By Rev. Royd Mwandu, 17th Episcopal District TCR Field Representative
The writing is on the wall. After what seemed to have been a recess in 2025, the 2026 Global Development Council (GDC) is on once again. It will be hosted by the eighteenth (18th) Episcopal District under the esteemed leadership of the 147th elected and consecrated Bishop, Jeffery B. Cooper Sr. The GDC originates from the African Jurisdictional Council (AJC), which was authorized by the General Conference in 2000. To the unfamiliar, this is a powerful convening of connection, vision-casting, and global ministry collaboration by the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
It is mandatory that the GDC Episcopal leadership, GDC leadership, and membership attend in the beautiful city of Maputo, Mozambique, Africa. On an Episcopal District rotational basis, the GDC is held annually and hosted by Episcopal Districts in the 14-20 brackets.
The expectations are so high from the accredited delegates. Question one is, at the end of the GDC on February 19–21, 2026, at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Residence, Maputo, Mozambique, what will be the most probable takeaways? The second question, “Is the Global Development Council (GDC) branded as an AME Church failed project?
I must hasten to mention that a lot of people have written progressive articles
On the GDC. Unfortunately, nothing much has been done to address issues that people have brought to the attention of the AME Connectional church.
One of the thought-provoking articles worth reading was penned by the Editor-in-Chief of The Christian Recorder (TCR), Dr. John Thomas III. The subject matter was “What is the future of the AME Church in Districts 14-20?” It was posted on April 18, 2017, after he had attended the 7th Biennial Session of the Global Development Council (GDC) in Johannesburg, South Africa. In the article Dr Thomas III brought up the following:
- There is no unified voice for Districts 14-20.
- Meaningful participation in Connectional leadership by persons from Districts 14-20 is a concern.
- There is no clear plan for the future of Districts 14-20.
- There is great potential for the AME Church in Districts 14-20.
The second article that I would recommend was written by Rev Thato Mere of the 19th Episcopal District. It was posted in TCR on August 29, 2024. The subject was “An open letter to district 14-20 of the African Methodist Episcopal Church”.
Stealing from his post, he said: “Episcopal Districts 14,15,17,18,19 and 20 of the AME Church must go back to the ideals of the African Jurisdiction Council (AJC). The AJC was established in 1997. It was at the 2004 General Conference that it transitioned into the current Global Development Council (GDC).
The AJC achieved one of its major goals. In the words of Dr. Thomas, the AJC/GDC process’s signature achievement was the election of three African-born Bishops at the 2004 General Conference.
Guess what? Slightly over twenty-five (25) years. There is nothing one can point out as a GDC achievement.
Apart from being a talk show and a tourism endeavour, I am not very sure what will count as the key probable outcomes of the GDC. However, some of the issues the GDC should critically look at are:-
- Eradication of the divides of Bishops elected from outside the United States?
- Why has the Senior Bishop not been given a chance to serve the church in District 13?
- Why the Ecumenical Officer of the AME Church was not considered to fill the vacancy left by the late Bishop Reginald Thomas Jackson
- Why has promoting the development of African Methodism in Districts 14-20 not worked over the past 25 years?
- Why is the GDC Institutional voice not heard by the Connectional Church?
- Why has the General Conference not been held in Africa?
- Why has access to Connectional resources by the GDC failed
- Why has a regulation for Overseas Development Funds or a Connectional standard for measurable progress not been worked out?
- Why has education and infrastructure development not been forthcoming?
- Why did the proof of ministry by various departments and the lack of sharing of resources and capabilities within Districts 14-20 fail to work?
- Why do some GDC countries in Africa still need to send their citizens to the USA when VISA issuance is restricted?
In conclusion, should the GDC fail to come up with convincing answers to the above questions, then it will be clearly stated that “ The Global Development Council (GDC), a modern AME Church failed project?
