On the southeast side of Greensboro, near the intersection of Florida and Bennett Streets, Saint James Presbyterian Church has stood at 820 Ross Avenue since 1959, though its ministry in the city stretches back far longer. Founded in 1867 by twenty to thirty people who had only recently left enslavement, Saint James was built to be more than a place of Sunday worship. It was a school, a civic anchor, and a refuge - and 158 years later, that triple purpose still shapes everything the church does.
Today Saint James is a Christ-centered, inclusive, intergenerational congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), known across the Triad for worship that blends gospel, spirituals, dance, and powerful preaching with ministries that reach far beyond the sanctuary walls. From its Blessing Box food ministry on Ross Avenue to a Mental Health Ministry that pairs faith with licensed counseling, the congregation has positioned itself at the intersection of spiritual life and community transformation.
Worship on Sunday Morning
Sunday at Saint James begins long before the 10 AM service. The John Erwin Sunday School Class gathers at 8:45 AM for an hour of adult faith formation led by lay teachers, and two children and youth classrooms - one for Pre-K through elementary students and another for middle and high schoolers - open during the same hour. By 10 AM, the sanctuary is full.
Worship at Saint James is joyful, thoughtful, and alive with the Spirit. The Inspirational Ensemble - vocalists backed by a band with keyboard, drums, and bass - leads music that moves across genres, including traditional hymns, anthems, spirituals, gospel, and contemporary praise songs. Preaching draws from scripture and speaks directly to everyday life, and the service weaves in liturgical dance, mime, multimedia, and youth-led moments so that no two Sundays look exactly alike.
Communion is celebrated on first Sundays. There is no dress code: jeans and suits appear side by side, and visitors are welcomed but never put on the spot. A small welcome bag is offered to first-time guests, and an offering is received during worship - though the church is clear that presence is the greater gift.
For those who cannot attend in person, the entire 10 AM service is livestreamed each Sunday on Facebook and YouTube, and past services remain available to revisit at any time.
Creative and Liturgical Arts
Saint James treats worship as a creative act, not a passive one. The Creative and Liturgical Arts ministry organizes music, movement, mime, and multimedia into an intergenerational offering that the church describes as shaped with "energy, imagination, and love."
Three movement ministries give visual and emotional depth to worship throughout the year. Worshippers of Praise (WoP) is an intergenerational liturgical dance group that rehearses on Thursday evenings. Praise Warriors is a young men's mime ministry. Adult Dancers of Religious Expression (ADORE) is an older adult women's dance ensemble that continues to perform alongside the younger groups.
The Handbell Choir meets weekly on Tuesdays and contributes its sound on special Sundays. Audio-visual elements and seasonal visuals - from Ash Wednesday through Advent - are designed to invite full participation, and every creative offering is meant to make room for the Spirit to speak in personal ways.
Children and Youth
Saint James takes seriously its belief that children and youth are not just the future of the church but the church right now. On Sunday mornings during worship, two age-based classrooms provide developmentally appropriate, engaging faith formation for children from Pre-K through high school.
Youth ministry meets on the first and third Sundays of each month at 10 AM. First Sundays focus on lessons and curriculum that ground young people in scripture, theology, and real-life application. Third Sundays are reserved for mission projects and fellowship-driven activities - service work, fun outings, and shared meals that build relationships and joy.
The model is intentionally youth-led. With the support of adult mentors and church leaders, young people help shape worship, generate programming ideas, and take ownership of the ministry itself. The goal is to help emerging leaders ask big questions, take ownership of their beliefs, and find joy in living their values at school, at home, and in the broader community.
Faith Point Fellowship for Young Adults
For college students and young adults between the ages of 18 and 40, Saint James houses Faith Point Fellowship (FPF), a dynamic ministry led by Rev. Quishun Jenkins. Faith Point is especially connected to the historic HBCU communities of Bennett College and North Carolina A&T State University, both rooted in the same Greensboro neighborhood as the church.
Weekly gatherings follow a simple rhythm: a shared meal, then Bible study, then real conversation about God, life, purpose, and leadership. The space is designed to be honest and unhurried, with room for questions, doubt, and discovery. Members are invited to come as they are - in college, just graduated, working, or still figuring things out - and to find peers who show up, listen, and care.
Faith Point's mission is to equip the next generation of Christian leaders with the tools and wisdom to follow Jesus fearlessly, wherever life may lead. Members serve, lead, and grow together through Bible study, innovative and inclusive worship, and opportunities to put faith into action.
Adults: Bible Study, Sunday School, and Circles
Adults of every season of life find a place at Saint James. The John Erwin Sunday School Class, mentioned above, has long been one of the church's signature lay-led ministries, known for engaging teaching, open discussion, and a strong sense of community.
Adult Bible study groups meet regularly in person and online, studying texts like Greg Ogden's Discipleship Essentials and engaging in honest questions about scripture and its application. Presbyterian Women supports multiple Circles that host the congregation's monthly meeting, held on the second Sunday at 11 AM in the Fellowship Hall after worship. Presbyterian Men gathers on the third Saturday of each month at 8 AM for Bible study, food, and fellowship.
