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Election Results of the 51st Session of the General Conference
JULY 10 ELECTION RESULTS OF THE 51ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE
GENERAL OFFICERS
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Elected by unanimous ballot cast by general secretary as set forth in Rule 24 (c)
GENERAL SECRETARY/CIO
210 Cooper, Sr., Jeffery B.
HISTORIOGRAPHER/DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP, EDITOR OF AME REVIEW
220 Brown, Teresa L. Fry
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER, SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION
230 Belin, Roderick Dwayne
EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN RECORDER
240 Thomas, John III
DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
250 Pierce, Garland F.
JUDICIAL COUNCIL ALTERNATE – CLERGY (4)
330 Cooper, Jeffery B. II 331 Williams, Jimmie III
JUDICIAL COUNCIL ALTERNATE – LAY (4)
340 Crawford, Monice
TREASURER/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 745 required
260 Eldridge, Darwin 273 261 Henderson, Marcus 1205
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL WITNESS AND MINISTRY
1st Ballot 759 Required
270 Campbell, William M. 397 271 Cooper, Karla J. 140 272 Green, John 653 273 Sidberry-Thomas, Sheila 102 274 Spencer, Monica 225
The following candidates withdrew from the race and offered support for
— The Rev. Dr. Karla Cooper offered support to the Rev. Dr. John Green — The Rev. Sheila Sidberry-Thomas offered support to the Rev. Dr. William Campbell — The Rev. Dr. Monica Spencer offered support to the Rev. Dr. William Campbell
2nd Ballot 760 Required
270 Campbell, William M. 716 272 Green, John 803
AME DEPARTMENT OF RETIREMENT SERVICES
745 required
280 Brown, Clinton 34 281 Griffin, Mark 443 282 Miller, James 933 283 Thompson, Taylor 79
2nd Ballot 748 Required
291 Hampton, Dennis J. 43 292 Lee, Anthony L. 698 294 Norris, Marcellus 754
1st Ballot 745 required
290 Crutcher, Mark 238 291 Hampton, Dennis J. 32 292 Lee, Anthony L. 445 293 Mayes, Terence L., Sr. 196 294 Norris, Marcellus 500 295 Worthen, Carlton 95
The following candidates withdrew from the race and offered support for their chosen candidate — The Rev. Carlton Worthen offered support to the Rev. Marcellus Norris, the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins, and the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd — The Rev. Mark Crutcher offered support to the Rev. Marcellus Norris — The Rev. Terence L Mayes, Sr. offered support to the Rev. Marcellus Norris
JUDICIAL COUNCIL Clergy Vacancies (2) 756 Required
310 Augustine, Jonathan C. 1132 311 Golden, James T. 310 312 Green, O. Jerome 1009 313 Hodges, Glenda 317
JUDICIAL COUNCIL LAY VACANCY (1) 767 required for election
320 Champ, Sandra 403 321 Hyche, Ida 282 322 Ngubeni, Thabile 849
OFFICE OF BISHOP Round 1 794 needed
Beaman, Silvester S. 1014 #139 Elected Bishop of the AME Church Bell, Michael 196 Brookins, Francine A. 603 ...continued on p30
CLOSING WORSHIP SERVICE AND CONSECRATION OF BISHOPS
By Presiding Elder Betty Holley and Rev. Dr. Michael Carson, TCR Columnists
Our Closing Worship Service opened with the Doxology. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie led us in the Call to Worship followed by Bishop Stafford Wicker leading us in the great hymn of the church, “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.” The Call to Prayer came from Bishop Reginald T. Jackson. Bishop James L. Davis did the Call to Intercession with the choral response, “Anointing Fall on Me,” sung by the 11th Episcopal District Choir. The MCAM Connectional Choir, soloist, Shirley Washington, led the anthem, “Lift Up Ye Heads.” The scriptures, Acts 20:17-35 and John 21:15-17, were read respectively by Bishop Michael L. Mitchell and Bishop John R. Bryant. Bishop David R. Daniels introduced the “Te Deum Laudamus” beautifully sung by a choir from the 15th Episcopal District. Bishop John F. White introduced our Senior Bishop, Adam J. Richardson, our preacher. The Connectional MCAM Choir sang the sermonic hymn, “Before the Mercy Seat,” which was lined by Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr..
Bishop Adam J. Richardson took his text from Matthew 25:35-36. He titled his sermon, “Consecrated to Custodian Service.” Highlights from his sermon include the following: ✍Custodians, keepers, of the African
Methodist Episcopal Church, do whatever is necessary to keep the mission of the church intact. ✍We are a Matthew 25 church. ✍Always keep the Quadrennial theme,
“From Legacy to Mission: A Call to Prophetic Education and Social
Engagement,” in your focus. ✍The theology of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church is on a pendulum, always adjusting itself. ✍We must intentionally address social issues. ✍It is not our “shout” but our service that God is looking for. ✍It is not our noise; it is our faithfulness that God is looking for. ✍We must make a difference as we are called to account. ✍There is nothing glamorous about this custodial assignment, a bishop of the church. ✍Jesus takes it personal what you do to the least of these! Jesus’ words, “In as much you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto me.” ✍Custodial work must become second nature.
Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah offered the Call to Discipleship, followed by commendations from Senior Bishop Richardson for the services of all retiring bishops: Bishop McKinley Young, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, and Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram. Bishop Richardson shared his own litany for our spiritual giving. Bishop Clement Fugh called for our offering.
The Service of Consecration was done by the bishops of the church with Bishop Robert Webster, Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., and Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram leading the liturgy.
