By TCR Staff
The 2025 General Board Meeting of the African Methodist Episcopal Church convened from June 16–18 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, at the Omni Hotel under the guidance of Bishop James L. Davis, President of the General Board, and Bishop Silvester S. Beaman, President of the Council of Bishops and Host Bishop. The session opened at 10:02 a.m. with Rev. Tyronda Burgess, General Secretary/Chief Information Officer, calling the official roll.
Senior Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah delivered the opening address, urging the church not to be complacent in progress. “We major in minor things,” he remarked, warning against silence in moments requiring a prophetic voice. He called for persistence, reminding the church that while great strides have been made, “we still have a long way to go.”
Bishop Sylvester Beaman, President of the Council of Bishops, shared reflections from the 12th Episcopal District, calling the moment a divine assignment. He noted that “twelve” signifies divine authority and called attendees to rise to that mandate.
Bishop David R. Daniels recognized the collective leadership present—bishops, supervisors, general officers, WMS, YPD, Lay Organization, presidents, deans, and other dignitaries.
Following the approval of the December 2024 minutes and the meeting agenda, Marcus Henderson presented a financial report stating that the Church’s budget came in 11% under expectations, totaling $1,362,593. He proposed an annual “State of the Church” update to follow each audit. Notably, the settlement process related to earlier litigation has been fulfilled.
Plenary Session Address: Congressman James E. Clyburn
The plenary session was solemnly opened with a prayer in remembrance of the Emanuel 9. Congressman James E. Clyburn, the longest-serving African American member of Congress from South Carolina, was the keynote speaker. He recalled his AME upbringing, speaking fondly of Morris Brown AME Church and the influence of Bishop Frederick Calhoun James.
Drawing from Matthew 7:15, Clyburn cautioned against “false prophets” and spoke about the balance between liberalism and conservatism, quoting his father: “If you make a dollar, you must conserve a nickel.” He underscored the historical role of the AME Church in civic life and issued a challenge to today’s leaders: “The church came to the rescue in the past. Can you do it again?”
Commission Sessions and Highlights
Retirement Services, led by Executive Director Rev. Dr. Brian Blackwell, reported over 1,100 calls answered personally by Blackwell since January. The department processed 167 disbursements totaling more than $570,000. Customer service remains a priority. Transition from Symetra is expected in the future.
Church Growth and Development, Statistics and Finance, Legal Counsel, and Ministry in Recruitment commissions reported substantial progress and ongoing initiatives. The Legal Counsel emphasized litigation progress against Symetra and others, with a trial scheduled for April 2026.
In Publications, updated protocols and policies for 2026 were reviewed. Bishop Daniels led the Chaplain Services report, while Bishop Beaman’s Global Witness report proposed a designated giving Sunday for AME-SADA due to federal funding losses.
Christian Education, under Bishop Seawright, encouraged broader engagement with AMECED’s digital resources and called for support of upcoming youth and education events.
In the evening, the Investiture of Bishop Silvester S. Beaman as President of the Council of Bishops showed the Bishop’s care and appreciation for the arts. Designed as a tribute in three books, the program included a performance by a local indigenous school in homage to Oklahoma’s traditional landholders, several musical selections, and a creative skit featuring actress Jasmine Guy and Bishop Beaman’s grandson. The evening continued with a reception and live musical performance enjoyed by all.
On the second day of the General Board, the morning devotional was led by the Seventh Episcopal District, with the Rev. Dr. Kylon Middleton preaching from Psalm 134, using the theme “Ignite.” The following are summaries of recommendations passed by the General Board. For full text, see the official minutes
Commission Reports and Recommendations
Ministry and Recruitment
The Commission on Ministry and Recruitment, chaired by Bishop Jeffery B. Cooper, was presented by Rev. Garland Pierce with Rev. Conitras M. Houston Dickens serving as secretary. The commission proposed a State of Ministry Recruitment and Preparation Summit to address the evolving challenges clergy face. With General Board approval, the commission will partner with the Council of Bishops to develop this initiative. A strong emphasis was placed on clergy well-being, debt reduction, and long-term strategies for clergy formation and readiness.
Global Development
Chaired by Bishop Wilfred J. Messiah, the Global Development Commission was recorded by Mrs. Ra’Veon Ward-Pace and supported by AME-SADA Executive Director Mr. Robert Nicolas. The commission stressed regional leadership training, redistricting feasibility, and economic empowerment initiatives throughout Districts 14–20. A $1 per member giving campaign was launched to support global projects, including a solar farm pilot in the 19th District. The report also emphasized equitable leadership development, representation reform, and strategic evangelism to enhance the Church’s global visibility and impact.
Health
Chaired by Bishop Gregory V. Eason, the Health Commission was supported by secretaries Dr. Ouida Collins and Dr. Ann Marie Bentsi-Addison, with Chanel Clark and Chantal Alford-Richards serving as recorders. The commission prioritized public health advancement through increased vaccination access and education. Initiatives included the 12-week Chat Challenge, colorectal cancer screening campaigns, and the launch of the IHC mobile response unit with disaster training sessions. Federal funding challenges were met with emergency stabilization for clinics serving over 190,000 patients. The commission is also pursuing CME accreditation and large-scale grants to ensure long-term sustainability.
Publications
Bishop Francine Brookins chaired the Publications Commission, with Rev. Troy Thomas serving as secretary. Presenters Dr. Roderick Belin, Dr. John Thomas III, and Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler shared reports from the AME Sunday School Union, The Christian Recorder, and the AME Review. All recommendations were approved, except for the mandate for church schools to use church school-developed curricula. Among the commission’s forward-looking actions were calls for formal budget hearings, a revised connectional communications policy by 2026, and the creation of a new branding taskforce.
