Reverend Dr. Alphonse Reff, Sr. was appointed the Presiding Elder of the Saint Paul Minneapolis District on October 9, 2004 by The Right Reverend Philip R. Cousin, Sr. Presiding Prelate and Senior Bishop of the Chicago Conference, Fourth District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
 

The first inaugural session of the Saint Paul Minneapolis District Conference was held April 14-16, 2005 and hosted by Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, Saint Paul Minnesota where the Reverend Byron C. Moore was the Pastor.

Reverend Dr. Alphonse Reff began his work in the ministry in 1962. On July 1, 1988, Reverend Alphonse Reff, Sr. became Reverend Dr. Alphonse Reff, Sr. after receiving his Doctorate of Divinity from Monrovia College, Sims School of Religion and Industrial Training, Inc. Monrovia, Liberia West Africa by Presiding Vernon Bishop Byrd.

He has also served as Pastor of Wayman African Methodist Episcopal Church for 25 years.

His education includes an Associate Degree from Union Baptist Theological Seminary, Associate Certificates in Psychology from the University of Minnesota - Duluth; Preaching from Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, IL; and Counseling from Superior State University, Wisconsin.

In October 2006, Presiding Elder Reff founded "In the Beginning Bible Study".  On October 21, 2007, at the 125th Session of the Chicago Annual Conference this new work was accepted into the conference and placed in the hands of the Presiding Elder. "Lily of the Valley African Methodist Episcopal Church" now holds evening worship services in Apple Valley MN at Christus Victor Lutheran Church at 5 p.m.

 

July 2008 at the 48^th Session of the General Conference held in Saint Louis MO, Presiding Elder Reff was appointed to the revisions committee of which the General Conference voted.

 

Presiding Elder Reff is also the founder of the Richard Allen Math and Science Academy, approved by the state of Minnesota and opened its doors the fall of 2009.