About Us

Tom Garrott Benjamin, Jr.

  Pastor - Author - Abundant Life Coach

Tom Benjamin, Senior Pastor of the historic Light of the World Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Indianapolis, Indiana, celebrated 40 years as our Senior Pastor as well as his 43rd year in ministry in October, 2009. With this significant milestone, Bishop Benjamin has the longest pastorate of any Senior Pastor in the history of Light of the World Christian Church. He is also only the 4th Senior Pastor in the 143-year history of the church. He is known widely for his commitment to excellence as a pastor and life coach. Dr. Benjamin is also widely known for his gifts of hospitality and generosity. He was consecrated to the Bishopric by an ecumenical group of national bishops in 1996 at the Indiana Convention Center. He is also the Presiding Bishop and founder of the Christian Ecumenical Covenant Fellowship (CECF), a national interdenominational fellowship of ministers and pastors who seek the covering and counsel of Bishop Benjamin.

Bishop Benjamin’s ministry has produced 45 seminary graduates with M.Div. degrees, 7 (seven) of that number have earned doctorates and one (1) on the doctoral track. They serve the church globally and ecumenically. They are one-third female and range from local pastors and chaplains to seminary administrators and denominational department heads. They serve mostly Disciples of Christ, but also United Methodist and Southern Baptist congregations. This is one of the unique, unparalleled and unprecedented contributions of Dr. Benjamin to the whole church and confirms his calling as Bishop in the Lord's Church. Earning his undergraduate degree from St. Louis University (B.A.), he also holds two (2) earned cum laude graduate degrees (M.Div. and D.Min.) from Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. Additionally, he holds 6 (six) honorary doctorate degrees and a host of other awards that recognize his deep commitment to quality preparation for ministers as well as his bridge building between races and denominations in the City of Indianapolis. Recently, 10 pastors have been trained and ordained under Bishop Benjamin. Five have been planted and began pastoring congregations of five New Church Plants in the city of Indianapolis, and one in North Carolina, while two of them began pastoring established churches in Indianapolis and South Carolina. Presently, two are serving at Light of the World Christian Church.

In February 2001, Light of the World Christian Church was named and recognized as one of the “best of the best” among 300 excellent Protestant congregations across the United States. The congregations were identified during the Parish/Congregation Study, a two-year research project funded by the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment. Included among Bishop Benjamin’s numerous awards and honors are the coveted Whistler Award from the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee (the first black pastor to receive this honor); election to the First of America Bank Board becoming the first and only African American Pastor to sit on this board; recipient of the Robert W. Briggs Humanitarian Award from the Boy Scouts of America, and inducted into the Class of 2010 of the Fatherhood Hall of Fame. For several years, Bishop Benjamin served as a fund raising consultant with Cargill Associates.

Nationally known for his standard of excellence in ministry, Pastor Benjamin was selected as one of the recipients of the Morehouse College Distinguished Preacher’s Award as well as being a past National President of the Black Disciples Ministers’ Fellowship. He has received his 4th Sagamore of the Wabash Award (Indiana’s highest award) making this the 4th award he has received from four different Governors. Dr. Benjamin is a community activist never fearful of speaking truth to power.

Dr. Benjamin’s passion is children, and he has authored four books: Boys To Men, The Home Alone Syndrome, Mama’s Boy, and his most recent book, It’s All In Your Mind. These books are available at www.tombenjamin.com, www.amazon.com or at 1-800-847-9695. He is an international speaker and life coach. Bishop is an avid golfer as well as a music enthusiast. His pride is his family, consisting of his beautiful and creative life partner, Lady Beverly, three awesome adult sons, one darling daughter-in-law, and one “grand” grandson, Channing Carlyle, II.