The “Veni Creator Spiritus” was read by Bishop Julius H. McAllister. The Prayer of Consecration was read by Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie. The four newly elected bishops were then consecrated for service:
The Reverend Dr. Silvester Beaman, the 139th Bishop
The Reverend Dr. Marvin Clyde Zanders II, the 140th Bishop
The Rev. Francine Brookins, the 141st Bishop
The Rev. Dr. Frederick Allen Wright, the 142nd Bishop
WORLDWIDE WITNESSES LEAVE VIRTUAL SPACE TO CONTINUE THE DIVINE WORK— CLOSING BUSINESS SESSION OF THE 51ST SESSION OF THE GENERAL CONFERENCE
By Rev. Dr. Maxine L. Thomas, TCR Columnist
As day-break dawns and lights the path through a tunnel darkened by a hostile pandemic for some 18 months, with tenacity, a sense of duty, great expectation, and unparalleled faith, we have come. The African Methodist Episcopal Church defied the odds of separation in real time as it was connected around the world as the bishops, general officers, presiding elders, pastors, other clergy, and faithful lay encompassed and joined by delegations from Episcopal districts 1 through 13 and 16 gathering in Orlando, Florida, were joined in virtual space and time by a grand assembly of delegates on the continent of Africa comprising Episcopal districts 14, 15, and 17-20 for the 51st Session of the General Conference of the AME Church.
With profound worship reflective of our ethos, fellowship throughout corridors and delegation meeting rooms, and business sessions that were at times stressed by making adjustments to technology, and stretched as our Zion endeavored to maintain an ethic that could not be polluted, politicized, or pushed aside. Heaven and earth rejoiced as newly elected general officers and bishops ascended the stairwell to higher service and holy leadership. The historic hybrid General Conference feted the meritorious Service of Retirement of faithful Episcopal servant leaders— among them, Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie who shattered the stained-glass ceiling with her historic election as the first woman to be elected and consecrated as a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. After a most befitting Service of Installation of newly elected general officers and a glorious Consecration Service for four newly elected bishops, and with unreserved thanksgiving, we came to the time of release of episcopates to fulfill the mission of their calling. The last business session brought the final report of the distinguished Episcopal Committee. The Committee members graced the door, entered the room, and slowly processed to the stage with a seriousness, solemnity, and sanguinity. The Assignment of Bishops to each of the Episcopal districts was read. After Bishop David Daniels raised an unreadiness, much discussion ensued. The report of the Episcopal Committee was accepted. Other business of this session included recommendations from the Council of Bishops of officers for the General Conference Commission, the General Board at large members, and the names of the Preliminary Inquiry Committee were given. The recommendations were accepted. As AME’s and a host of other worldwide witnesses depart from this celestial and sacred place in both real and virtual time and space, we affirm our faith and commitment to our Lord and God, and our love and loyalty to our eternal Zion. And from around the world and throughout the universe our souls declare, “How great Thou art!” The meeting adjourned sine die. ❏ ❏ ❏ th a o p b T R V h b o b o E th a A e C w ti Z a h ld b ll d
BUSINESS SESSION JULY 10, 2021
Report of the Revisions Committee
MIN-06 MEMBERS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
The bill submitted added Women in Ministry as members of the Annual Conference.
Bishop Jeffrey Leath called for an unreadiness and offered an amendment to include Sons of Allen and Richard Allen Youth Council.
Chaplain A’Shellarien Lang requested that chaplains be specifically identified as members of the Annual Conference. She stated that they often have difficulty getting the time needed to attend Annual Conference.
Amended text: “The Annual Conference shall be composed of all traveling elders and deacons (including chaplains), all local elders and deacons, the presidents of the Conference Lay Organization and Women’s Missionary Society, and the Conference directors of the Christian Education, MCAM, Women in Ministry, Sons of Allen, YPD, and RAYAC, CONN-M-SWAWO, CDMC and all other Conference heads of Connectional Organizations together with one (1) elected lay member and at least one (1) elected layperson between the ages of eighteen to thirty-five (18-35) when possible, from each charge within its bounds.”
The motion passed by unanimous consent.
The legislative session paused for a presentation of awards.
BISHOP’S QUADRENNIAL DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS
Senior Bishop Richardson introduced The Council of Bishops’ Distinguished Service Awards which were presented to outstanding members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
For Meritorious Service in the Military and Ministry
Presented by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie to Army Surgeon General Scott Dingle
For Strong Advocacy for the Marginalized
Presented by Bishop James Levert Davis to Sherillyn Ifill, NAACP Legal Defense Fund
For Trailblazing Work in Science and Journalism
Presented Posthumously by Bishop Reginald Jackson to Gwen L. Ifill
For Excellence in Science, Math, Engineering, and Technology
Presented Posthumously by Bishop Jeffrey Leath to Dorothy Johnson Vaughan
Received by Dorothy Johnson Vaughan, oldest daughter
Presented Posthumously by Bishop Michael Mitchell to Mary Jackson
Richard Allen Peace & Justice Awardee
This award has only been awarded to three individuals: President Jimmy Carter, President Nelson Mandela, and President Barack ...continued on p30
A SWIFT TRANSITION: THE INSTALLATION OF GENERAL OFFICERS AND THE JUDICIAL COUNCIL
By Rev. Craig T. Robinson, Jr., 4th Episcopal District
“Time is filled with swift transition,” asserted hymnwriter Jennie Wilson. As the 51st Session of the AME General Conference prepared to close on Saturday, July 10, the church gathered to celebrate a transition of power and responsibility after the election of general officers and new members of the Judicial Council. The brief Service of Installation had all the trappings of grandeur that one would expect during a General Conference. The newly elected general officers marched into the main auditorium in their robes to “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name.” Members of the Judicial Council were also part of the grand processional, with some members wearing their regalia of office.
