MEET our pastors:
Bishop W. Vance Cotten, Sr.
Senior Pastor
Rev. Dr. Kim. L. Cotten
Co-Pastor
Bishop Dr. W. Vance Cotten, Sr.
Bishop W. Vance Cotten, Sr. preached his first sermon on November 24, 1977. He was ordained a preacher of the gospel on August 13, 1978. He is the Pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church of Middletown, Connecticut where he has led for the past 30 years. Prior to being called as the Pastor, he served as the Assistant Pastor for two and a half years.
In October of 2000, Dr. Cotten received his Doctorate of Divinity degree from Eastern Theological Seminary in Lynchburg, Virginia. Dr. Cotten completed the Sustaining Urban Pastoral Excellence Program at Boston University, School of Theology in Boston, Massachusetts in 2007. In September 2014, he was consecrated to the Office of a Bishop. Dr. Cotten is the former President of the New England Missionary Baptist Convention. Prior to his election as President of the New England Missionary Baptist Convention, he served as 1st Vice President of the Connecticut State Missionary Baptist Convention, as well as, Moderator of the Zebulun Association of the Connecticut State Convention for ten years.
Bishop Cotten is the CEO of the Shiloh Baptist Community Development Corporation, Shiloh Manor Elderly Housing, Inc. and W. V. Cotten Ministries. He serves as the Chancellor of The Christian Leadership Bible College of Middletown, Connecticut. Bishop Cotten served as President/Chairman of the Board of Hartford Behavioral Health for three years. He served as an Executive Director for many years prior to assuming this position. He is a board member of the Middlesex County Substance Abuse Action Council and H.O.P.E., Inc. (Home Ownership Providing Empowerment). Bishop Cotten served as a Councilman of Middletown, CT. Bishop Cotten is a former delegate to the African Summit in Washington, DC, and the Community Renewal Team (CRT) Executive Board. He is a former member of the Middlesex United Way Board of Directors, the Middletown Police Department Leadership Council, the Connection Board of Directors and the Middletown Board of Education.
Bishop Cotten is the founder of the “Now Faith Financial Cooperative,” which is a branch of the Seasons Federal Credit Union, with a net worth over 100 million dollars. He is the founder of the Now Faith Interdenominational Fellowship, Inc.
As Pastor, he is the overseer of over twenty-five active ministries (the majority of which were instituted under his leadership). In addition to the 11 a.m. Sunday morning worship service, Shiloh has an 8 a.m. worship service, a 4th Sunday 7 p.m. Healing and Deliverance service and a monthly mid-day worship service.
Bishop Cotten is an earnest believer and supporter of the youth. Shiloh has a thriving and growing children’s ministry at both the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. Sunday morning worship services. Some of the youth ministries include a youth choir, praise team, several youth praise dance ministries, a weekly youth prayer, bible study group and a monthly youth forum to discuss topics and issues relevant to today’s youth. The second Sunday of each month is set aside for the children’s ministry to carry out the entire Sunday morning worship services.
Under his leadership, the church build a 41-unit elderly housing complex. The project known as Shiloh Manor was completed in May of 1996 and is completely full. Bishop Cotten is an anointed preacher of the gospel, an accomplished pianist, organist and vocalist. Bishop Cotten truly believes that, “you have not because you ask not” and that God has chosen him for such a time as this. Bishop Cotten is married to the former Kim L. Amerson and is the proud father of Vance Jr., Jonathan (Danielle) and Joshua (Sana) and proud grandpa of Isaiah, E’moni, Jamir, Janai, Kalen, Averi, Kamron and Karter.
Rev. Dr. Kim L. Cotten
Rev. Dr. Kim L. Cotten, an anointed woman of God, is a native of West Virginia. She is fueled by passion to execute God’s command for such a time as this. Wherever she travels, she encourages her listeners to broaden their relationship with God and rise to a level of excellency in the spirit realm. After 35 years of working at the PerkinElmer Corporation, she took a leap of faith and joined her husband in full time ministry.
She is the daughter of Rev. and Mrs. Richard Bullard and the Late Apostle Benny Claytor and Late Prophetess Geraldine Claytor. In 2006, she married Bishop W. Vance Cotten, Sr., Pastor of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Middletown, CT and was blessed with three sons and 2 daughters-in-love, Vance, Jr., Jonathan (Danielle) and Rev. Joshua (Sana) and 8 wonderful grandchildren, Isaiah, Emoni, Jamir, Janai, Kalen, Averi, Kamron, and Karter.
She serves as Co-Pastor of the Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, Middletown, CT.
Oversees the Administrative Staff of the church.
Oversees the Women’s Ministry, also known as Sisters of the Kingdom. From that ministry, the following ministries were birthed:
A Health and Wellness Ministry
A Women’s Support Group
Conducts a weekly devotional teleconference with Women
Conducts a once a month Sunday Night Healing and Deliverance Service
Conducts a once a month noon day service for Seniors at Shiloh
Conducts a once a month afternoon service at The Shiloh Manor, Middletown, CT
Women Mentorship
President of the Christian Leadership Bible College, Middletown, CT
President of New England Missionary Baptist Convention Women’s Auxiliary
In the Community, she serves on the following boards:
Member of the Middlesex NAACP Chapter
Member of the WIN Committee – Middlesex Chapter of NACCP
Member of the Women’s Health Committee – Middlesex Chapter of NAACP
Member of the Steering Committee of the Middlesex Hospital Women’s Wellness
Associate ministers
Rev. Josh Cotten
Rev. Dr. Marvlene Haynes
Youth Pastor
Associate Minister
Rev. Andrea Gaskins
Associate Minister
Rev. Parrish Holloman
Associate Minister
Rev. Melissa Yopp
Associate Minister
Rev. Gwendolyn Taylor
Associate Minister