Reverend Dr. Benjamin N. Thomas Sr., was raised and educated in Kansas City, Missouri. Reverend Thomas entered into the United States Army in 1970 and was commissioned as an officer in 1980, serving as Chaplain in the Army Reserves until 1993. He has special training in clinical pastoral counseling, patient visitation, crisis intervention, and church administration. He is the current pastor of Historic Tanner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Phoenix, AZ, since 1991. Reverend Thomas is a dedicated family man, married to Beverly K. Thomas.
They have one child, Rev. Benjamin Jr., “Rev. BJ,” who is a graduate of Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA., and is currently serving as the pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church in Oxnard, CA. Rev. & Mrs. Thomas also have three grandchildren, Samara Jean, Benjamin Nathaniel III, and Bryson Jerome.
Education
Reverend Thomas earned his Associate’s degree in Psychology from Penn Valley Community College in Kansas City, MO., and his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology from Parks College, Parksville, MO.
Reverend Thomas began his theological studies at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, CA., in their DMIN program. He later transferred to Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky and completed three years of study through the Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership.
Reverend Thomas received an honorary Doctorate degree from Southern California School of Ministry in Los Angeles, CA.
Ministerial Experience
Prior to moving to Phoenix, Arizona in 1991, to become the pastor of Tanner Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Reverend Thomas served as the pastor of Price Chapel A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles, CA., Walker Chapel A.M.E. Church in Seattle, WA., and Handy Chapel A.M.E. Church in Joplin, MO. Currently, Reverend Thomas is serving as the Senior Minister and Pastor for Historic Tanner Chapel A.M.E. Church, Phoenix, AZ.
Church and Community Involvement
During his six (6) years pastoring at Price Chapel A.M.E. Church, Reverend Thomas was actively involved in the community serving on the Board of Directors for such organizations as Emergency Feeding Program, The Inner City Foundation of Excellence in Education, the NAACP (Reverend Thomas is a Life Member), and as the President of the Southern California Conference Ministerial Alliance.
In addition, since pastoring from 1991 to present, at Historic Tanner, Pastor Thomas has been dedicated to not only his church and church family, but to the community as well. This has afforded him the opportunity to serve his church and community at large.
Currently Pastor Thomas serves as:
- Dean of Instruction for the Desert | Mountain Conference Board of Examiners
- Treasurer for the Desert | Mountain Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church
- Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Board of Directors for Tanner Community Development
Corporation (TCDC). Pastor Thomas founded TCDC in 2000.
Dr. Thomas also serves on: - Mayor Kate Gallego’s Advisory Board for Phoenix, Arizona; Mayor Gallego’s African-American Task Force.
- Arizona Attorney General African-American Advisory Board
Dr. Thomas is a member of the following organizations: - NAACP Life Member
- Faith Opportunity Zone Faith Initiative (FOZ)
- Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
Dr. Thomas’ previous areas of service include:
- Arizona Department of Economic Security Board of Directors (4yrs)
- Central Arizona Shelter Service (CASS) Board of Directors (4yrs)
- Fifth District Economic Development Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (12yrs)
- General Board for the Connectional African Methodist Episcopal Church (12yrs)
- NAACP Executive Board (4yrs)
- National Advisory Board of Directors for Chase Bank (4yrs)
- Chair of the Arizona Commission on African-American Affairs for the State of Arizona
- Co-Chair of the African-American Christian Clergy Coalition
Dr. Thomas’ success as a pastor and community leader has been very rewarding personally and professionally. He has been the recipient of several awards. A few are listed below:
- 2016 Arizona Informant Newsmaker Award
- 2012 Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award
- 2007 Positive Images Sports Saving a Generation Award
- 2006 Martin Luther King Living the Dream Award
- 2005 | 2006 Pastor of the Year Award from the Desert | Mountain Conference of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church - J.W. Robinson Society United Black Firefighter Community Award and
- NAACP Millennium Pacesetters Award