Bishop R. Jeremiah Norris is the second oldest son of four sons born to the late William and Julia Norris. Bishop Norris came to peach for the first time at the Open Door Baptist Church in September 1995.  Deacon Al Clements, Chairman of the Deacon Board, met Pastor Norris in the parking garage where Deacon Clements worked. They started talking about the goodness of the lord.  Deacon Clements recognized something unique about this man, so he invited Rev. Norris to preach at Open Door Baptist Church.  Rev. Norris accepted the invitation.  The Official Board and the congregations was so uplifted by his sermon that the Pulpit Committee met in the Pastor’s Study and agreed that Rev. Norris should return to preach the next Sunday.  Everyone continued to enjoy his preaching.  After an election in October 1995 he was unanimously voted in by the church as its next pastor.  Pastor Norris lets the Lord use him to preach regardless of the size of the congregation.  Pastor Norris is also known for visiting the sick and shut-in.

Pastor Norris attended Theological Seminaries, where he studied to receive his license as a United Methodist Minister from the Board of Education of the United Methodist Church.  As a licensed and ordained Baptist Minister, Pastor Norris felt the need to return to Philadelphia to assist in the aid and support of his ailing father God provided the call for Rev. Norris to pastor at St. Phillips Baptist Church.  In June 1985 Pastor Norris was consecrated as Bishop by Bishop Adkins of the Church of Love located in Camden, NJ.

Bishop Norris is the founder of Lost Children International, a non-profit organization dedicated to finding lost children and educating as many people as possible to the dangers of child abuse.  Until the beginning of 2002, you could hear Bishop Norris praising God through the air waves on W.H.A.T. radio station – 1340 AM, playing good gospel music and praying for many, which he had done since 1985.  Bishop Norris is married to his African Queen, as he affectionately calls her, his wife Lora Jean Norris.  Pastor and First Lady Lora Norris are the proud parents of two adult children- Sonia and Tyrone. Six grandchildren, seven Great grandchildren, and five godchildren.

The Lord blessed Bishop Norris through the Veterans Rehabilitation Act to be retrained because of the loss of one eye. Bishop went back to Eastern University in 2007 and studied Organizational Management, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree.  Then in 2013 Bishop Norris received a certificate from the city of Philadelphia and Community College of Philadelphia for completing studies in faith based counseling. 

Since Bishop Norris has been the Pastor of Open Door Baptist Church, there has been an increase in the membership and a strong active participation in a feeding program called “A Time.”  The Membership of Open Door Baptist Church Thanks God for Pastor Norris, and prays that the Lord continues to bless Pastor and his family.