The Rev. Dr. Kenneth Monroe began his life and ministry in the small town of Red Springs, NC. He received his elementary and secondary education from the public schools of Red Springs. He was baptized and became a member of the St. James African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church of Red Springs and was later called to preach at the age of seventeen. Desiring to continue his education, he was encouraged and led to attend Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC. He received both the deacon and elders ordination by Bishop W. A. Hilliard in 1972 and 1974 respectively. Upon the completion of his undergraduate studies at Livingstone College and receiving the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Studies, he entered Duke University Divinity School, Durham, NC. In December 1976, he graduated from Duke University Divinity School with a Masters of Divinity Degree. In October 2003, he received the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Hartford Seminary, Hartford, CT.
His pastoral experience include the Taylor’s Chapel and St. Mary A. M. E. Zion Churches, Kittrell, NC; Union Oak A. M. E. Zion Church, Hope Mills, NC; Trinity A. M. E. Zion Church, Southern Pines, NC; Metropolitan A. M. E. Zion Church, Kansas City, MO; and the Metropolitan A. M. E. Zion Church, Hartford, CT. He has served as the Presiding Elder of the Kansas City District, which includes congregations in Kansas City, MO; Kansas City, KS; Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE. From 2001-2004 he served as Presiding Elder of the Nassau District of the Bahamas Island Annual Conference.
In July 2004, he was elected the 95th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. He was assigned the Western West Africa Episcopal District which included the countries of Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Cote D’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). In December 2005, he was given the responsibility to supervise the Kentucky and Missouri Annual Conferences.
In October 2006, he completed the construction of the Janie Speaks Hospital, Afrancho, Ghana. From 2008 -2016 he served as the Presiding Bishop of the South Atlantic Episcopal District – A. M. E. Zion Church (Pee Dee, Palmetto, South Carolina and Georgia Annual Conferences);
In December 2012 he was assigned the Central North Carolina and Virgin Islands Annual Conferences. He currently serves as the Presiding Bishop of the Eastern North Carolina Episcopal District inclusive of the Albemarle, Cape Fear, Central North Carolina, North Carolina, Virgin Islands Annual Conferences.
He serves as the Secretary – Board of Bishops – A. M. E. Zion Church; Chair of the Board of Trustees @ Hood Theological Seminary, Salisbury, NC; Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Livingstone College, Salisbury, NC; Chair of the Board of Global Missions and Chair of the Connectional Presiding Elder’s Council – A. M. E. Zion Church. He serves as a member of the Pan-Methodist Commission and a member of the World Methodist Council. He is also a Life Member of the NAACP.
He is the third son of the late Paul and Hazel Monroe of Red Springs, NC. He has been married to the former Sheila Wells since May 24, 1975. They are the parents of three children, Erica Green (Michael) of Kansas City, MO; Kevin (Lachelle) of Kansas City, KS and Adria of Charlotte, NC, eight grandchildren; Destiny, Devin, Armond, Jayden, London, Kamryn, Emaiya and Myauni). He strives to live by the theme he has embraced as a means of inspiration and motivation for the past thirty years, “Making the Impossible Possible with God”