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Philadelphia pastor fifth to stand for moderator
Presbytery to vote on endorsement May 25
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> The Rev. James A. Belle

> Posted at
> May 10, 2010 11:19 a.m.

> by John Sniffen

> Special to Presbyterian News Service

A Philadelphia pastor, the Rev. James A. Belle, is the fifth 
candidate for moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Belle, pastor since November 2005 of Holy Trinity-Bethlehem 
Presbyterian Church, notified the Office of the General Assembly last 
week of his intent to seek the post. A vote to endorse his candidacy 
is scheduled when the Presbytery of Philadelphia meets May 25.

"I see biblical and confessional 'illiteracy' as the major obstacles 
facing our church today," Belle wrote in a statement on key 
theological issues. "I hold ministers of the Word and Sacrament 
directly responsible within the last 20 years for the lack of 
confessional and polity training to and for our laity. Without an 
understanding of the Scriptures and their historic linkage to the 
confessions, the Book of Confessions is difficult to understand."

Ordained in 1996 by Coastal Carolina Presbytery, Belle has held 
pastorates in North Carolina, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. He is a 
fourth-generation Presbyterian. His father, the late Rev. Milton 
Moses Belle Sr., was a Presbyterian pastor and civil rights activist 
in North Carolina.

Outgoing moderator the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow selected Belle as vice 
moderator of the Middle Governing Body Issues committee for the 2010 
General Assembly. He was also a minister commissioner to the 2002 GA 
and a theological student advisory delegate to the 1995 GA.

The ministry is Belle's second career. After graduating with a degree 
in music from the University of North Carolina, he served for 10 
years in the U.S. Army band as a pianist, vocalist, auxiliary 
percussionist, arranger and resident composer. He has performed for 
three U.S. presidents and appeared in numerous productions, singing 
the leading roles in Porgy and Bess and Jesus Christ Superstar, among 
others. While earning master of divinity and master of church music 
degrees from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, he also served as 
chapel musician and accompanist at the Interdenominational 
Theological Center in Atlanta. His interest and participation in 
music continues through his second career.

Belle is divorced and the father of one teenage daughter.
The other moderator candidates are elder Cynthia Bolbach (National 
Capital Presbytery), the Rev. Jin S. Kim (Twin Cities Area 
Presbytery), the Rev. Maggie Lauterer (Western North Carolina 
Presbytery) and the Rev. Eric G. Nielsen (Northern Waters Presbytery).

The new moderator, to be elected July 3, the first day of the 
weeklong biennial meeting in Minneapolis, will succeed Reyes-Chow, 
moderator of the 218th GA (2008).