The Rev. John Morris was educated in the Memphis City School system. He currently holds an Associates degree in Bio-Medical Engineering Technologies from State Technical Institute at Memphis and a Master of Divinity (cum laude) degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. He soon plans to begin work in pursuit of a Doctor of Ministry or Ph.D. degree in Systematic Theology. Rev. Morris has won approval to conduct a research project for the Louisville Institute entitled "Calling, Collaboration, and Crisis: How Couples in Ministry Handle the Stresses of Married Life and Life in the Ministry."

He is married to Marcella since April 2000. They have a son, John Morris, III (J.C.) who is currently a senior at the University of Texas at Arlington, a daughter, Marlene, son-in-law, David Bailey, and two granddaughters, Jolicia and Dalyn.

Rev. Morris relocated to the Dallas area in October 2000 from Memphis, TN. after serving as a pastor for seven years on the Batesville District of the West Tennessee - Mississippi Conference. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church in the Oak Cliff community of Dallas, TX and Presiding Elder of the Dallas - Fort Worth District of the Texas Annual Conference of the A.M.E. Zion Church. The district he serves is comprised of churches in West Dallas, Oak Cliff, and Fort Worth, Texas.

In the Texas Annual Conference Rev. Morris serves as chair of the Conference Board of Examiners, chair of the Conference Budget and Finance Committee, and a member of the Texas Conference trustees. He also represented the Texas Conference as a delegate to the 47th Session of the A.M.E. Zion Church's General Conference in July 2004 and served as a delegate for the Western West Africa Episcopal District at the 48th Session of the General Conference in 2008. Presiding Elder Morris is also a member of the Presiding Elders Council of the A.M.E. Zion Church where he currently serves as chair of the nominating committee.

Rev. Morris is very active in the ministry in church and community. Along with his many duties in Zion, he is also a member of the African-American Pastors Coalition of Dallas where he is Vice-President for Educational Development. Among his other community based work he is chair of the Community Stakeholders Committee for the Teacher Education Department at Paul Quinn College, and a mentor for Big Brothers - Big Sisters of North Texas. He is also the founder and president of Promises of God Ministries, Inc., a non-profit social service organization serving at-risk youth and underprivileged families in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex.

In 2004, Rev. Morris had one of his sermons published in a book entitled Solutions: Sermonic Answers to Life's Situations, a compilation of sermons by prominent ministers in the Dallas area.

Rev. Morris loves the Lord, loves working in the Christian ministry, especially sharing the Gospel, and he loves people. He especially has a high degree of love and concern for the young people of our community and looks for any opportunity to minister and to serve them. He strives to live by his credo; "I am blessed in order to be a blessing."