James Williams serves as Senior Pastor of the historic First Baptist Church of Philadelphia—a 325+ year ministry in the heart of the City of Brotherly Love.  Prior to accepting his call, Rev. Williams attended Palmer Theological Seminary where he earned his Master of Divinity degree, serving as a Presidential Scholar, a Sider Scholar, a Campolo Scholar, and as a Church Mutual Religion Scholar. Before seminary, James earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University, where he graduated with Highest Distinction. ​ 

Rev. Williams is passionate about his work with marginalized groups within society—particularly Philadelphia's unhoused, immigrant, and LGBT+ communities. He is a PhD candidate in Practical Theology and Homiletics at Eastern University, where he serves as the Kerygma Initiative Campolo Research Fellow. Through archival work with primary sources from the nascent Tony Campolo library, extensive interviews, ethnographic and phenomenological field work, and rhetorical analysis, Rev. William’s research interprets Campolo’s preaching within homiletical developments of the last century and raises insights and questions from Campolo’s preaching praxis that facilitate compelling preaching today. 

James also serves as a Chaplain and Special Assistant to Short-Term Mission at American Baptist International Ministries, is an At-Large Director on the Board of General Ministries for American Baptist Churches, USA, and enjoys his role as an adjunct professor. In his personal life, James loves reading, drumming, and spending time with his family, including his wife ("Michele"), dog ("Eleanor Rigby"), and many cats.