Archives

Filled with Fire: AME Women in Ministry Gather for a Transformative 12th Quadrennial Conference

There are moments in the life of the Church that remind us that God is still calling, still equipping, still sending, and still pouring fresh oil upon those who have answered the call. This is the testimony of the 12th Quadrennial Conference of the Connectional African Methodist Episcopal Women in Ministry, held July 20–23, 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel in Charlotte, North
Carolina, under the gracious hospitality of the Second Episcopal District, Bishop Harry Seawright and Supervisor, Rev. Sherita Moon Seawright.

The Church Doors Stayed Open

On the weekend of primary elections, thousands gathered throughout Selma and Montgomery, Alabama for “All Roads Lead to the South” and the National Day of Action for Voting Rights, where clergy, activists, organizers, students, elders, elected officials, and community voices assembled to confront ongoing attacks against voting rights, gerrymandering, and systematic efforts to silence marginalized communities, while reminding the nation that the struggle for Black dignity, Black political power, and full democratic participation did not end in 1965 and has never fully disappeared from the American landscape.

Whose Theology Is It Anyway?

By Rev. Tameaka Reid Sims, 11th Episcopal District Seminary has a way of exposing assumptions. This spring, during a course on sexual ethics, I expected to sharpen positions I had… Read More »

Recognizing the Legacy, Impact, and Limits of Juneteenth Today and Tomorrow

Juneteenth, established on June 19, 1865, commemorates the date when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved Black Americans were free. This fundamentally moved the country toward “a more perfect union,” as stated in the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1865. The Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth together reflect the deep lamentations and the hopes of people of African descent in the United States.

What MAHA and Black Politics Have in Common

Ultra-processed foods, like soda and snacks, are derivatives of whole foods, created through formulations that enable mass, low-cost production. These foods have been chemically treated and contain high amounts of additives, like salt and sugar, to make them more pleasing to taste, while possessing little nutritional value. Further, UPFs are linked to numerous health dangers, such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. The growth of these foods has created an epidemic of malnutrition among Americans, which has caused the health of the nation to be in decline.

Ten Years at the Helm: Celebrating Dr. John Thomas III’s Editorial Leadership

Ten years ago, at the bicentennial gathering of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the now Dr. John Thomas III stepped into the role of the 21st editor of The Christian Recorder as the youngest general officer to hold this office and on the bench, and the publication has not been the same since. Over the next several days, TCR will celebrate this milestone with videos and testimonials from those who have walked alongside him in media and in the life of the AME Church. Before those stories begin to roll out, it is worth remembering who John is, what he ran on, and what he has stood for across this decade of leadership.

Worship, Testimony and Communion Mark Closing Service of the 2026 General Board Meeting

The 2026 General Board Meeting of the African Methodist Episcopal Church came to a close Wednesday, June 24, 2026, with a worship service that celebrated God’s faithfulness, reflected the rich diversity of the Connection, and reminded those gathered that, while the business of the Church may conclude, its mission continues.

What Comes After Freedom Summer?

When I first opened the curriculum, I felt something I have not felt from a denomination-wide resource in a long time: real pride and unspeakable Black Joy.

A King Honored in His Own Town

Even before the service began, an atmosphere of expectation settled over the room. Recorded anthems of praise played softly throughout the sanctuary as worshippers exchanged greetings and embraced longtime friends before taking their seats for this historic evening. Purple and blue lighting illuminated the stage while church leaders, elected officials, family members, and supporters gathered to witness a milestone in the life of a Bishop whose journey has remained deeply connected to the city of Orlando.

General Board 2026 Report

The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s 2026 General Board Meeting convened June 22-24, 2026 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort in Orlando, Florida, opening with pre-general board activities and seminary breakfasts before moving into a full slate of worship, business, and commission work. The gathering’s spiritual high point came with the investiture of Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II, a celebration marked by powerful worship and testimonies to a ministry shaped by his hometown roots in Orlando. Plenary sessions carried a more sobering tone, as the Board confronted serious financial strain, while debating the future of in-person General Board meetings amid rising costs. Even so, commissions across the Connection pressed forward with new initiatives, from global health partnerships and disaster response planning to expanded seminary collaborations and voter education efforts tied to the church’s Freedom Summer campaign. The meeting closed in worship, a fitting reminder that even as the business of the Church concluded, its mission continues.

Pilgrimage, Purpose, and the Power of Remembering

There are moments in the life of a nation—and in the journey of faith—when we are called not merely to move forward, but to look back with intention. At the Faith & Politics Institute (FPI), there is a sacred understanding that progress is most meaningful when it is rooted in remembrance, shared values, and a collective commitment to truth. Scripture reminds us, “Remember the days of old; consider the years long past; ask your father, and he will inform you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32:7). It is in this spirit that FPI continues the transformative work of congressional pilgrimages.

Rights & Rituals: Black Women and Nonviolent Intimacy

Brokering peace takes the same formation from war paths, through the streets, and into our homes. Black women are more than twice as likely than white women to be killed by an intimate partner. Our bedrooms are battlefields. But we can write a new testament of intimacy that does not threaten our lives to stay or chase us to death if we leave. An intimacy that holds us without violence. An intimacy that is peace, that cherishes and generates peace.