The senior bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Right Reverend Adam Jefferson Richardson, installed the general officers and Judicial Council. The brief liturgy included a powerful prayer by retired Bishop John Richard Bryant, a scripture lesson by Bishop John Franklin White, and a solemn oath administered by other bishops of the church. The newly installed answered a bevy of pointed questions with, “I will by God’s grace.” The hymn “I Am Thine, O Lord” affirmed the depth of each new official’s commitment to serve God and the church.
The AME Church welcomed four new general officers to helm the AME Church’s administrative departments: Dr. James Miller (Department of Retirement Services), Dr. Marcellus Norris (Department of Church Growth and Evangelism), Dr. John Green (Global Witness and Ministry), and Mr. Marcus T. Henderson (treasurer and CFO). The new Judicial Council members included: the Rev. Jay Augustine, the Rev. O. Jerome Green, and Ms. Thabile Ngubeni. All were excited to begin their work on behalf of African Methodism. The election of general officers and the Judicial Council saw two very significant results. Mr. John Thomas, the incumbent editor of The Christian Recorder, was reelected to his office for another quadrennial. Mr. Thomas is the first to become a general officer from the millennial generation. His reelection bid was unopposed. “I am the first millennial, but I will not be the last,” Thomas remarked during his quadrennial report to the General Conference. The other significant election result for the July 10 election was the ascension of Ms. Thabile Ngubeni as the newest lay member of the Judicial Council. An attorney in the Republic of South Africa and a member of the Nineteenth Episcopal District, Ngubeni is one of only two women elected on Election Day (the other being the Reverend Francine Brookins to the Episcopacy) and the only elected official coming from the continent of Africa. She is also amongst the young adult population of the church.
Every four years, the AME Church makes a transition. New officials are elected and installed to new offices. Each new officer is expected to bring the best of their gifts in service to the church.
We look forward to all that these new leaders will do in our Zion to make it better. After the Benediction by Bishop Julius McAllister, the General Conference prepared for the consecration service for our newly elected bishops and the closing ceremonies and reading of Episcopal appointments.
The Reverend Craig T. Robinson, Jr., is the senior pastor of St. James AME Church in Chicago, Illinois.
By Rev. Sekoboto Joseph Tau, 15th Episcopal District
The 51st Session of the General Conference of the AME Church, with a unique hybrid – seating model where oversees districts that could travel to Orlando, FL – was physically present but spread in different meeting rooms and all other districts in Africa attending the session, virtually through Zoom webinar connectivity, happened and concluded its business yesterday. Who said this was impossible to do?
I can only lift my hands and praise God for the goodness we have seen, and emotions we felt as the GC got started with an Opening Worship Service and the first Business Session chaired by the Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, Jr. At some point the struggles of sound and connectivity appeared to be insurmountable – until Bishop A.J., reminded everyone that he overhead someone telling him “they packed a lot of patience” in their suitcase, and he pleaded with all of us delegates – to start pulling that patience off our bags – we need it more this time, as the AME Church was doing something that was never done before, traveling in unchartered territory! For a moment, I stood in awe and adjusted my lenses and expectations…. for it is true…we were trying a new thing! Then a text from the Old Testament book of Isaiah flashed in my heart…. reminding me what God was busy with!
“Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19
God was doing a new thing in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and God chose the 51st Session of the General Conference and all those who were present to be witnesses that roads can be built in the wilderness and rivers can sprout in the desert. This only depends on whether you believe it or not. Was your cup half-full or half-empty? Or were you just pleased there was a cup, meaning the GC finally came to pass, so you can put your past behind and get on in life with the hope of a new order of things? A delay of a year was never a denial of seating of the 51st Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church – I strongly believe God was preparing us and showing us the true art of what is possible if we are willing to take the first steps and trust God. My first experience of the General Conference was in the year 2000 – the 46th Session of the GC held in Cincinnati, Ohio, when I was delegated as a layperson; it is now 21 years later and the emotions I carried this week, attending the conference virtually in the comfort of my home, were not so far different from then. The fatigue and some frustrations with sounds, connectivity were not un-manageable, I guess because I had a big bag full of patience. For me, this cup was just more than half full! A lot of things ran smooth, despite a few challenges – the chairpersons did their best to manage business sessions, it was challenging with connecting virtual districts, to an extent that some nearly saw a “cup half empty” and cried foul on the exclusion of Africa districts as tactics to deny Africa the voice. Well, let us be honest and truth be told, my experience was that all bishops who chaired sessions were empathetic to the Africa delegation and became more understanding and accommodative given the poor quality of connectivity and sound…. this part of my General Conference experience was called satisfaction, simply because I could see the willingness to adjust and accommodate. The technical support was really trying to meet us all at a point of happiness…. they had their own challenges; again…..they may have not done this before in the magnitude of the complexity of execution and thoroughness it deserved. Once again, I ask – would you still say your cup was half empty?
I am more inclined to thank God for exposure and covering us through this COVID-19 pandemic, what we know today, what we have seen this recently past week, and what we have experienced and felt due to his grace, would never have come, had it not been God on our side. Praise is to God.
