Meet Our Pastor

In May 2018, the Reverend Dr. Adrian V. Nelson, II, was appointed as the pastor of Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church located in Arlington, VA.

Rev. Nelson was born in Washington, D.C. and raised in Montgomery County, Maryland. He is a proud graduate of Hampton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. Pastor Nelson also earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the Marshall- Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary. Additionally, he earned a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary. Dr. Nelson is a May 2024 candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Wesley Theological Seminary. His doctoral paper is entitled, “Transforming Racially Homogenous Church into Racially Welcoming Churches Using Howard Thurman’s The Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples as a Model.” Dr. Nelson is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity,Inc.

Before responding to the Lord’s call into the ordained ministry, Pastor Nelson practiced law for nearly 20 years, specializing in Employment law/Employment Discrimination litigation with various law firms in Maryland and Washington, D.C. He became the first African American partner in one of the law firms in which he worked and had his own practice for 10 years.

Dr. Nelson answered God’s call into the ordained ministry in 1997, while a member of Clinton AME Zion Church in Rockville, MD. He is called to “preach and teach” the word of God. Pastor Nelson was ordained a deacon and elder in the AME Zion Church in 2002 and 2004, respectively.

In July 2004, Dr. Nelson was appointed by the late Bishop Milton A. Williams, Sr. to plant Abundant Life AME Zion Church in Columbia, MD, where he served as pastor for six years. In 2010, Pastor Nelson was appointed to serve as the pastor of Scotland AME Zion Church in Potomac, Maryland, and served as pastor there for eight years.

In addition to serving as a pastor, Dr. Nelson serves the denomination in a number of other capacities: Editor for the AME Zion Church Department of Church School Literature; Chief of Protocol for the Mid-Atlantic Episcopal District, and within the Philadelphia and Baltimore Conference; Chair of the Board of Examiners; Chair of the Board of Lay Activities; and, as a member of the Conference Board of Trustees.

Dr. Nelson is married to his law school sweetheart, the Reverend Dr. Tina Smith Nelson, Esquire and resides in Rockville, Maryland. The Nelsons have two young adult sons – Adrian III and Collin, who are both professionals.

Dr. Nelson’s life scripture is: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV)