Reverend Dr. Eleazar Merriweather was born in Demopolis, Alabama. He is a graduate of John Essex High School, Demopolis, AL; Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering (1981); a graduate of Johnson Bible College, Knoxville, TN where he received a Masters of Arts in New Testament Studies and Preaching Exposition (1997) and he received a Doctor of Divinity, Livingstone College, May 2011.
Reverend Merriweather is very active on all levels of the A.M.E Zion Church Connection, local community, and the city of Detroit. He served as Administrative Assistant to the Presiding Bishops, Dean of the Rochester-Brown School of Ministry for the Central Africa and Mozambique Annual Conferences; Assistant Dean for the Mid-West Episcopal District Leadership Training Institute, Conference Secretary of the Michigan Annual Conference, and the Southeast Regional Advisory Board for Hospice of Michigan., and the International Director of Discipleship Formation.
Reverend Merriweather served as Pastor of the Lomax Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, Knoxville, TN (1990-2000), where he led the congregation in building a new Church, St. Luke A.M.E. Zion Church, Grand Rapids, MI (2000-2009), and currently the St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church, Detroit, MI (2009-); there he led the congregation in paying-off approximately $400,000 in debt. God has tremendously blessed the ministry, and thus all three Churches under his leadership has experienced rebirth, renewal and restoration. Reverend Merriweather is a dynamic teacher, preacher, and leader.
In addition to his pastorates, Reverend Merriweather served as Presiding Elder of the Western Michigan District for one year, and he currently serves as Presiding Elder of the Trinidad District, Trinidad & Tobago Conference.
Before receiving his call to pastor, Reverend Merriweather was employed at Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc. (1981-2001), Oak Ridge, TN. During his tenure there, he held positions of Systems Manager for the Emergency Power System, Site Energy Conservation Manager, Acting Division Training Manager, Group Leader, and Field Maintenance Engineer.
Reverend Dr. Merriweather is married to the former Wanda Waiters, they have two daughters; Laquitta and Alesia, and three grandchildren.