The only downer, a not-so-good moment for all of us as a church, was the trial outcome, the report of the Episcopal Committee on Bishop Wilfred Messiah, and the reasons for his location. This was a true half-empty cup for me! Maybe because I worked closely with Bishop Messiah, my first assignment to a pastoral was to a church he was overseeing in Soweto Kliptown, Maxeke Memorial, since then we have been like family! Be as it may, it hurts, and it hurts the church and mostly the people of the 17th Episcopal district, and but worse his family. I don’t know if you heard the Opening Statement of bishop-elect the Rev. Dr. Sylvester Scott Beaman, ...continued on p29
LEGISLATION PASSED BY THE 2021 GENERAL CONFERENCE
CSO1-43: Connectional Bylaws and Constitution CM-01: Uniform AME Pulpit and Altar Color Calendar MIN-15: Love Feast Ticket Language JA-01: Child and Youth Protection and Background Checks GGB-08: Change in Frequency of Publication of The Christian Recorder MIN-14: Call to Preach Question CC-15: Annual Conference Composition MIN-06: Transfer to Another Annual Conference
The resolution on the LGBTQ Discernment Committee was also approved.
EPISCOPAL ASSIGNMENTS AND RETIREMENT DATES
EPISCOPAL BISHOP RETIREMENT ASSIGNMENT ASSIGNED DATE
First Julius H. McAllister, Sr. (129) 2024
Second James Levert Davis (123) 2028
Third E. Earl McCloud, Jr. (127) 2028
Fourth John F. White, Sr. (130) 2024
Fifth Clement W. Fugh (131) 2024
Sixth Reginald T. Jackson (132) 2028
Seventh Samuel Lawrence Green, Sr. (125) 2036
Eighth Stafford J. N. Wicker (137) 2036
Ninth Harry Lee Seawright (133) 2032
Tenth Adam J. Richardson, Jr. (115) 2024
Eleventh Frank Madison Reid III (138) 2024
Twelfth Michael Leon Mitchell (134) 2036
Thirteenth E. Anne Henning Byfield (136) 2024
Fourteenth Paul J.M. Kawimbe (121) 2036
Fifteenth Silvester S. Beaman (139) 2036
Sixteenth Marvin C. Zanders II (140) 2040
Seventeenth David R. Daniels, Jr. (124) 2032
Eighteenth Francine A. Brookins (141) 2048
Nineteenth Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr. (136) 2032
Twentieth Frederick A. Wright , Sr. (142) 2032 Ecumenical and
Urban Affairs Jeffrey Nathaniel Leath, Sr. (128) 2032
Located Wilfred J. Messiah (120) 2028
...From Was the Cup p28 when he said, “I was hurt. But now I am healed” for some moment I reflected on their longstanding close relationship, then God’s spirit inspired me to look at a half-full cup one more time. Bishop Messiah’s location will effectively be for 3yrs (to 2024) instead of the normal 4yrs; Bishop Silvester Beaman is now assigned to the 15th Episcopal District, where he will continue the nonagonal odyssey of Bishop Daniels, Jr. It is my firm belief that “with God nothing is impossible.” God can restore, re-build, re-construct, and resurrect, we shall rise from whatever ash, just like a phoenix, we will rise and fly high again! Keep the faith.
A moment of high and history, when a young female attorney from Bloemfontein in the 19th Episcopal District was elected to the Judicial Council of the AME Church, a first of its kind. Oh, by the way don’t forget the current seated Connectional lay president also comes out of the 19th Episcopal District. These may not be related, but all I am illustrating is that Africa has much more reasons to look at the AME Church through different set of lenses, change is gradually happening and taking place…. yes for you it is at a slow pace, but God is still God – just be patient! Keep confirming that the glass is half full…it will get full one day. I strongly believe that success happens when opportunity meets readiness. If Ms. Thabile Ngubeni was not ready and well prepared for the role, this opportunity would have come and gone past! It is my humble appeal to all African brothers and sisters, keep getting ready…. a time is coming where these opportunities will open, you better be ready…with a half-full cup, than just an empty cup! Prepare yourself and be the next to make Africa proud, to make “Africa Bounce Back” or to make “Africa
THE PURPOSE OF THE LORD WILL BE ESTABLISHED
By Rev. Dr. Barry Settle, TCR Contributing Writer
The author of Proverbs writes in 19:21, “The human mind may devise many plans, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.” At the close of the 51st Session of the General Conference, the leadership of our church has diligently worked to improve the African Methodist Episcopal Church through the passing of legislation, election, and consecration of general officers and bishops. All of the plans made were done with the intention of furthering the Kingdom of God.
The final day highlights were the presentation of the Richard Allen Awards. The recipients of this award were: Lt. General Scott Dingle, Sherillyn Ifill, Esq., Gwen L. Ifill, Dorothy Johnson Vaughan (Hidden Figures), Mary Jackson (Hidden Figures), and Bryan Stevenson, Esq. (Just Mercy).
Senior Bishop Richardson congratulated all recipients of this award and expressed how proud he was of these great men and women. He closed with the following statement, “What would I be if I wasn’t AME? I’d be ashamed of myself.”
Vice President Kamala Harris then greeted the General Conference. She stated, “Our vote is our power and we can’t let anyone take that power from us. Let us continue to fight for justice, fight for freedom, and that every American can lift up their voice and be heard, and let us do the work that our faith requires, the work that is in the DNA of the AME.”
As the Episcopal Committee made their report, they recommended the election of four bishops. There was a complaint to how Bishop Messiah was handled; however, Bishop Reginald Jackson reiterated that the character of Bishop Messiah has not passed and the matter was closed.
