Reflections on a Remarkable Day at Morehouse College 

By Adam Jefferson Richardson, Jr.,

It was the 40th Martin Luther King Jr. College of Ministers and Laity induction ceremony at 

Morehouse College. I, along with 109 inductees, included 20 members of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. 

I was honored to have been nominated and included in the number. I will not begrudge the lateness of this recognition, but it has been affirming for me at this stage in my life, after retirement. I receive it as a gift from God, in God‘s own time and purpose. 

What a thrill it was to be in the company of President F. DuBois Bowman, Dr. Lawrence E. Carter, founding dean of the MLK, Jr. Chapel,  Episcopal Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, keynote speaker, and blessed in song by the amazing Morehouse College Glee Club. 

The induction to the Board of Preachers honors distinguished clergy and lay leaders who reflect “the prophetic witness, moral courage and unwavering commitment to justice which Morehouse College promotes.” 

For me, it’s been 63 years as a preacher, 28 years in active episcopal ministry and leadership. 

By God’s grace, I have completed one year in retirement — praise be to our gracious God and Father. I gave it my best. It is my prayer that I have made a difference; had an impact; made friends, and pleased God. 

The African Methodist Episcopal Church bestowed on me its highest honor by electing me one of its bishops. It is a coveted leadership role. I own number 115. I pray that I have not squandered the opportunity to help advance the Kingdom of God in Christ. With this citation, I have been offered words of congratulations, and, in a spirit of humility, I simply say “thank you” to one and all. 

Though I have passed the campuses numerous times over the years since my arrival at the ITC in the Atlanta University Center 56 years ago, it had been a while since I had walked the grounds of “Dear old Morehouse.” I hardly recognized the three contiguous campuses as they are connected and intertwined. Spelman, Morehouse, and Clark Atlanta University seem melded into one massive higher education hub, exhibiting Black excellence and academic cooperation. Clark Atlanta University seems to have more of the land share, but all of them are in various stages of brick-and-mortar development. I am impressed. Morris Brown College, near this historic site, is making a phenomenal comeback, proving that Resurrection is real. 

The students I interacted with were brilliant, articulate, helpful, and radically hospitable. These were primarily Morehouse men. I am HBCU proud! Of course, I always feel that way whenever I’m on a college campus and see Black students trying to “get their learn on.” 

I know I am preaching to the choir, but we need not let the current socio/political situation cause us to think that Black people (young people) aren’t super intelligent, creative, ambitious, or untalented. What we want is opportunity. No, Charlie Kirk, we don’t need the standards lowered. We only need access to compete on a leveled playing field. And we are coming! I saw the evidence this week. 

While I take delight in congratulating the others who were celebrated with this prestigious honor, the recognition and induction were affirming for me. It’s akin to stumbling through a forest and finding a tree with markings intentionally carved into the bark, or sitting in a swing in the backyard. Then you see it: painstakingly scribbled into the thick bark are the words, “Tyrone was here.” 

I have been to a lot of places, seen and experienced a lot of things, but this experience is like having your name carved somewhere in the Martin Luther King, Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, “A. J. was here.” 

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List of 2025 Inductees to the MLK International Chapel College of Ministers and Laity 

Bishops Jeffery B. Cooper, Sr., Erika D. Crawford, Gregory G. M. Ingram, Reginald T. Jackson, 

Michael L. Mitchell, A. J. Richardson; Supervisor Jessica Kendall Ingram, General Officer Marcus T. Henderson, Sr.; Clergy Willie Barnes, Jr., Reginald Blount, Anton G. Elwood, Sr.. 

Henry E. Green III, Samuel L. Green, Jr., Morne’ E. Meyer, Glenell M. Lee-Pruitt, Charles R. 

Ramsey, Jr., Ronald Slaughter, Lay Persons Sharon Blaylock, Kimberly G. Brooks, Matthew C. Douglas