An active older adult ministry keeps seniors engaged in worship, caregiving, education, and technology training, recognizing the wisdom, energy, and contributions of long-time members as vital to the life of the church.
Wellness Wednesdays
Wellness Wednesday is one of Saint James's signature rhythms, gathering members in the Fellowship Hall each week for light physical activity, spiritual growth, and fellowship. The session opens with a 30-minute group walk at noon, followed by Bible study at 12:30 PM. Every gathering begins and ends with prayer, and each week includes practical wellness tips - encouragement to drink water, eat nourishing food, get rest, and care for the body as a sacred gift.
Over the seasons, Wellness Wednesday has grown into a true community, with birthday celebrations, shared meals, and seasonal potlucks, especially at Christmas. Bible study is paired with faith games and laughter, and members describe the gathering as a place where bonds have become as important as the lessons.
An evening Wellness Wednesday option is also offered some weeks, and a Joint Wellness Wednesday meets periodically in a hybrid format for those joining from home or work.
Mental Health Ministry
Saint James is upfront about a conviction that shapes its Mental Health Ministry: caring for mental health is not a sign of weak faith but part of the abundant life Christ offers. The ministry grew out of listening to the congregation - members spoke about caring for aging parents, anxiety and depression, and wanting better tools for communication and boundaries.
A faith and mental health sermon series opens the door to deeper conversation, and small groups offer a trusted setting to practice new tools together. For those ready for individual support, the ministry maintains a list of licensed mental health providers and offers an in-house counseling option with Shyla Powell, MA, LMHC, a licensed mental health counselor who is a member of the congregation. Elder Mona Edwards, JD, also serves as a ministry leader.
Workshops pair current mental health research with faith-based wisdom and address anxiety and depression, grief and loss, trauma and healing, stress management, caregiver stress, healthy boundaries, spiritual practices that support mental wellness, and mental health first aid for ministry leaders and staff. Conversations in small groups stay within the group, and any counseling or referral requests are handled privately.
Care, Prayer, and Stephen Ministry
Saint James takes seriously the ministry of walking alongside one another through every season of life. The Pneuma Prayer Ministry gathers weekly for prayer over Zoom and in person before Sunday worship, lifting up confidential prayer requests submitted by members and visitors. Written requests and praise reports can also be left on bulletin boards in the administrative hallway.
For deeper one-to-one care, the church is a Stephen Ministry congregation. Stephen Ministers are trained lay members who provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to individuals facing illness, grief, job loss, family struggles, or spiritual doubt. They typically meet with their care receivers once a week over time, and all care is free and offered without pressure or judgment. Stephen Ministers are not counselors or therapists but trained Christian caregivers - there to listen, care, pray, and encourage. Referrals can be made through the church office.
Congregational care is shared broadly. Elders, deacons, and members make phone calls, visit, deliver meals, and offer encouragement through hospital stays, times of loss, and moments of celebration.
Justice, Outreach, and the Blessing Box
Saint James is a Matthew 25 congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA), a designation that commits the church to eradicating systemic poverty, dismantling structural racism, and building congregational vitality. Justice is not an accessory to faith at Saint James; it is woven into everything the church does.
The most visible sign of that commitment is the Blessing Box, located just outside the church on Ross Avenue. Stocked with non-perishable food, toiletries, and other daily essentials, it provides round-the-clock support to anyone in need in a nearby food desert. The Blessing Box is part of a broader partnership with the Triad Black Faith Leaders and Black Farmers Network, a local collaboration among churches and agricultural leaders working to fight food insecurity and increase access to healthy, affordable food.
Other partnerships include the Black and Brown Women's Voting Initiative with the Beloved Community Center, which supports civic engagement and voter education; the Interfaith Affordable Housing Initiative, which unites faith communities to create sustainable housing solutions; and the Pulpit Forum of Greensboro and Vicinity, a network of clergy and leaders committed to social justice, spiritual growth, and collective action.
The church also maintains an active commitment to education support - tutoring, mentoring, and community presence from elementary school through college - and a monthly Mission of the Month highlights that season's focus, from school supply drives to seasonal giving campaigns to food justice programs.
Our Story: From Forbis Street to Ross Avenue
Saint James was founded in 1867 by formerly enslaved members of First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro, who began meeting in a small rented house on Forbis Street. About thirty men and women gathered to build a church grounded in worship, education, and justice, and they almost immediately began the work of providing formal education for Black children and adults - one of the first such efforts in the city. Pastors often served as teachers, and the church's legacy of educational advocacy continued for generations.
In 1946, the Rev. J.T. Douglas became pastor and quickly expanded the church's reach. Under his leadership, the church grew a robust campus ministry at North Carolina A&T State University and Bennett College and built the present sanctuary on Ross Avenue, dedicating the new building on December 13, 1959.