After the elections were held, Bishop Adam Richardson preached the Service of Consecration & Closing from Matthew 25, on the subject, “Consecrated to Custodial Service.” He encouraged us all through this message, summarized, “We all have a choice, bishops and Judicial Council members and church members, to pretend we have never heard Jesus speak about justice and mercy, for the poor and the imprisoned. Or we can get busy, custodians, making a difference, as we will be called to account.”
The plans of this 51st General Conference are complete. Now we are left to do the work for this next Quadrennial. Referring to Proverbs 19:21, after all of our plans, we trust that God’s ultimate purpose that will be established for humanity and African Methodism rests in the hands of the Lord. We should trust, we are in good hands. ❏ ❏ ❏ be opened for (God’s) business!”, as my classmate friend, Victor Kgomoeswana, writes in his business books!
The cup is more than half full, with the outcome of the recommended and approved Episcopal assignments, we have not heard an outcry on any appointment, I am also sure that the assigned bishops are all excited for their challenges coming, the good news is – it’s only for 3yrs before we hit the 4yrs reset button!
It is my prayer that at the end of this abnormal quadrennial term of 3yrs! It does not even sound right! Every one of us, members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will pray a prayer of fulfillment, and ask God to make our half-full cups to run over – as we continue to serve with diligence, commitment, care, and more love. The conditions are ripe, COVID-19 is here. The best we can be is instruments of love and care to the people of God, get the church to be in our homes, while the doors are closed! As we chart our way from Legacy to Mission, a call to prophetic, educational, and social engagement, let us all live, exemplify, and demonstrate in what we do, the values Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, David Payne, Henry McNeal Turner, Charlotte Maxeke, and many others not mentioned here, lived and stood for. They got us this beautiful heritage…. the most advanced, ordered, and disciplined denomination, the African Methodist Episcopal Church, whose cup, will always run over with blessings from God!
...From Election Results p25
Burger, Willem 118
Byrd, Vernon 597
Chisolm, Barbara 139
Cooper, Katurah York 403
Eason, Gregory Vaughn, Sr. 307
Foster, John 74
Gaobepe, Dimpho A. 104
Marshall, Willie Eugene 128
Mccauley, Orlando 111
Mugala, Paul M., Sr. 9
Pierson, Mark S. 55
Ragin Merrick, M. Charmaine 37
Richburg, Caesar R. 239
Rumph, James Arthur 31
Seibo, Samuel D. 168
Simms, Moses A., Jr. 133
Wilson, Harold 22
Wright, Frederick A. 578
Zanders, Marvin Clyde II 864 #140 Elected Bishop of the AME Church
The following candidates withdrew from the race and offered support for
— The Rev. Willie Marshall offered support to the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr., and the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins — The Rev. John Foster offered support to the Rev. Dr. Fredrick Wright — The Rev. Dr. Barbara Chisolm offered support to the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd and the Rev. Dr. Frederick Wright — The Rev. Michael Bell offered support to the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr. — The Rev. Mark S. Pierson offered support to the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins — The Rev. Dr. Charmaine M. Merrick Ragin offered support to the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr., and the Rev. Dr. Frederick Wright — The Rev. Harold Wilson offered support to the Rev. Frederick Wright and the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr. — The Rev. Orlando McCauley offered support to the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr., and the Rev. Dr. Frederick Wright — The Rev. Dr. Cecil Richburg offered support to the Rev. Frederick Wright and the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr. — The Rev. Moses Simms offered support to the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins — The Rev. Dr. James Arthur Rumph offered support to the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins — The Rev. Gregory Eason offered support to the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins — Chaplain Samuel Siebo offered support to the Rev. Dr. Francine Brookins and the Rev. Dr. Frederick Wright
Round 2 792 Required
Brookins, Francine A. 937 #141 Elected Bishop of the AME Church Burger, Willem 85 Byrd, Vernon 718 Cooper, Katurah York 265 Gaobepe, Dimpho A. 58 Mugala, Paul M., Sr. 13 Wright, Frederick A. 839 #142 Elected Bishop of the AME Church ❏ ❏ ❏ and First Lady Michelle Obama. This award was presented to Dr. Bryan Stevenson, Esq. - Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.
VICE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS FROM VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the 51st Session of the General Conference in celebration of our rich history and our commitment to social justice initiatives, particularly Souls to the Polls and our fight for voting rights. VP Harris stated that democracy is a call and response—the AME Church responds.
The vice president’s full speech is posted The Christian Recorder’s website thechristianrecorder.com.
Chairperson Bishop Clement W. Fugh gave rules for the election proceedings. Candidates were allowed to have one sponsor in the room with them during the process.
EPISCOPAL COMMITTEE REPORT
The Episcopal Committee entered the room in their traditional somber fashion.
In the Matter of Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah:
The Episcopal Committee received a letter from an attorney appealing Bishop Messiah’s location stating that the proceedings did not have due process.
Upon receipt of the letter, the Judicial Council ordered a stay of the Episcopal Committee’s actions regarding Bishop Messiah.
The Judicial Council delivered a notice of trial that was to be held at 5:00 p.m.
The Judicial Council met at 1:30 p.m. for a pre-trial hearing.
The trial began at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2021.
Bishop Messiah appeared in person with three attorneys on zoom.
There were documents presented, witnesses, and exhibits.
Bishop Messiah was able to cross examine witnesses against him.
The Judicial Council also cross-examined Bishop Messiah’s witnesses.
The Judicial Committee found that there was sufficient evidence: 1— Bishop Messiah had been found criminally liable by the High
Court of Lusaka for misuse of charitable funds. 2— Inappropriate assessment of General Conference delegate/ alternate fees. 3— Assigning unelected delegates/alternate delegates
The Judicial Council did not rule on the issue of delegates/alternates as their credentials were certified by the Credential Committee. However, they did find him to be untruthful in his testimony about the matter.
