Category: Features
Nobody Told Us the Road Would Be Easy
By Antjuan Seawright, Columnist When President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law on August 6, 1965, the weight of disenfranchisement was removed from the chest of every… Read More »
New Year, New Vision
How Greater Allen AME Church in Dayton, Ohio Is Building Senior Housing Through a Land-Lease Model On a quiet stretch of Dayton, Ohio—where older homes and longtime neighbors tell the… Read More »
Joshua: A Lesson in Leadership, Followship and Succession
By Rev. Carey A. Grady, 7th Episcopal District The book of Joshua is the sixth book of the Bible (the Christian Canon), the first book of the Historical Writings, and… Read More »
10th District YPD Goes “Battle Ready” Through Mission Outreach at Annual Youth Summit
By: Jaelyn Maladdie 10th Episcopal District The 10th District Young People’s and Children’s Division, under the leadership of Bishop Ronnie E Brailsford, Sr, and Supervisor Rev. Carolyn E. Brailsford, proudly… Read More »
From Boxes to Books: Making Room for Creative Callings in the Church
By Rev. Tameaka Reid Sims, 11th Episcopal District In my family, words have always mattered. For two decades, from 1976 to 1996, my uncle, the Rev. Dr. Robert H. Reid,… Read More »
Planning for Church Growth and Acting for Church Growth
By Mxolisi Henry Vilakazi, Columnist The rise of an organization is dependent on its current leadership and membership’s ability to recruit and retain new members. A church that does not… Read More »
Cross and Crest: Why Black Greeks Don’t Have to Choose Between Jesus and Their Letters
By Rev. Terrance L. Thomas, Contributing Writer If you have been following on social media, in particular Facebook, TikTok, and Threads, there’s a fresh wave of people renouncing and denouncing… Read More »
There are Conditions Worse Than Closure
By Tiffany Brockington, 4th Episcopal District Black people and our institutions are facing the most consequential, “unprecedented” conflict of our lifetime right now. We are living through increased censorship, civil… Read More »
What If Artificial Intelligence Could Streamline the Next Doctrine and Discipline?
In “ChatGPT and the Church,” I argue that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer optional for the Church. It’s here. It’s powerful, and it can either amplify our blind spots or free us to focus on what matters most. But what if we dared to let AI help us with one of the most painstaking, time-consuming, and consequential tasks we face every four years – revising The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church?
Why We Don’t Re-baptize
Along with the Lord’s Supper, baptism is one of two sacraments that we celebrate in the AME Church. The word “sacrament” derives from a Latin word which means “mystery.” It is a mystery because we cannot fully comprehend or articulate what God does in the waters of baptism. Baptism focuses on God’s action, not ours. It is the grace of God that invites us to the waters of baptism, and we receive God’s gifts of regeneration and incorporation into God’s family.
Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures: A Global Faith Response to Maternal Health
April is recognized globally as a time to reflect on maternal and child health, culminating in World Health Day on April 7, which often highlights the importance of healthy beginnings for mothers and babies. For communities of faith, particularly within the African Methodist Episcopal Church, this moment invites us to reflect not only on the health of women and children but also on our responsibility to advocate for equitable healthcare worldwide.
Founder’s Day Celebration and Mortgage at St. Matthew AME, Shreveport, Louisiana
On Sunday, March 1, the pastor, the Rev. Eric Murphy, along with the officers and members of St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, culminated its annual Founder’s Day in a spirit of gratitude, heritage, and victory. This year’s celebration was especially significant, as the church added a historic Note Burning Ceremony to mark the joyous occasion of becoming debt-free.