The Rev. Lloyd Green, Jr., who began his tenure in 1973, strengthened Christian education and community involvement. In 1986 the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson II became pastor, leading outreach efforts including CROP Walk for Hunger, the United Negro College Fund, and Habitat for Humanity, and overseeing completion of a stained-glass window project - ten panels designed by church member and artist Eva Hamlin Miller, dedicated in September 1991. The Rev. Nathan Byrd also served during this period as associate pastor, with a focus on youth, campus ministry, and education.
After Reverend Nelson's departure in 1997, the Rev. James A. Belle was called in 1999 and developed fifteen ministry divisions to strengthen church leadership through the Session. The Rev. Dr. Paul N. Ridolfi followed as interim in 2002, introducing Stephen Ministry to deepen congregational care.
In 2005, Saint James called its first female pastor, the Rev. Dr. Diane Givens Moffett. Her tenure brought renewed vision, more than 200 new members, and a reinvigoration of Children's Sunday School and WWW (Wednesday Word and Worship), along with media and technology upgrades and physical renovations. In 2018, Dr. Moffett was called to serve as Director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
After a brief transitional period that included the leadership of the Rev. Eustacia Moffett-Marshall and an interim team during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Saint James called the Rev. Dr. Phanta I. Lansden as pastor in 2021. Under Dr. Lansden's leadership, the congregation has grown in membership, financial stewardship, and outward-facing mission. New vision and mission statements were implemented to reflect a focus on community impact, and the Blessing Box was established outside the church to serve neighbors in a nearby food desert.
Pastor Lansden's Vision
Rev. Dr. Phanta I. Lansden came to Saint James with a background in social work and theological education. A native of Morganton, North Carolina, and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work, she spent a decade working with children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities before earning her Master of Divinity from Union Presbyterian Seminary, where she received the Helen Dean Preaching Award and the James and Elizabeth Appleby Book Award.
She completed her Doctorate in Ministry at Union Presbyterian Seminary in June 2023, focusing on trauma-informed preaching and spiritual practices that aid in healing the Black community. Her work at Saint James reflects that calling: she has curated Phanta Lansden Ministries, an online platform and consulting service offering one-on-one coaching, trauma healing consulting for churches and organizations, and public speaking.
Dr. Lansden serves on multiple boards, including the Presbyterian Intercultural Network, Union Presbyterian Seminary's Center for Social Justice and Reconciliation, the Guilford County Infant Mortality Review Board, and AuthoraCare Collective (formerly Hospice and Palliative Care). She lives by Proverbs 3:5-6, trusting in the Lord with all her heart, and has dedicated her life to serving God and others with love and compassion.
Staff, Session, and Leadership
Saint James is served by a small staff and a Session of elected elders. Portia Griffin serves as Office Manager and Pastoral Assistant. Elder Andrea Russell is the Business Manager. Elder Karen Watts-Yehudah serves as Treasurer. Dr. Ron Campbell is Assistant Business Manager, Organist, and Keyboardist. Jayne Butler serves as Media Specialist.
The Session includes Dr. Chuck Wallington, Karen Watts-Yehudah, Marcia Bellamy, Marsha Knox (Clerk), Dr. Vanessa Haygood, Lucia Ward-Alexander, Cynthia Latham, Mildred Powell, Gloria Washington, Freddie Click, and Zaiah Wadelington, who represents the church's youth.
Get Involved
Saint James invites anyone in the Triad - and beyond - to find a way to plug in. Opportunities include stocking or delivering items for the Blessing Box, joining a monthly Mission of the Month effort, supporting food justice through the Black Faith Leaders and Black Farmers Network, volunteering in local schools, or participating in civic engagement work through the Black and Brown Women's Voting Initiative.
Some roles require only a few minutes; others invite longer-term service. Either way, members describe the experience as one of community, purpose, and the joy of making a difference alongside people who care deeply about their neighbors.
Giving
Giving at Saint James is described as more than a transaction - it is an act of worship, gratitude, and shared responsibility. The preferred method is Zelle, sent directly to Treasurersjpc@gmail.com. Gifts can also be sent via CashApp to $sjpcnc, placed in the offering plate during worship, or mailed to the church at 820 Ross Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27406. Questions about giving can be directed to the church office.
Staying Connected
The Informer, Saint James's monthly newsletter, carries updates from the pastor, lectionary readings, mission highlights, Bible study opportunities, birthday celebrations, upcoming events, and stories from across the church family. Recent issues are available online, and an email subscription keeps readers connected throughout the year. Sunday worship and past services are also available to revisit on Facebook and YouTube.
More than 150 years after its founding on a small rented house on Forbis Street, Saint James Presbyterian Church continues to believe that church should make a difference - not just on Sundays but in everyday life. From a 10 AM sanctuary on Ross Avenue filled with gospel music and prayer to a Blessing Box that serves neighbors around the clock, the congregation is still doing what its founders set out to do: worship freely, grow in faith, and build a thriving community rooted in education, justice, and mutual care.