The Rev. Sheleta E. Fomby Makes History
By Ms. Susan A. Lewis
On May 26, 2018, Bishop James L. Davis, presiding prelate of the Second District of the AME Church, appointed the Rev. Sheleta E. Fomby to Hemingway Memorial AME Church in District Heights, Maryland. She is the first female senior pastor.
Coming from humble beginnings and being raised by a single mother, Pastor Fomby, is the youngest daughter of four. She never thought her life could be more than what she saw but knew that it would be radical. A native of Washington DC, Pastor Fomby received the Lord at the age of 16 at the New Covenant Baptist Church in DC at a Wednesday night prayer meeting under Bishop A. Norris Smith. She knew then that the hand of the Lord was on her life, a profound change had taken place, and her steps were ordered. At 19, while in the military in Germany, Pastor Fomby was discipled and recognized that she would serve God in some capacity.
Reflecting on her most meaningful experiences since accepting her call to ministry, Pastor Fomby expressed that “People realize how efficacious the word of God is and the power of God when they apply it. God responds to faithfulness in our daily acts of trusting him. It is worth it to respond in faith and trust and to give God a ‘Yes!’ in moments of fear, being afraid, doubt or struggling with loss. It is in these moments the people of God are liberated, empowered and fully leaning to God, leading to transformation and a new awareness of who God is.”
Pastor Fomby is a powerfully-gifted teacher and has been recognized as one of the emerging voices of this generation. She was ordained an itinerant deacon in the AME Church in April 2007 and an itinerant elder in April 2009. Pastor Fomby spent 14 years as an associate pastor at Reid Temple AM Church in Glen Dale, Maryland, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. Lee P. Washington, the senior pastor, and the Rev. Matthew L. Watley, the executive minister. During her tenure at Reid Temple, she held various executive leadership responsibilities which have benefited the membership. She is also the originating visionary of the New Life Gathering, a program started to develop disciples and nurture faith formation and leadership development.
Pastor Fomby received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources from the University of Maryland and completed her Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary with a focus on African American Church Studies. She also studied at the Faith and Leadership Institute at Duke University. In her spare time, Pastor Fomby enjoys finding out-of-the-ordinary coffee shops to people watch; great jazz by amazing women such as Shirley Horn, Billie Holiday, and Nancy Wilson; and her newest love, cooking.
Reminiscing on her historic appointment to Hemingway Memorial, Pastor Fomby quotes Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” Sherelies fully on the grace of God and acknowledges the weight that comes with being a pastor. Pastor Fomby hopes young women see and view this appointment as an inspiration in whatever their lanes of life are and that it heightens their aspirations in different positions in leadership and life. She humbly states, “I am filled with humility that Bishop Davis would even consider me for this appointment to such a historic church. My heart is filled with gratitude that God would use a flawed vessel who is growing in grace and has dealt with brokenness to be chosen to be used by him in any capacity. I am eternally grateful to God.”
She is encouraged daily by Philippians 1:6, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” It is not clear all that God will do through her but she is certainly a voice for such a time as this.
