Reverend Dr. Della Reese...Ordained Minister,American Actress,Singer,Game Show Panelist of the 1970s,One-Time Talk-Show Hostess

In 1987 Della Reese-Lett, world famous singer, actress and television personality, was ordained as a minister by the Universal Foundation for Better Living, an organization of twenty-two member churches and study groups worldwide, founded by The Reverend Doctor Johnnie Colemon.  Reverend Della, as she is lovingly called, founded Understanding Principles for Better Living Church (UP) in Los Angeles, California in order to provide others with the opportunity to know members of UP Church are able to share the wisdom, revelations, and inspirations of one of this country's great spiritual leaders.  Her lesson/sermons, based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, give all who are seeking practical ways to learn and apply the Principles that will allow them to have a better life. 

Singer and actress Della Reese, was born as as Delloreese Patricia Early in Detroit, Michigan, on July 6, 1931. Reverend Della's walk with God started when she was a child in Detroit, Michigan.  She began singing in church when she was six years old.  Through those formative years she was involved in gospel singing.  At the age of 13, she was hired by the Late Mahalia Jackson to tour and perform with her.  As Reverend Della recalls, "This opportunity to sing with the 'world's foremost gospel singer' was a thrilling experience." Later, while majoring in psychology at Wayne State University, in Detroit, Della formed her own female gospel group, "The Meditation Singers", which is listed in the "Who's Who of Gospel Music".

While her roots were still in gospel Music, Della developed an individual popular style that took her  to national prominence.  In 1953, she made the move to New York City, became a vocalist with the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra.  Her early recordings include:  "In The Still of The Night", "I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm", and "Time After Time". Della had her first major hit with "And That Reminds Me (of you)".  In 1959, Della enjoyed her biggest hit, a tune adapted from puccini's "La Boheme", entitled "Don't You Know?" and was nominated for a Grammy as best female vocalist.  This led to Della performing for the next nine years in Las Vegas on the famed "Strip".  In the thirty years that followed "Don't You Know?" Della Reese has continued her string recordings and was again nominated for a Grammy in 1987 as best female soloist in Gospel.

A generous amount of television exposure followed Della's first recording successes.  In the late '50's and early '60's, she appeared on many television shows that are now considered classics.  She was also the first female to host "The Tonight Show".  She was soon asked to host her own talk show, "Della", (making her the first Black woman to host her own show) which was syndicated nationally in 1969-70. 

Television, which became the major medium of the '70's and '80's, saw a lot of Della.  Later she was to star in her own series, "The Royal Family" with Redd Foxx.  Della's received an Emmy nomination for her work in the television movie "Nightmare in Badham County".

The most recent of her television pursuits is the CBS dramatic series, "Touched By An Angel" which is in it's seventh season, and where her two talents are combined as she also sings the theme song.  Della's television work was honored in 1994, as she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Despite the demands of filming a television series in Salt Lake City, Utah, Rev. Della continues to make the trip to Los Angeles weekly so that she can continue to teach, instruct and inspire.  Through her devotion, dedication and determination, what began with eight (8) people around her dining room table has grown into a Love and Spirit-filled ministry which now has a weekly attendance of close to 300.  Rev. Della's message of Practical Christianity has been an inspiration to so many and the church is growing so rapidly that plans for UP's new church home are underway.

Della Reese is more than an entertainer, more than an actress, more than a minister - Della is living proof that with God as your partner, you can dream larger dreams and watch them come true.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Della_Reese

http://www.upchurch.org/Founder.htm

http://www.biography.com/people/della-reese-9542106

Reverend Dr Cain Hope Felder...Minister,Educator,Historian,Theologian,Author

Cain Hope Felder is Professor of New Testament Language & Literature and Editor of The Journal of Religious Thought and Chair of the Academic Standing and Doctoral Programs committees at the Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC. His listing of accomplishments is equally remarkable. Some of his publications include the first African American New Testament Commentary True to Our Native Land (Augsburg Fortress, 2007); Troubling Biblical Waters: Race, Class, and Family (Orbis Books, 1989)-18th printing; Editor, Stony the Road We Trod: African American Biblical Interpretation (Fortress Press, 1991)-14th printing;The Seasons of Lent: Proclamation Commentary (Fortress Press, 1991); The Original African Heritage Study Bible (Winston Derek, 1993); "Commentary on the Epistle of James" in The International Bible Commentary (Liturgical Press, 1998); Consulting Editor and Contributor, African American Jubilee Bible (New York: American Bible Society) 1999; and Co-Editor Jubilee Legacy Bible (Nashville: Townsend Press, (2000); Introduction and Critical Notes on the Epistle of James in the New Oxford Annotated Bible (2001); Epistle to Philemon in the New Interpreter’s Bible, Vol. XI, 2001; and Race, Racism and the Biblical Narratives (Fortress Press, 2002). Felder taught at Princeton Theological Seminary and was the first national director of the United Methodist Black Caucus. He is also founder of the Biblical Institute for Social Change, Washington, D.C. – an organization dedicated to inform, inspire, affirm and transform the Christian community through scholarship and research. This organization serves as a catalyst for a renewed interest in Biblical Interpretation in diverse quarters: prisons, half way houses, local churches, and campus ministry settings.

From 1969 to 1972, Dr. Felder worked as the first National Director of the United Methodist Black Caucus which was headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Originally ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church, he served as Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in New York City (1975-1977). Currently, Rev. Felder now serves as an Elder in the Second Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church where he has been appointed by Bishop Adam Jefferson Richardson as the Resident Biblical Scholar for the District. He is an active member of Hemingway Memorial AME Church, located in District Heights, MD.

From 1998 to 2001, Dr. Felder served as Chair of the Implementation Panel for the National Center for African American Heritage & Culture at Howard University. He has been on Howard's faculty since 1981, having come to Washington from Princeton Theological Seminary where he taught as a member of the Department of Biblical Studies (1978-1981). His educational background is extensive: Ph.D., M. Phil., Columbia University in Biblical Languages and Literature; Diploma of Theology, Oxford University, England; Master of Divinity, Union Theological Seminary, New York; BA in Philosophy and Classics, Howard University, Washington, DC; and Diploma, Boston Latin School.

Maintaining dual residences in Washington, DC and his home haven in Mobile, Alabama that he shares with his bride, Dr. Jewell, affectionately called “Dr. J.”, Dr. Felder is the proud father of one daughter, Miss Akidah Felder, a graduate of Spellman College and current dual Masters student at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.

http://www.christianpost.com/news/interview-with-dr-cain-hope-felder-of-howard-university-7716/

http://www.divinity.howard.edu/2_faculty_felder.shtml