They did not consider an array of complaints against Bishop Messiah.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing the witness testimony, the Judicial Council found that there was sufficient evidence to sustain the ruling of the Episcopal Committee and thereby lifted the stay imposed.
For the record, neither the Rev. Dr. Vernon Byrd, Jr. nor Glenda Hodges participated in the decision.
The location of Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah is upheld.
The second matter of the Episcopal Committee was to recommend the election of four bishops at this 51st Session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
There were several Points of Inquiry that were deemed to be not regarding parliamentary procedure so, therefore, not recognized.
The report was received: 1270 yes 153 no 39 abstained.
The Election Committee prepared delegates for the election.
Following test questions to ensure all delegates were able to vote, the election began. ❏ ❏ ❏
...From Congratulatory p21 Church.
There will be time during the parade for everyone to briefly greet the celebrating couple while remaining socially distant.
Congratulatory messages can be sent to: The Rev. and Mrs. Ronald Boykin • 14521 Penderlea Court • Gainesville, VA 20155 • RevBoykin@aol.com *The Reverend Bruce Points, Sr., Pastor of Zion AME
Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Proudly Announces the Graduation of Their Granddaughter, Darien Branche
The Reverend Bruce D. Points, Sr. and Mrs. Cassandra Points proudly announce the graduation of their granddaughter Darien Branche from Howard University in Washington, D.C. on May 7, 2021. She received a Bachelors degree in Bioethics, cum laude. Rev. Points is the pastor of Zion AME Church in Philadelphia, PA.
Congratulatory messages can be emailed to:prp804zion@gmail.com • pastorpoints@aol.com *Two Tennessee Conference PK’S Selected to
Participate in The Higher Education Leadership
Foundation Institute.
Congratulations to Dr. Alexis Gatson Heaston, who has been selected to participate in The Higher Education Leadership Foundation Institute.
The Higher Education Leadership Foundation is pleased to announce the Lambda and Mu cohorts for the 2021 Inspire Institute that will take place June 3-6th, 2021 on the campus of @wileycollege1873. These 44 scholars, practitioners, and administrators make up the 11th and 12th cohort and were selected for participation in this 4-day leadership institute.
For more information, visit www.heleaders.org.
Dr. Heaston, a member of Payne Chapel AME Nashville, TN under the leadership of Dr. W.A. Sinkfield, is the daughter of Presiding Elder Alexander Gatson and Mrs. Annette Gatson of the North District, Tennessee Annual Conference of the 13th Episcopal District.
Congratulatory responses can be sent to: alexisgatson08@gmail.com.
Congratulations to Dr. Jeffery Wayne Norfleet II who has been selected to participate in The Higher Education Leadership Foundation Institute.
The Higher Education Leadership Foundation is pleased to announce the Lambda and Mu cohorts for the 2021 Inspire Institute that will take place June 3-6th, 2021 on the campus of @wileycollege1873. These 44 scholars, practitioners, and administrators make up the 11th and 12th cohort and were selected for participation in this 4-day leadership institute.
For more information, visit www.heleaders.org.
Dr. Norfleet is a General Board member and the 1st vice president of the Tennessee Conference Lay Organization. Jeffery is a member of Saint Paul AME Church, Oakwood, Tennessee where his father, The Rev. Jeffery W. Norfleet, Sr., serves as pastor and his mother Mrs. Cathy Norfleet, is the first lady.
Congratulatory responses can be sent to: Jeffery.Norfleet@gmail.com Introducing the Techstars Sports Accelerator Powered by IndyClass of 2021, Tiffany Marie Kelly Tiffany Marie Kelly, daughter of Dr. Herman O. Kelly, Jr. and Linda Marie Kelly, pastor and first lady of Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana was selected to participate in the Techstars Sports Acclerator Class of 2021 Indy Class. Her company Curastory based out of Brooklyn, New York allows creators to shoot and edit high quality video, monetize shows, and distribute to all of their video channels, 100 percent free. This mentorship with startups is a 13-week mentorshipdriven accelerator program, culminating with a Demo Day on September 2nd, where they will showcase their progress in front of an expected audience of over 500 investors from around the world. Techstars only accept 3 percent of applicants each year. Tiffany Kelly is an honor graduate of Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida in 2016, where she received the highest award, The Wayne Huizenga Award, for the best technology and scholarship presentation thesis for a graduating senior in 2016. The award is named after Mr. Huizenga, who was the former owner of the Miami Dolphins. She is a former analytics associate at ESPN where she was the first minority woman of color hired on the team. Congratulatory messages can be sent to: spidermh7@ yahoo.com ❏ ❏ ❏
On behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop Vashti McKenzie, president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) the Rev. Dr. Roderick D. Belin, and editor of The Christian Recorder Mr. John Thomas III, we celebrate and applaud your achievements.
