By Sister Angelena Spears, Philadelphia Conference Reporter

It was evident from day one of the 206th Philadelphia Annual Conference that a “spirit of excellence” was in place to welcome the First District’s new episcopal team – Bishop Julius H. McAllister, Sr., and Mother Marla McAllister. The Conference, held May 24 – 29, was the first in-person gathering for the Conference since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. It was also the first time many members had the opportunity to meet the new bishop and supervisor in person. Throughout the week, participants applauded the host presiding elder, the Reverend Dr. Janet J. Sturdivant, and the 17 churches that make up the South District for “leaving no stone unturned” in preparation for the week’s activities and services.

Pre-conference activities began on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, with a Women in Ministry (WIM) service. The preacher for the service was the Rev. Alberta Jones, pastor of Bethel AME-Reading, who brought a stirring message titled: “Tell Egypt I’m Not Coming Back,” based on Philippians 3:3-14 and Exodus 14:10-15.

The week was punctuated with powerful worship services led by the following organizations:  Tuesday evening, the Ministry of Evangelism; Wednesday morning, the Women’s Missionary Society; Thursday night, the Lay Organization; Friday night, the Department of Christian Education; and Saturday night, the Sons of Allen.

The Conference’s official opening began on Thursday at 8 a.m. with the roll call.  Then, the Conference invited every church’s pastor to present a 90-second overview of their annual report between Thursday and Friday.

Two bishops (Sons of the First District) joined Bishop McAllister on the opening day–Bishop Jeffrey Nathanial Leath (Ecumenical Officer) and retired Bishop Richard Franklin Norris, Sr.  They each greeted the Conference with words of encouragement.  Also present were the Reverend Dr. Miriam J. Burnett, Episcopal Supervisor of the 18th District, and the International Health Commission Medical Director.

The week’s initial services were held at the newly renovated Delta Airport Hotel in Philadelphia.  The last two days of the Conference were held at St. Matthews AMEC, Philadelphia, where the Rev. Vernon R. Byrd, Esq. is the pastor and a candidate for Episcopal Honors in 2024. Component leaders and the Conference’s four presiding elders:  Elder Janet J. Sturdivant, the South District; Elder Charles H. Lett, Sr., the West (Mainline) District; Elder Lawrence C. Henryhand, the Harrisburg District; and Elder Stanley G. Smith, the Philadelphia District showered the bishop and episcopal supervisor with well wishes. The food was succulent, and the tables were adorned meticulously by Sister Audrey Nock of Metropolitan AMEC, Lansdowne – the presentation was fit for a king and queen.

At the close of the reception, Elder Sturdivant and the South District presented Bishop and Mother McAllister with a beautiful video tribute that included pictures of their family and friends in ministry. The Rev. Lisa Willaims expertly arranged the video, the pastor of Bethel AMEC, Setauket, New York expertly arranged the video, Elder Sturdivant contributed the music–” If Anyone Should Ever Tell My Life’s Story,” by Gladys Knight, and “To God be the Glory,” and Sisters Cheryl Hammond Hopewell and Angelena Spears were credited with the research.  The video was beautiful and well-received by Bishop and Mother McAllister, who expressed their appreciation.

The Hour of Power sermon on Thursday, considered the Annual Conference sermon, was preached by the Reverend Dr. Mark Kelly Tyler, the pastor of Mother Bethel AMEC, Philadelphia, and a candidate for Historiographer for the AME Church.  Dr. Tyler was asked to step in and preach when it was learned that the chosen pastor had taken ill.

Dr. Tyler’s message asked, “Is it worth it?”  He pointed to a poll where a large number of pastors had reported that they were on the brink of leaving the ministry.  Dr. Tyler said the response from mainline denominations revealed that during the past year, up to 50 percent of clergy from mainline denominations had considered giving up their professions – often due to stress.  Dr. Tyler encouraged (both clergy and lay leaders) by giving reasons that ministry is worth it.  He concluded his example with that of Jesus at Gethsemane, praying in advance of his pending Crucifixion.  “When Jesus asked the question, ‘Is it worth it?’ his answer was ‘Yes!’” declared Dr. Tyler.

Saturday morning began with a Retirement Service at St. Matthew AMEC. The four superannuated pastors are the Reverends Eugene V. McDuffy, Allen AMEC, Philadelphia; Dr. H. Holland Fields, St. Paul AMEC, Malvern; Dr. Katherine E. Rose, Bethel AMEC, York; and Dr. Theresa H. Dent Smith, Campbell AMEC, Frankford. The Rev. Julius H. McAllister, Jr., preached the Service of Ordination on Saturday afternoon.  He is the pastor of Bethel AMEC, Tallahassee, Florida, and also a candidate for the episcopacy and the son of Bishop McAllister.  Candidates ordained as itinerant elders were: the Rev. Angela Baker, Ward Emmanuel AMEC-Philadelphia; the Rev. Kyle Thomas, pastor of Thornbury AMEC; the Rev. Michael McMullen, pastor of St. John AMEC-Lebanon; and the Rev. Derrick Brown, pastor of St. Peters AMEC-Shippensburg.

During the Memorial Service, the Conference commemorated notable losses in our Zion.  On the Connectional level, retired Bishop William Phillips DeVeaux, Sr. (December 2021); retired Episcopal supervisor Stan McKenzie (July 2021); retired Supervisor Lucinda Crawford Belin (September 2021); and General Officers Judge Patricia Mayberry and Dr. Jamye Coleman Williams.

Those from the Philadelphia Annual Conference included:  the Rev. Donald Burems, Sr., pastor of St. John AMEC, Philadelphia; the Rev. Charles Wood (retired); the Rev. Pleasant Hailey (retired); the Rev. Jerome Thomas (retired); the Rev. Betty Jean Alexander-Thornbury AMEC, who had been ordained in December as a local deacon; and Brother Kelvin Guyton, a student in the class of second-year studies.

Sunday began with the Conference Church School under the leadership of Sister Victoria Hill, the Philadelphia Conference Church School Superintendent, and was followed by the Closing and Commissioning Service. The Reverend Dr. Erika D. Crawford, the pastor of Ebenezer AMEC, Rahway, New Jersey, President of the Connectional Women in Ministry, and also a candidate for the episcopacy,  preached the closing sermon.  Her topic was “From Almost to Alright,”  based on Luke 5:1-11.  She declared, “God knows just when to step in so that our ‘almost’ turns to ‘all good.’’ She said that just as Jesus changed the trajectory of the fishermen in the Bible text – he can change the trajectory of our ministry.

The consensus for the week was that the 206th  Session of the Philadelphia Annual Conference would go down in the history books as one of the best.  “Under the leadership of our new episcopal team, we are looking forward to reaching new heights, and we are ready for the ride,” said Presiding Elder Sturdivant.