REVEREND WILLIE F. DOCKERY, JR.

Presiding Elder, Chicago District

 

Reverend Dockery is the Presiding Elder of the Chicago District of the Southeast, Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin Region and Pastor of Bethel C. M. E. Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

His personal motto and theme for ministry is “Our best for His Glory “.

​

He was born in Laurinburg, North Carolina to Mr. Willie F. Dockery, Sr. and Mrs. Fannie L. Dockery, (both deceased).

​

He is married to Reverend Annie B. Dockery and they are the proud parents of Minister Chanda L. Dockery, Mrs. Alicia R. Thomas-Dockery and Jasmine J. Dockery.  They are the proud grandparents of one grandson, Christian Xavier Dockery.

​

Reverend Dockery graduated from the Scotland County public school system in North Carolina.  He continued his education and personal development while attending Central Piedmont College, Milwaukee Theological Institute, and Marquette University. 

​

During his 30 years of ministry; Rev Dockery has serve as pastor of Christ Temple C. M.E. Church, St. John Concordia C.M.E. Church, and Bethel C.M.E. Church.

​

He brings to the ministry and eldership 26 years of managerial experience and has held several key management positions at the executive staff level during his employment at J.C. Penney‘s.

​

Reverend Dockery has served as a member of The Community Transformation Project at Marquette University of Milwaukee Wisconsin, and the Ministerial Alliance for Black Methodist Churches United.

​

He was assigned to Bethel C.M.E. Church in May of 2002 and in 2003 he took an early retirement from his secular job at J.C. Penney’s to enter into ministry fulltime.

​

Under his leadership the Bethel C.M.E. Church has instituted several effective outreach ministries, which include tutoring, community health fairs, food pantry, healthy living and lifestyle ministry, Men of Valor MTM fellowship, Ministry in Motion Liturgical Dance, Children’s Church, Visions of Virtue for young girls, Women fellowship, and monthly offsite Sunday School at Starbucks.

​

Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart Sr. appointed Reverend Dockery to serve as Presiding Elder of the Milwaukee District in 2004, where he was overseer of 17 churches in 3 states, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota.  The Lord has blessed him to have 13 sons and daughters in ministry, with 12 of them still serving in the C.M.E. Church.  

​

In 2022, Bishop Sylvester Williams, Sr. appointed Reverend Dockery to serve as Presiding Elder of the Chicago District.