“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NRSV)
To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org • facebook.com/AMECFIC JULY 2021 — NECROLOGY LISTINGS
* Purple font connotes Episcopal Family; Red font, General Officers and Blue font, Connectional Officers. Mr. DeWitt Hilliard, the father of the Rev. Lynnette Thomas and father-in-law of the Rev. Gregory Thomas, Twelfth Episcopal District Mr. Bertell Porcher, the brother-in-law of the Rev. Dr. Charles Young, presiding elder, and Dr. Sandra Young, area consultant of the Orangeburg District, Central Annual Conference of the Seventh Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Mr. Joseph President, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina, the maternal grandfather of the the Rev. Garrett J. Copeland, associate minister at Kairos Ebenezer AME Church, Nashville, Tennessee, Thirteenth Episcopal District Mrs. Catherine Rainer, the beloved wife of the Rev. Melvin Rayner, retired pastor of Bethel AME Church, Bay Shores, NY, First Episcopal District, who moved to the Eleventh Episcopal District where the couple were active members of Mt. Zion AME Church, Ocala, FL
The Reverend Sunday Musamala
Sinyangwe, a minister for 18 years in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, a member of the Lusaka East Presiding Elder District in the Southeast Zambia Annual Conference of the Seventhenth Episcopal District.
Mrs. Jimmie Mae “Mother” Goodloe,
matriarch of the Goodloe family, motherin-love of connectional officer, the Rev. Michele R. Goodloe, president of the Presiding Elder’s Council of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, presiding elder of the Southeast District-South Mississippi Annual Conference and Administrative Assistant of the Eighth Episcopal District
Mr. Buford Rice “Sonny” Walker,
husband of Mrs. Jacqueline DupontWalker, consultant/director, Social Action Commission, African Methodist Episcopal Church The Rev. Dr. Farrell J. Duncombe, (retired) presiding elder of the Montgomery Selma District in the Alabama River Region Annual Conference of the Ninth Episcopal District until his retirement from the AME Church; husband of Mrs. Juanita Duncombe, father of Farrell Duncombe II and Djuana Paden, three grandchildren Brother Albert Bethea, the father of the former pastor the Rev. Dr. Michael A. Bethea of Hemingway Temple AME Church, Washington, D.C., Second Episcopal District Mother Odesser Murray, mother of Pastor Sharon (Leon) Ogilvie, pastor of Wayman Chapel (Columbia, TN) and Jones Chapel (Mt. Pleasant, TN) in Maury County, TN (Tennessee Annual Conference), Thirteenth Episcopal District The Reverend D. Lavel Crawford, servant leader at Avery Chapel AME Church, Oklahoma City, OK, he also served as Twelfth Episcopal District accountant, served on the Revision Committee and on the General Conference Commission of the AME Church Mrs. Eliza V. Lewis, the mother of the Rev. Willie L. Merrick and mother-in-law of Mrs. Wanda T. Merrick, pastor and first lady of the Flipper Chapel AME Church, Tallahassee, Florida Annual Conference-Tallahassee District, Eleventh Episcopal District Mr. George L. Russell Sr., (77) the father of the Rev. George L. Russell, Jr. who is the pastor of Brown Chapel AME Church in Cincinnati, OH, and father-in-law of Mrs. Anna Russell, Third Episcopal District Mr. Horace Ricardo Scott, the brother of the Rev. Dr. Edward Scott, pastor of Allen Chapel AME Church, Staunton, Virginia, and the brother-in-love of the Rev. Andrea Cornett Scott, pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church, Staunton, Virginia, and dean of the Virginia Conference Board of Examiners, Second Episcopal District The Reverend Neal Chris Smith III, retired itinerant elder in the Fourth Episcopal District, Michigan Conference; served as pastor in several churches in the Michigan Conference, St. Matthew AME - Detroit, Allen Chapel - Kalamazoo, Mt. Calvary - Detroit, and St. Luke - Roseville Mrs. Pauline Bryant Hickman, the mother of the Rev. Ronnie Clark, pastor of Hurst Chapel AME Church, Winter Haven, West Coast Conference, the Rev. ...continued on p32
WILL THE AME CHURCH BE HEALED? REFLECTIONS ON THE 2021 GENERAL CONFERENCE
By John Thomas III, Editor
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6
From July 6-10, the family of the African Methodist Episcopal Church gathered in Orlando, Florida and through Zoom conferencing to conduct the business of the denomination in the best way they knew how. It seemed as if Murphy’s Law was in full effect: a global pandemic, a looming hurricane, poorly functioning sound, international connectivity issues, and to top it all off a brief electrical fire in the main hall.
And still, we are yet alive…and thoroughly exhausted.
Bishop Vinton Anderson once stated, “No two general conferences are alike.” I’m sure that the attendees of the 2021 General Conference pray that saying is true and that we never have such a harried meeting again. Even by our normally ambitious standards for General Conference agendas, attending this meeting felt like running a gauntlet. The schedule was so congested that only eight pieces of legislation were considered and by the middle of the fourth day, all general officer and Connectional reports were suspended and received electronically. I overheard a senior church official candidly state, “All we came here to do was retire these folks, elect new people, and pass a budget. Anything else is extra.”
The “extra” accomplished, however, at the 2021 General Conference speaks volumes. The AME Church became the first predominately black denomination to openly address concerns of sexual ethics and LGBTQ inclusion by creating a discernment committee charged with bringing back recommendations to the 2024 General Conference. We elected Advocate Thabile Ngubeni as the first lay African and first African woman to sit on the Judicial Council. Bishop Francine A. Brookins was elected as the 5th woman bishop and first daughter of a bishop. She along with Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II are the first bishops from Generation X (born 1965-1980). These historic achievements show the best of the AME Church as a denomination of “liberating and reconciling people.”
