Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield
Presiding Prelate of the 13th Episcopal District and President of the Council of Bishops
In 1984, at my first Founder’s Day as a pastor, a little girl asked her mother, “What was lost.” The reply was “Nothing.” So the young girl asked again, “Then who?”
“Who what,” her mother responded.
“Who was lost,” asked the daughter.
“No one,” said the mother.
“Why are we celebrating Founder’s Day if no one was lost,” the little girl said in a much louder voice.
“Hush, just celebrate,” the mother finally said.
So, what do we do with this question? Why are we celebrating if nothing is lost?
We are in our Founder’s Day season, the hallmark for the African Methodist Episcopal Church. For us, this Is the best season of the year. We gather. We remember. We reflect. We treasure. We gather in the houses of love; we call churches to remember the dedicated servants who built the foundations on which we stand while reflecting on our history (AME and beyond). We celebrate the legacy of Richard, Flora, and Sarah Allen. We enact, recite, and sing our history as a people of triumph and tenacity.
What a treasure we have in two centuries of AME memories, accomplishments, firsts, and historical overcoming at every turn—on every continent. Every general conference and annual conference reminds us from whence we came and how far we still must travel. The list is long: First Black Denomination, First Black University started by Blacks for Blacks, Oldest continuous ownership of property, Expansion to Canada, Africa, and the West Indies, first African American Congresspersons and Representatives, First woman Bishop. During this time of the year, we, as proud AMEs, renew our commitment to continue the legacy of Allen.
We remember our trials, our sorrows, and our mistakes. We proclaim the work of the church and preach triumph over disappointment with remembrance of the greatness and miracles we have witnessed. We are overcome with joy when we recite history, accomplishments, and victories. Our failures have never overtaken our faith. The spirit of Richard Allen leads and inspires us, and we celebrate this most wonderful time in African Methodism.
This year many issues confront us, hurt us, challenge us, and raise the credibility of the Church of Allen. This year for many, it is a challenge to celebrate amid a deadly pandemic, plaguing racial pandemic, churches laboring under the weight of economic challenges, and clergy who are facing the possibility of financial devastation and death of loved ones.
How have we come this far: The goodness of God. How did we make it through crisis: It was a miracle from God? What shall we sing in this strange place? God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. How do we remember that God has restored us before? We tell the story of how our God empowered us to build a church of former slaves and slaves; how we march in the victory of voters’ rights, started Wilberforce University with no money but a vision, and built great cathedrals the same way.
We take a moment on this Founder’s Day to reflect even in uncertainty. We are the church of Allen, built on a foundation of hope, responsibility, and faith. We are the church of Allen, moving forward but never leaving our history behind. We are the church of Allen, scattered yet connected. Our Founder is not lost. We still celebrate.
