The 128th Session of the Southwest Georgia Annual Conference comes back to Americus, Georgia
The 128th Session of the Southwest Georgia Annual Conference was held in Americus, Georgia, at Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church from March 20, 2024 through March 22, 2024. This conference was Bishop Reginald T. Jackson and Episcopal Supervisor Christy Davis Jackson’s last annual conference as our Episcopal Leaders in the Southwest Georgia Conference. It was Presiding Elder Joseph Baker and District Consultant Donna Devoe Baker’s first time serving as a host for the Eastern District of the Southwest Georgia Annual Conference. The Host Pastor and First Lady were the Rev. Jermaine Harris and his wife Tara Harris. This was a special Annual Conference for the people of Americus, Georgia, and Sumter County. The Annual conference had not been held in Americus since 2004.
The AME Church history of Americus/Sumter County is rich, but most people do not know about it. It is the birthplace of the 79th Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Late Bishop John Douglas Bright; and the 42nd Bishop, the late Bishop William Decker Johnson, who was one of the most influential people of African Methodism within the geographical area of Sumter and Webster counties. He is buried at St. Mark AME Church cemetery in Archery, Georgia. Bishop Johnson was one the most influential people in former president Jimmy Carter’s life. There are still remnants of stories of their special friendship.
The conference was spirit-filled, and the host church, Allen Chapel AME Church, delivered radical hospitality. The worship services were awesome, and the preachers delivered life-changing messages. The Voices of Allen sung with power and anointing during the worship services. The Historic Windsor Hotel, built in 1892,was the host hotel. Some special guests during the conference included Mayor Lee Kinnanon, Sheriff Eric Bryant (first black sheriff of Sumter County), and Democratic Leader of Sumter County Bobby Fuse. They visited on the opening day and joined the conference for a welcome breakfast and the opening worship service. Mayor Kinnanon presented Bishop Jackson with a resolution and welcomed Bishop Jackson to Americus. Sherriff Bryant addressed the conference and offered a formal welcome to the attendees of the 128th Session of the Southwest Georgia Conference from Sumter County.
The people of Sumter County were excited to have the AME visitors present in their city. Several church leaders from other denominations within the local area visited and participated in the conference. This included local pastors, laity, and other Christian citizens, to name a few. The local newspaper covered the annual conference, and WTVM Columbus, Georgia, provided television coverage as well. This conference will go down in history as one of the best that the Southwest Georgia Conference has ever had.
