By Rev. Justin Nick, TCR News Editor
Hundreds of AMEs gathered at the opulent Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, for the convening of the General Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. On December 4, 2024, Bishop James L. Davis, President of the General Board, called the December session to order. Bishop Davis greeted the Board and introduced the Morning Meditations preacher, Rev. Dr. Abdue Knox of Greater Bethel AME Church, Charlotte, North Carolina. The meditation was fervent and timely with the memorable tagline “Stop, Turn Right, and Go Straight Until You See The Cross.” Following the meditation, Bishop Davis turned the floor over to the General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Tyronda H. Burgess, for her first formal in-person roll call as Chief Information Officer of the AME Church. The roll call is historic because Dr. Burgess is the first woman to hold the office in the church’s 208-year history. Notably, Zoom was used to enable board members who could not attend the meeting physically because of visas or travel restrictions could answer the role virtually.
After the roll call, Bishop Davis gave his address as the President of the General Board, identifying ways forward. Following Bishop Davis’s address, Senior Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah addressed the General Board. The Senior Bishop reminisced about his struggle to get to the States from South Africa. His flight was canceled, and they rebooked him on a flight that would have made him miss the meeting, but through perseverance, he got here on time. He encouraged the church to persevere; they will overcome obstacles.
Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II greeted the Board on behalf of the Council of Bishops, as Council President Silvester Beaman was traveling to Angola with US President Biden. Bishop Mitchell, the host bishop, greeted the General Board on this “Ice Cold Day of Advent” and welcomed the General Board to the great state of Georgia and the 6th Episcopal District. The welcome was well received.
The Board paused to pray for Bishop Reginald T. Jackson and the Jackson family in the passing of Supervisor Christy Davis Jackson Esq.
After the prayer and silence, Bishop David R. Daniels, 1st Vice President of the General Board, acknowledged all component heads, supervisors, board members, connectional officers, deans, college presidents, and visitors who gathered for the Board.
Attorney Douglass Selby reported where the church was in the contingent settlement agreement. The claims against the church would be released because of the General Conference’s actions. A $20 million settlement was reached, and the church made its first payment. The second half of the payment will be made at the end of May. The payment has gone into a settlement trust and will remain until the settlement judge approves the agreement. The judge will order a notice to go to each plan participant, and a legal representative will contact the plan participants. Once all are notified, the monies will be distributed to all of the plan participants. The $20 million settlement is a partial settlement and is not the full amount of the claims the church has brought against others. There are suits against Newport, Symetra, and other companies that have defrauded the church. The case is nearing the end of the discovery phase, with several depositions still pending. Notices should be going to plan participants in the next 60 days, informing them of the settlement and giving them the option to opt out.
Then, Bishop Clement W. Fugh, retired bishop, presented the quadrennial theme for Bishop Vashti M. McKenzie, the chair of the Quadrennial Theme. The theme for this quadrennium is “Revive our Souls Again: Reconnecting the AME Connection.”
Next, the Board attended its Commission meetings, followed by the Council of Bishops Worship Service. The service had music from the Turner Chapel AME Church, Marrietta, GA. Bishop Clement W. Fugh preached a powerful message from Zechariah 9 entitled, “Prisoners of Hope.”
On day two of the General Board, Bishop Davis Called the closing plenary session to order. Devotions were led by the 7th Episcopal District in low country style, with claps and harmony as the church sang, “The Lord Has Done So Much For Me!” Following the devotions, Rev. Jocelyn Hart Lovelace, Presiding Elder of the Boston-Hartford District, set the church ablaze with a question from Romans 8:31, “What then shall we say in response to these things, If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Following the meditation, the commissions gave their reports. Here are the summaries of actions and recommendations
Ministry and Recruitment:
- Bishop Jeffery Cooper, Sr. presented Rev. Dr. Garland Pierce, Executive Director, Department of Christian Education, for the report. Rev. Dr. Tar-U-Way Bright read the report. The actions were “Identify and discuss major challenges facing ministry and recruitment, and work on resource requirement, clergy well-being, and recruitment challenges.”
Department of Retirement Services
- Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II presented Rev. Dr. Brian Blackwell, Executive Director, Department of Retirement Services, for the report. Rev. Jarrett B. Washington read the report. The actions were the approval of the nominating committee report and the organization of commission committees. Notably, there is no more administration fee for the department. The premiums are paid for insurance policies when the plan participant pays. If the participant does not pay, they are not covered under the policy.
Health
- Bishop Gregory V. Eason presented Chantal Alford-Richards to read the report. The actions were that the Episcopal Teams and the Connectional Health Commission provided timely and effective disaster relief for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Also, the Connectional Health Commission facilitated Zoom calls with the YPD Executive Board to address grief and provide guidance. During the report, a $100,000 donation from Wesleyan Impact Partners was presented to the Commission for their work in Hurricane Relief.
Publications
- Bishop Francine A. Brookins attended virtually. Rev. Dr. Roderick Belin, President / Publisher of AME Sunday School Union; Dr. John Thomas, Christian Recorder Editor; and Dr. Mark Tyler, Executive Director of the Department of Research and Scholarship/Historiographer, presented the report. The actions were to confirm Rev. Lisa Hammonds as the Assistant Editor of the Christian Recorder.
Global Witness and Ministry
- Bishop Beaman was traveling with President Biden. Rev. Dr. John F. Green, Executive Director, Department of Global Witness and Ministry, presented Rev. Jocelyn K. Hart Lovelace to read the report. The actions were to confirm the members of the commission in their offices.
Women in Ministry
- Bishop Julius H McAllister, Jr presented Rev. Sandra E Williams to read the report. The actions were to continue to build the Holy Saturday Prayer Vigil, use the Maximize Moments platform, which will reconvene in January 2025, and create tracks to expose women to new creative ways and resources for women to grow and expand in ministry.
Christian Education
- Bishop Harry L. Seawright presented Dr. Alexis Gatson to read the report. The recommendations were the development of fellowships in the Christian Education Manual and CDMC Manual; expansion of ministry and membership reach for MCAM, the Sons of Allen, and RAYAC; and a scholarship fund for implementation for the fellowship of church educators and the MCAM.
Seminaries, universities, Colleges, & Schools
- Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, Jr. presented Rev. Charlene N. Boone to read the report. The actions were the confirmation of the nominating committee report.
Church Growth and Development
- Bishop Erika D Crawford presented Rev. Dr. Marcellus A. Norris, Executive Director, Department of Church Growth and Development. Mr. Keith W. Coston, Jr. read the report. The actions confirmed the nominating committee report and support of the Allen Christian Evangelical League Ministry.
Lay Organization
- Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr. presented Keith Britton to read the report. The actions were the confirmation of the nomination committee, an update from Matikane Abednego Makiti, CLO President, and commission updates from the Director of Lay Activities.
Social Action
- Bishop Reginald T. Jackson was excused. Dr. Jacquelyn Dupont-Walker presented Mrs. Sandra Luca-Fields to read the report. The actions were to identify/organize social action commissions at all levels; support all social justice foci- climate change, environmental justice, mass incarceration, health inequities, and project 2025; and partner with AME V-Alert to immediately activate the voter base.
Statistics and Finance
- Bishop Frederick A. Wright, Sr. presented Mr. Gabriel Cloud to read the report. The actions were to confirm the nominating committee’s report.
Following the completion of the commission reports, the General Board adjourned. The General Board will neet meet in person in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in June 2025.
