A Tale of Two Conference Sites: Preserving Legitimacy and Equity at GC2021
By Thabile Ngubeni, Willem Burger, Katurah York Cooper, and Dimpho Gaobepe
COVID-19 has impacted our approaches to worship and ministry in our local churches. Also, her tentacles have penetrated and changed the conduct of the General Conference (GC). Consequently, the oldest Black Denomination in the world is preparing to hold a Hybrid Virtual General Conference in real-time on the continents of North America and Africa in Cape Town South Africa, in less than 30 days. The AME Church is again at the doorstep of making progressive history.
Delegates are preparing to stake stock of the Church’s achievements, re-evaluate strategy, and elect the highest echelon of leadership of the AME Church. The main purpose is to develop the legacy of our forefathers and ensure the sustainability of this Zion for the benefit of generations to come. Undoubtedly, this Great Zion is on the right track.
To guarantee the integrity of this momentous occasion, delegate participation and candidates for elected office must prevail. Two established seats of the GC2021 enjoy equal access to the proceedings: the functionality of delegates’ committee duties and equal legitimacy of delegates exercise their voting right. Neither of the two GC sites or seats is more important or relevant than the other. Also, cognizance must be had that delegates in Africa are at great risk as the numbers rise in South Africa, the vaccine roll-out will not reach all delegates in a timely manner; and in some of the countries where other delegates reside, vaccines are not available.
The value and validity of a candidate must not be impacted by where that candidate is seated. Pre-COVID-19, all candidates would have been seated at one site. Though provisions have been made to accommodate candidates from outside North America to be seated at the Orlando, Florida site, no candidate should be perceived as less passionate, qualified, or unserious about their election because they cannot travel to Orlando.
Four candidates live and serve in Africa and have been certified by the CIO Office to campaign for election to serve our church. They are Advocate Thabile Ngubeni (MBA), lay a candidate for the Judicial Council from the 19th District; Presiding Elder Willem Burger, a candidate for bishop from the 15th District, South Africa; the Rev. Dr. Katurah York Cooper, a candidate for bishop from the 14th District, West Africa; and the Rev. Dimpho Gaobepe, a candidate for bishop from 19th District, South Africa. These candidates will be seated with their Episcopal district delegations in Cape Town. The remaining candidates will be seated in Orlando, along with the majority of the voting delegation.
The church, through various candidate forums, has provided exposure to all candidates and with other virtual means has afforded extensive interaction between the candidates and voting delegation. However, there is a disparity in campaigning opportunities. Candidates in America may have up to 10 campaign team members on-site, whereas this privilege is not available to the African seating. This is due to COVID-19 restrictions but also due to venue decisions taken in a short period. In this regard, the playing fields are in no way level.
We urge the delegates to spend time doing research on all the candidates, especially those that do not live or serve in Districts 1-13. Through prayer and wise introspection, vote for those they believe will serve our Zion well at this critical time in our history.
The candidates from Africa are grateful for the work done by the General Conference Commission, the CIO and CFO offices, and the Council of Bishops in an attempt to ensure that each delegate enjoys the right and privilege to fully participate in GC2021. There is still room for improvement.
We are also excited about the new era that our church is entering. There is no going back. Change is the product of our COVID-19 experience and we must be willing to accept this with a radical thought adjustment. We call on our brothers and sisters across the Connection to pivot in the direction of change, innovation, equity, inclusivity, transparency, fiscal integrity, progress, and growth. We are praying for safe travel and the protection of everyone as we journey to GC2021 in Orlando and Cape Town, some at more risk than others. God bless the AME Church.
