Pastor Keith Tillett

While in seminary, Dr. Tillett served in the Western North Carolina Annual Conference.  He pastored the Rhynes Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church in Bessemer City, North Carolina, and Zion Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, in Troutman, North Carolina.  At both churches, he sought to leave them better than he found them.   The church finances increased, and physical improvements were made to both charges.  In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, Dr. Tillett served as the director of admissions for Hood Theological Seminary.

Dr. Tillett served in the New Jersey Annual Conference (Camden District) for 21 years as the pastor of the St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church in Ewing, New Jersey. One of the most difficult experiences of Dr. Tillett’s ministry was in August of 2008 when St. Paul’s ceiling collapsed, and the sanctuary was declared unusable. The challenge was to keep the flock together during its season of transition and uncertainty.  In the midst of this season, the membership remained committed to kingdom building.  And in 2010, God opened an opportunity of hope for the purchase of a million-dollar facility on 3.5 acres of land in Ewing, New Jersey. This included a major renovation and building project, the purchase of a house and nearly two acres of land adjacent to the church property.  On the conference level, Dr. Tillett served as the Chair of the Finance and Nominating Committees, was a member of the Admissions and Program Committees, and was a Conference Trustee.  On the Camden District, Dr. Tillett served as a member of the Finance/Budget and Admissions Committees, and the Dean of the District School. 

The recipient of numerous awards, Dr. Tillett’s accomplishments have been recognized by the New Jersey NAACP, the New Jersey African American Chamber of Commerce and Urban League, just to name a few.