Chaplains
Under the leadership of Chair Bishop Joseph Daniels and Secretary Rev. Dr. G. Dianne Lewis, the Chaplains Commission focused on strengthening chaplaincy efforts across the denomination. Action items included the development of a centralized resource database for each district and the formation of a global AME chaplain network spanning all 20 Episcopal Districts. The commission also proposed creating a chaplaincy awareness brochure and clarifying qualification pathways for chaplaincy tracks to bolster professional standards and unity within the ministry.
Global Witness and Ministry
Chaired by Bishop Silvester Scott Beaman, the Global Witness and Ministry Commission was guided administratively by Secretary Rev. Jocelyn Hart Lovelace. The commission proposed designating Sunday, November 2, 2025, as a Connectional day of giving in support of AME-SADA to mitigate the effects of recent federal budget cuts. This giving initiative seeks to sustain global health and development services and reaffirms the AME Church’s international commitment through broad-based participation.
Women in Ministry (WIM)
Under the leadership of Chair Bishop Julius Harrison McAllister, Jr., the Women in Ministry Commission convened with Michael A. Cousin, Jr. serving as secretary. The body elected a new slate of officers for the 2024–2028 term and selected Charlotte, North Carolina, as the site for the 2026 WIM Quadrennial Conference. Strategic goals included increased enrollment in the Rev. Jarena Lee Leadership Academy, improved statistical reporting by district, and collaboration with the 2026 Global Development Council for an integrated WIM gathering.
Social Action
The Social Action Commission, chaired by Bishop Reginald T. Jackson with Saundra Lucas-Fields as secretary, adopted the movement’s new anthem, “AMEs Will Win,” and launched a Social Action Newsletter. The commission confirmed a July 26, 2025, rally addressing environmental justice in Lowndes County, Alabama. Advocacy initiatives targeted the dismantling of private school voucher systems in South Carolina. Inspired by Congressman Clyburn’s call to action, the commission committed to leadership in the Third Reconstruction and restructured Episcopal District Social Action Coordinators.
Christian Education
Led by Chair Bishop Harry L. Seawright, the Christian Education Commission was presented by Dr. Garland Pierce with Dr. Alexis Gatson serving as secretary. The commission encouraged AME leaders and educators to engage with resources such as Daily Spiritual Vitamins and the Writers Guild. Recommendations included promoting the 2025 Nxt30 Young Adult Conference, the 2026 Christian Education Congress, and designated Sundays for RAYAC and AAMES. The commission also stressed the importance of social media engagement and purchasing seasonal devotional guides.
Statistics and Finance
Chaired by Bishop Frederick Alan Wright Sr., the Statistics and Finance Commission was supported by Rev. Conitras M. Houston Dickens as secretary. Reports were received from the General Secretary/CIO and the Treasurer, Dr. Marcus Henderson. Audits were accepted from multiple Episcopal Districts, and fundraising requests were approved for educational institutions including Wilberforce University, Morris Brown College, and Allen University. The adaptable budget model was endorsed through 2028.
Seminaries, Universities, Colleges, & Schools
The Commission on Seminaries, Universities, Colleges, and Schools was chaired by Bishop Vernon Byrd and recorded by Secretary Charlene Boone. The commission emphasized collaboration across educational institutions and endorsed the development of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to facilitate smoother enrollment transitions between AME-affiliated colleges and seminaries. This initiative aims to strengthen institutional continuity and student support.
Church Growth and Development
Under the leadership of Bishop Erika Crawford, the Church Growth and Development Commission outlined several strategic initiatives during the June 2025 General Board meeting. General Officer Marcellus Norris presented the commission’s goals, while Keith Coston Jr. served as secretary. Each district is to appoint a Director of Evangelism and connect with members passionate about the ACE League. Plans include developing a webinar on church life cycles and closures, increasing participation in the annual Church Growth Seminar, and standardizing reporting on church growth and planting trends.
Lay Commission
Chaired by Bishop Ronnie Elijah Brailsford Sr., the Lay Commission convened with Keith E. Britton as secretary and Matikane Abednego Makiti, President of the Connectional Lay Organization, presenting. The commission received updates on strategic planning, membership recruitment, and the financial health of the Lay Organization, including an unmodified audit report from CLO Treasurer Kathy Drayton. Patricia Wright and Afreda Brooks reported on preparations for the 39th Lay Biennial. Bishop Brailsford encouraged continued political engagement and community influence.
Economic Development
The Economic Development Commission, chaired by Bishop Paul J. M. Kawimbe, convened with Rev. Gerald Cooper (3rd District) serving as Vice Chair and Rev. Sheriolyn Curry Hodge (5th District) as Secretary. After hearing a financial status report from the CFO, the commission engaged in a critical discussion on church sustainability. Key focus areas included real estate management, community development, and funding strategies. The commission submitted a motion for the General Board to adopt their terms of reference as a foundation for economic advancement across the denomination.
General Conference Commission
The General Conference Commission, chaired by Bishop Michael L. Mitchell, held its organization meeting virtually on June 14, 2025. Bishop Mitchell was joined by Co-Chairs Bishops Silvester Beaman, Jeffrey Cooper Sr., and retired Bishop Vashti McKenzie. Rev. Tyronda Burgess, General Secretary/CIO, and Dr. Marcus Henderson, CFO, also brought greetings. Ms. Sharon Blaylock announced that the 53rd General Conference will take place June 28–July 5, 2028, in Kansas City, MO. Rev. Marcia Burns was elected Secretary, with Sis. Faye Holmes as Assistant Secretary and Rev. Dr. Charles Ramsey as Chaplain. Committee appointments were also confirmed to guide all aspects of the upcoming conference.
