Dr. Natalie P. Alford is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church who has had an impressive career in ministry, education, and community leadership. She holds advanced degrees from prestigious universities and has served as the senior pastor of multiple churches. Currently, she serves as the Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia District of the AME Church and is involved in numerous organizations focused on empowerment, social justice, and interfaith cooperation. Throughout her career, Dr. Alford has distinguished herself as a visionary leader committed to enhancing communities and empowering others.

1. The Reverend Dr. Natalie P. Alford, M.Div., Ed.D.
Dr. Natalie P. Alford a native of Newark, New Jersey and was raised in a family that had its roots in the African
Methodist Episcopal Church (AME Church). In 1988, she acknowledged her call and was licensed into Christian Ministry
in the AME Church. In 1991, she was ordained as an Itinerant Deacon, and in 1992 as an Itinerant Elder. During her
tenure as Senior Pastor-Teacher, she served five churches across the First Episcopal District. On 18 June 2018, she was
appointed as the Presiding Elder of the Philadelphia, PA District, “The Historic Philadelphia Mother District” (THPMD)
of the Philadelphia Annual Conference, of the AME Church. “THPMD” is comprised of sixteen churches, seventeen
pastors, and over 2,500 disciples. She served as the Assistant to the Executive Director, Genral Chair and Voting
Delegrate, during pre-planning and during the African Methodist Episcopal Church’s 2016 Bi-Centanniel.
Widely recognized as an anointed teacher-preacher, her commitment to the enhancement of God’s kingdom on earth has
manifested itself in her loyal attention to the daily activities and services of the congregation, as well as the pervasive
impact of the church on community development initiatives, including education, youth empowerment, cultural
awareness, and ecumenical outreach.
Dr. Alford earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Management Sciences from Rutgers University in Newark, NJ, a
Master of Divinity Degree in Ethics and Pastoral Counseling from Harvard University, The Divinity School in
Cambridge, MA. Thesis: “Pastoral Care: The Least, the Lost and the Lonely.” She earned a Doctor of Education in
Counseling and Human Development from the University of Rochester, School of Education in Rochester, NY.
Dissertation: “Bearing Witness: Inner-city Youth Exposed to Chronic Community Violence.” Dr. Alford delivered the
Commencement Address for her school.
Dr. Alford's professional journey is impressive. In corporate and non-profit arenas, she has held senior level management
positions. She is an Adjunct Professor and Pastor-Mentor at Palmer Theological Seminary in King of Prussia, PA; has
served as a member of the AMEC Board of Examiners; and is a Certified Ministry Advantage Life Coach.
Dr. Alford embraces a transformative ministry model, uplifts the ethical standards of the human community and
empowers people to embrace their plan and purpose given them by God. She has a proven record of being a strategic
planner, team builder, curriculum, program and leadership developer. Her bold and visionary leadership has been further
demonstrated through her public policy work as a founding member and Co-Chair, Buffalo Affiliate of National Black
Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc.; a charter member of the Delaware Middletown Odessa Townsend NAACP
Branch, and the Religious Affairs Committee Chair. She served on the Active Advisory Board Member for the
Middletown, DE Police Department, and a Committee Board member for the Appoquinimink School District
(Middletown, DE) engaged in the “Ensure Success for All” strategies. She was a committee member for “The Bench by
the Road-Commemorating Underground Railroad” stories in Middletown, DE which was commemorated by the Delaware
Historic Society on the grounds of the Middletown, DE High School. She is a Financial, Active and Lifetime Member of
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a public service Sorority, a 2014 Charter Member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Inc. Middletown (DE) Alumnae Chapter, and served as the chapter’s first Chaplain. Over a span of 18 years, and five
Regional Director leadership teams, she has served as the Eastern Regional Chaplain, a branch of the National
organization for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 2018 she was appointed to the office of Chair, Chaplain’s Circle,
Eastern Regional Chaplain for the 2018-2020 biennium.
She is known for her unique way in which she takes the biblical text and contemporary culture and marries the two. She
continues to preach in distinguished pulpits throughout the United States, South Africa, and in Bermuda. She is the
Founder & President of Natalie P. Alford Ministries, Inc. a 501c3 organization which focuses on personal development
“Enrich2Empower”; Founder of Sister-2-Sister Ministry, a ministry for and by women; ɅLFORD ɅFFIRMɅTIONS:
Ministries for Hope and Healing, and a Founding Co-Convener for High-Heels Seeking Higher Ground Ministry.
The Aquinas Institute of Rochester, New York renamed the St. Monica Club, a cultural diversity club, in her honor. It is
now known as The Natalie Alford Diversity Society. Dr. Alford is listed in the African American Who’s Who: African
American Past and Present, Greater Rochester Area, the New Millennium Edition. She is included in Volume 2 of
Uncrowned Queens: African American Women Community Builders in Western New York. Dr. Alford’s governing
scripture that grounds the ministry God has called her into is 1 Corinthians 9:16 (CEB), 16 “
If I preach the gospel, I have
no reason to brag, since I’m obligated to do it. I’m in trouble if I don’t preach the gospel.”