Bishop Kenneth W. Carter was elected the 55th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in the Thirty-Fifth Quadrennial Session and the Thirty-Sixth General Conference meeting in Memphis, Tennessee June 2006. He is currently the Presiding Prelate of the Eleventh Episcopal District.

Bishop Carter was born in Corinth, Mississippi on July 12, 1957 to Willie and Stella Carter. His tenacious pursuit of learning began in the public schools of Corinth, Mississippi. He earned the B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi; Master of Music Education from Delta State University; Master of Divinity from Howard University; and the Doctor of Divinity from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.

In 1973 Bishop Carter was licensed to preach at the City Road Temple C.M.E. Church in Corinth, Mississippi; ordained Deacon in 1976; and ordained Elder in 1978. He was admitted into Full connection in 1979. Dr. Carter’s first appointment as pastor was Jones Chapel C.M.E. Church in Iuka, Mississippi.

During his itinerant ministry, he served congregations in Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, DC and Texas. He also served as presiding elder in the Greenwood-Jackson and Columbus-Meridian Districts in Mississippi.

At the time of his election to the Episcopacy, Bishop Carter had served 10 years as pastor at the Carter Metropolitan C.M.E. Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

He is married to Rosia Hunter Carter, and they share two daughters–Jill Lynette and Stacy Marie.