The road to these accomplishments, however, was not easy. Looming over the entire General Conference was the absence of the delegates from Canada, India, and the continent of Africa exacerbated by the technological challenges. While the AME Church did the best it could, our family who were unable to travel to neither the United States nor South Africa because of the pandemic deserved far better and difficult questions must be asked about what “the Connection” looks like over the next decade. In several instances, bishops ran roughshod over the rights of delegates and arbitrarily silenced debate during the business sessions. We saw repeated instances of ageism and microaggressions directed against young adults—even as a general officer of the church, I was not immune to being belittled because of my age. The brazen attempt to elect an allmale ticket to the Episcopacy as the first female bishop retired should be seared into our memory along with the collective cry against it. It remains to be seen if the tension over the Episcopal assignments that brought an abrupt and chaotic end to the General Conference will persist until 2024. We are the descendants of the Free African Society and the same spirit of resistance and refusal to be silenced that led us out of Saint George’s also compels us to fight against the injustices and iniquities we see directed towards each other. As the dust settles and we move back into the routine of African Methodism, we must not rush through this moment to reflect on what the General Conference 2021 showed us. When Jesus approached the man at the pool of Bethesda, the man had become used to his condition, and he
John Thomas III 21st Editor of The Christian Recorder knew no other way to live. But when asked about healing, the man jumped at the chance to be restored. Problems that have long been thought to be in the shadows are now fully before us just like the sickness of the man at the pool was clear to everyone. The sicknesses of inequality, misogyny, homophobia, ageism, and neocolonialism that erupted into the full view of the General Conference can be healed—if we wish it. Healing requires us to be honest about the situation of our church at all levels and continue open and honest dialogues towards real solutions. We as members of the body of Christ serving in the AME Church must look around and ask ourselves, “Do we wish to be healed?”
I pray so. ❏ ❏ ❏
...From Necrology p31 Marque Woodard, pastor of Fountain Chapel AME Church, Tallahassee, the Rev. Gwendolyn Carroll-Simmons, pastor of Richbay AME Church, Havana, and the Rev. Debra Love, pastor of Oakgrove AME Church, Chattahoochee; all of the Florida Conference, Eleventh Episcopal District The Reverend Johan Ivan Phillips, age 59, an itinerant elder for 26 years in the AME Church serving churches in the Boland Annual Conference in the Fifteenth Episcopal District, who died in a tragic car accident on his way to a pastor’s meeting of the Montagu PE District The Reverend Mark Ellen Pietersen, age 53, an active itinerant elder in the Boland Annual Conference, Fifteenth Episcopal District for 30 years, who died in a tragic car accident on his way to a pastor’s meeting of the Montagu PE District Mr. Aaron M. Hunter, the brother of the Rev. Dr. Barbara Hunter Thompson, president of the Third Episcopal District M-SWAWO plus PKs and brother-in-law of the Rev. Dr. Taylor T. Thompson, pastor of St. Paul AME Church, Canton, Ohio, Third Episcopal District Sis. Mary Smith Zarzar, 1st vice president of the Fourteenth Episcopal District Women’s Missionary Society, district secretary, and the administrative assistant to the pastor of the Eliza Turner Memorial AME Church The Reverend Dr. Peggy E. Wall, a beloved retired pastor of the Baltimore Annual Conference, Second Episcopal District Mrs. Pirley Mae Brumfield, the mother of Miss Alise Ware, and Mrs. Marie Gauthier, Louisiana Conference lay president; the mother-in-law of the Rev. Willie Gauthier, pastor of Salter’s Chapel AME Church, Bogalusa, Louisiana, and the grandmother of Mr. Emile Washington, former Connectional YPD president Presiding Elder Joseph Sono, age 51 years, an itinerant elder in the Kalahari Annual Conference in the Fifteenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Mrs. Sallie G. Townes, Sixth Episcopal District, Macon Georgia Conference pastor’s widow, former president of the Macon GA Conference M-SWAWO Plus PK’S Ms. Rakgadi Evodia Fantsi, daughter of the late presiding elder, Rev. and Mrs. Edward Victor Fantsi, Nineteenth Episcopal District
The Reverend Rashi Imel Pinckney,
retired, Baltimore Conference of the Second Episcopal District Sister Bobbie Coleman, the widow of the late Rev. Willie R. Coleman, the mother of sisters Janet Coleman (Dr. Daniel W.) Johnson, pastor and first lady of Allen Temple AME Church, Pine Bluff, AR, and Lisa Coleman, Twelfth Episcopal District Mrs. Earlene King, the mother of the Rev. Linda F. (Sherman) Butler, pastor of Ward Chapel AME Church, Prescott, AR, Twelfth Episcopal District Sister Creola Scott Bowens, the mother of the Rev. Dr. Debbie A. Bowens Davis, pastor of Agape Fellowship African Methodist Episcopal Church, Sumter District, Northeast Annual Conference and Dr. Brenda F. Bowens, financial secretary of the Seventh Episcopal District Lay Organization of the Seventh Episcopal District of the AME Church Mrs. Lois Helen Cyprian, the widow of presiding elder Joseph H. Cyprian, Jr., the mother of Mr. Douglas (Pamela) Cyprian of Folsom, Louisiana, and the Rev. Derrick (Chalita) Cyprian of Houston, Texas, the loving Maw-maw to four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Condolences to the bereaved are expressed on behalf of Publications Commission chair Bishop Vashti McKenzie, president/publisher of the AMEC Publishing House (Sunday School Union) the Rev. Roderick D. Belin and editor of The Christian Recorder, Mr. John Thomas III.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matthew 5:4 (NRSV)
To share or receive information about Connectional clergy family bereavements and congratulations, please contact the AME Church Clergy Family Information Center. Mrs. Ora L. Easley, Administrator • 5981 Hitching Post Lane • Nashville, TN 37211 • 615.833.6936 (CFIC Office) • amecfic.org •facebook.com/AMECFIC ❏ ❏ ❏
