Category: Features

Every year at Annual Conference in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, pastors sit quietly as the Episcopal Address reminds us that appointments are God-driven. It is a sacred phrase, one that carries weight in our tradition. It reminds us that ministry is not merely administrative placement but a divine assignment. In theory, each pastor is sent by God through the bishop to serve where their gifts are needed most. Yet for many pastors serving in small or rural AME congregations, that statement can feel complicated.

At work, a friend shared her weekend plans: catching up on sleep after a long week, going to the park, and having a nice night out with friends and drinks. Then she asked about mine — church meetings, a local WMS meeting, a Zoom call, Sunday worship, an afternoon service at another church, and schoolwork. She stopped me mid-sentence and said, “Whoa… that’s another full-time job.” Immediately, I found myself singing: “Working nine to five, what a way to make a livin’…” Like many women, I channeled Dolly Parton and her anthem “9 to 5,” about the frustrations of working women who give so much, yet often feel unseen. But as I sang, I began to reflect.

The Third Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church made history during its recent Bishop Richard Allen Founder’s Day Celebration, marking a groundbreaking moment in the life of the District and the broader AME Church. At the visionary request of Bishop Stafford J.N. Wicker, a lay person was invited to serve as the keynote speaker for a district-wide event—an unprecedented step that signals a renewed appreciation for the voice and leadership of the laity.