WARREN — Joseph Walker Jr., pastor of Restoration Christian Fellowship in Warren for the past 17 years, has been officially consecrated and installed as Suffragan Bishop for the Beth-El Fellowship of Visionary Churches.

Walker was installed at a ceremony March 11 at the church by Bishop Josephus Johnson II of Akron.

As a Suffragan Bishop, Walker will assist the presiding bishop with all the churches covered in the fellowship, which includes many in Ohio.

“This enables me to do things in an official capacity to help the bishop, especially when he is out of state,” Walker said.

In addition to Ohio, the fellowship includes churches in Florida, Arizona and North Carolina,

Walker will remain pastor of Restoration Christian Fellowship, noting the church has been part of the fellowship for the 18 years he has been serving.

He has served as a board member on the Beth-El staff as a pastoral liaison.

“I have already started to do things as a Suffragan pastor and that is why the bishop decided to consecrate me to this position. Now with the title, it is official,” Walker said.

He said he finds it very humbling to be in the position.

“I love to serve and did not expect this. I enjoy helping people and when the bishop told me of his plans, it left me speechless. This is all so exciting. God has blessed me to be here,” Walker said.

He said he feels honored that people trust him when he deals with them in the critical times they face in their lives.

“I want to help people through hard times,” he said.

In addition to Johnson, co-consecrators were Bishop Timothy Clarke, senior pastor of First Church of God in Columbus, and Bishop Eugene Bellinger, senior pastor of the Cathedral of the Covenant Church in Columbus.

Walker was the founder of Restoration Christian Fellowship Church in 2007 after being ordained. He serves as president of the Trumbull County Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance.

Walker has been married to Pastor Kimberly Walker for 34 years.