On the Matter of the Rev. Dr. Jerome Harris
By John Thomas III, PhD, Editor
At the July 2023 Session of the General Board, the motion was brought to the General Board to file formal charges within the African Methodist Episcopal Church judicial process against Rev. Dr. Jerome Harris. After a debate on the appropriateness of the venue and the process to file the charges, the motion passed to instruct the President of the General Board, Bishop Paul Kawimbe, to file the charges in the name of the General Board no later than thirty (30) days after the meeting. At the time of writing this editorial, the General Secretary’s office indicates that the charges have been prepared for filing.
After the meeting, I heard two reactions from attendees. The first was pride and admiration that someone would stand up with a measure of bravery to openly state the denomination’s law clearly. The second response almost equally heard lamented the futility of the charges and the belief that they would not amount to substantive action. Both reactions speak to the culture of the AME Church and our need to be accountable and fair in our operations.
It is troubling that comments such as “That sure was brave.” and “Weren’t you scared?” were expressed which affirm that members live in a culture where trepidation and angst exist about doing the right thing. The motion was supported by both the positive law of the church and the clear allegations laid out in the brief presented in the denomination’s suit against Dr. Harris. There was nothing further to articulate regarding the motion. Yet, we still operate in an environment where even the most highly positioned AMEs tread carefully lest they arouse the ire of the powers that be. There is still much to learn from the debacle in the AME Department of Retirement Services.
People also questioned the efficacy of filing charges within the AME Church against the accused. While submitting Dr. Harris to the AME Church internal judicial process might not offer any immediate financial relief, it shows that the denomination is willing to hold one of our own accountable. When General Officers are elected, they take an oath in front of the General Conference “to perform faithfully their duties” and “be loyal to the church.” If these words have any meaning, we must hold ourselves accountable if laws/policies/ procedures are broken. To levy a suit in a secular venue and not also bring charges within the AME process is nonsensical, particularly when the denomination has a process in place to address such offenses. As painful as it may be, healing can only begin when the we engage our judicial process to uncover the truth and take the appropriate actions.
In the U.S, when President Donald Trump was impeached twice, it was a foregone conclusion that he would not be convicted. Yet, the leadership of the House of Representatives and the Senate decided that it was their civic duty to do their best to hold him to account for the acts he committed. Likewise, the AME Church cannot allow personal feelings and relationships to hinder holding Dr. Jerome Harris to account for the allegations against him. Our reluctance to embarrass and harm our friends and colleagues has led us to this crisis. May the AME Church learn from this mistake.
