Rev. Dr. Shakira Sanchez-Collins, Columnist
Members of the General Officers council, bishops, family members, friends, and colleagues gathered to honor the retiring general officers at the General Officer Appreciation dinner held on Wednesday, July 7, 2021. The evening highlighted and recognized the legacy of four General Officers who will retire during the 51st Quadrennial Session of the General Conference: Chief Financial Officer of the AME Finance Department; and Dr. George F. Flowers, the Executive Director of Global Witness and Ministry; Dr. Jerome V. Harris, the Executive Director of the Department of Retirement Services; Dr. James C. Wade, the Executive Director of the Department of Church Growth and Development; Dr. Richard Allen Lewis, the Treasurer and
The appreciation dinner featured remarks delivered by the General Officers Council Speakers including Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown, Rev. Dr. Garland Pierce, Mr. John Thomas III, Rev. Dr. Roderick Belin, and Dr. Jeffrey Cooper, who also presided over the special occasion. Other speakers included Bishop Adam Richardson, Bishop Clement Fugh, and Bishop Samuel Green, who presented the retiring general officers and emphasized the impact and significance that each General Officer has had on the life of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
“General Officers are the glue that holds the Connectional Church together,” said Mr. Thomas during the occasion. “Many persons only get to see the connectional church through the work of our departments.”
On behalf of the General Officer Council, Dr. Cooper, the general secretary of the AME Church, and the Bishops presented the General Officers with an engraved commemorative plaque recognizing their dedication and commitment to the service of the connectional church. In response, each retiring general officer gave a valediction reflecting upon their achievements and memories during their leadership tenures.
“I promised the Lord that I would do the best job that I could do,” said Dr. Harris during his remarks.
Elected towards the beginning of the 21st century, the retiring general officers ushered in significant improvements and innovations in the infrastructure of the AME Church. As the tenure of these four General Officers comes to a close, the church celebrates their service and sacrifice.
