuru, Kenya then returned to the United States to be Christian Education Consultant for the Synod of Catawba in Charlotte, North Carolina. Following Catawba, he held three positions in the UPCUSA: Secretary for Continuing Education, Board of Christian Education; Coordinator for Professional Development, Vocations Agency; and Associate Director, General Assembly Mission Council. In the PC(USA), he was Director, Council on Administrative Services followed by Director of the Racial Ethnic Ministry Unit before retiring in 1993.
Failing retirement, Rev. Reese has continued his commitment to serve communities of faith. He has been Interim Director of Inclusiveness and Justice for the National Council of Churches, Minister for Specialized Interpretation for the Presbyterian Church (USA) Foundation and part of the Revitalization/Redevelopment Network of the Presbytery of Monmouth (NJ). He has served as Interim Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of New York City, The Presbytery of Detroit, and The Presbytery of Newark.
Rev. Reese also continues to work with many organizations and to serve on many boards. He is Chair of the Board of Trustees at Knoxville College. He is a member of the Association of Retired Ministers, Spouses and Survivors, the Synod Council of the Synod of the Northeast, and the Philadelphia Chapter of the National Black Presbyterian Caucus,. He is also a Peacemaking Visitor and a Life member of the NAACP. He is past Chair of the Peacemaking Advisory Committee and a former member of the board of directors of the Presbyterian Historical Society, and the Committee on Seminary Debt Retirement of the Board of Pensions.
As is appropriate for a person of his longevity and stature, Rev. Reese is the recipient of many honors and awards. He was Rural Minister of the Year in the state of Alabama in 1956. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Knoxville College in 1966 and a Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Specialized Ministry by Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 2003. He is recipient of the 1990 Edler G. Hawkins Award and the l993 Lucy Craft Laney Award from the National Black Presbyterian Caucus and the 2007 Maggie Kuhn Award from Presbyterian Senior Services.
Rev. Reese is known as an outstanding preacher and is invited to preach at churches across the country for special anniversaries and events. He has also had the honor of preaching on the Protestant Hour, a nationally broadcast radio program, in 1991, at Massanetta Springs in 1996 and 2010, and at the 2141h General Assembly in 2002 and the 228
th General Assembly in 2014.
Fondly known as Jim, Jimmy, Dad, and G-diddy, he is married to Neola P. Reese. They are the parents of Mildred R. McNeil! (married to Thomas C. McNeil!, Jr.), James L. Reese (married to Sona Ii A. Reese), and Foster E. Reese. He has six grandchildren, Ian Thomas, Shara Lareese, Jared McKay, and Kia Janeen McNeil! and James lshan and Ayanthi Neolanni Reese.
