The Presiding Bishop, Rt. Rev. Vernon R. Byrd, Jr, Esq., had a close and tight Annual Conference programme that ran back to back. A few weeks after the close of the 52nd Sessions of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the new Bishop was on his way to the District of Assignment.
The bishop arrived in the District in September 2024, and he personally presided over South East Zambia, South West Zambia, Zambezi, North East, and North West Zambia Conferences based in Zambia spread across the length and breadth of a country whose size is 750, 000km2.
The Annual Conferences were punctuated by great and sacred moments as the bishop led the election and ordination of Itinerant deacons and elders. The servants of the Lord working with the Board of Examiners ensured that all was prepared for the ordinations.
The bishop led the ordinates in publicly declaring their vows to the Lord and loyalty to the church. The conferences were reminded that this was a sacred time, and the delegates needed to remain prayerful and steadfast.
The new ministers in the African Methodist Episcopal Church were given time to celebrate the holy communion with their families.
There is a new era in the planning system for the 17th Episcopal District. The District previously held planning meetings at which the temporal business of the District would be conducted with mostly an aim of consolidating key events by the auxiliaries, departments, and societies of the church. The last planning meetings saw the District introducing a few progressive projects.
The Presiding Bishop, Rt. Rev. Vernon R. Byrd, Jr, Esq., has been reflecting on the challenges in the District and considering options for addressing them. Prominent among the issues are pastors’ literacy, episcopal economic development projects, and increasing opportunities for social impact. Across the annual conferences, one can easily sum up the challenges as surmountable ones! The social capital is more than available, with most of the members of the District expressing optimism for the immediate future and posterity.
In the next four years, there will be a shift in the planning process through the New Vision Conference. The delegates and observers will have an opportunity to interact with industry experts in finance, commerce, development, education, health, and business and spend time mooting solutions for the legacy challenges of the District. The ultimate aim will be to develop a Blueprint for the 17th Episcopal District.
The First Edition of the Vision Conference will be held from 24th—26th April 2025 at Bright Chapel AME Church in Kitwe, South West Zambia Conference.
Bishop is considering leading the construction of the first AMEC 17th Episcopal District Headquarters at the Mapepe Farm.
This is great and commendable. Thank you, Bishop Byrd for being farsighted