Bishop Miller, born five of six children to Harmon and Agnes Rogers, is a native of Paterson, NJ, who attended Paterson Public Schools. After graduating from John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson, NJ, she attended Rutgers University and Cook College in New Brunswick, NJ. She earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Occupational and Technical Studies from Old Dominion University (ODU), Norfolk, VA in 1994. She graduated with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology and, in 2009, received her Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Higher Education from ODU. In May 2019, she received the Doctor of Ministry degree from Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, in Biblical Interpretation and Proclamation.
Bishop Miller is an educator who taught graduate courses in higher education at Old Dominion and Ashford Universities and undergraduate studies at Old Dominion University. She was a secondary school Technology Education teacher of manufacturing, construction, and production and an engineering-architectural board and computer-aided drafting instructor at the Norfolk and Stafford County Virginia public schools.
In August 2009, Bishop Miller was commissioned and served as a Chaplain in the United States Navy until July 2023, after attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In her last assignment in the Navy, she was the first Chaplain Program Officer for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for the Navy Recruiting Command. She also served as a chaplain for the Bergen County Prosecutors Office, Bergen County, NJ.
Her awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Fleet Marine Force Warfare pin. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Bishop Miller is an ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.
She has pastored four AME Zion Churches nationwide, beginning at Sycamore Hill, Gates, NC; Martin Temple, Compton, CA; Varick Memorial, Hackensack, NJ; and last, St. Paul AME Zion Church in Ewing, NJ. She serves in many capacities on the connectional, conference, and district levels, including The Board of Schools
and College’s secretary; The Harriet Tubman House, Inc. Board member; New Jersey Conference – Finance Committee Chair, Budget Committee Chair (2016-2023); Trustee Board member; Conference Studies Professor and Board of Examiners. Camden District – Admissions Committee Chair. At the 52nd Session of the General Conference, Rev. Dr. Melanie Miller was elected the 110th bishop in the line of succession for the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church and currently serves as the Presiding Prelate of the Western Episcopal District.
Bishop Miller is married to CDR Jimmie L. Miller, USN Retired, and they have four children: three sons, Jimmie, Jr., Jerome, and Jason, one daughter, Jetaime, and raised a nephew, Lamar. They are the proud grandparents of eight and claim Lamar’s three children, bringing their total to 11.
She rests on the scriptural passage Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
