We, the people of the AME Church…
By John Thomas III, Editor
Over the last nineteen months, I have attended multiple annual conference and planning meetings across the connectional church in addition to the 2021 General Conference. Seeing and hearing the reports of ministry at the different levels of the denomination is enlightening. Even during the pandemic, mortgages have been retired, buildings have been constructed, ministries have been expanded, and souls have been saved. Yet, as I’ve listened to the statistics and watched videos, I ask the question, “Where are the people?”
Behind the glowing statistics and slick video presentations are the faithful people of God who have chosen to serve in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. It is the tithes and offerings of the congregation that retire mortgages and fund new construction. It is the paid and volunteer labor of members that undergird and expand the local church’s ministries. Yet, the voice and views of the people are sometimes absent when we speak about the church. One of the side-effects of virtual annual conferences is that the local church’s elected delegate is seldom seen and heard. The elected representative of the local church is rendered invisible.
Every grand design of a church leader from the largest episcopal district to the smallest congregation rests upon the loyalty and participation of the local church. For example, as we navigate the current challenges facing the Department of Retirement Services, I have heard clergy bluntly comment, “That’s a preacher issue.” Yet, laypersons (such as myself and other church employees) are active participants. Furthermore, the contributions to the plan as well as any restitution that may need to be paid will ultimately come from the people in our pews. In our episcopal form of government, we believe in the leadership of Bishops. In our Methodist polity, however, the laypeople of a church have a say in the governance of the denomination at all levels. The people in our pews made the AME Church what it is today—and we cannot assume that the people will always be there.
As the character of Christianity changes in the United States, the AME Church leadership must confront the fact that the people in our pews are there by choice—and can leave by choice. In its 2021 survey, “Faith among Black Americans,” Pew Research found that the most important factor in church affiliation is the quality of the sermon across all age groups. The research also notes that denominational affiliation was more important to older members than younger age members. We see these empirical findings replicated in fact across our local churches where older “die-hards” have stayed while younger members who might have grown up in the Young Peoples Division (YPD) migrate to other churches upon adulthood as their spiritual needs change. A bishop cannot send whomever to a church and expect that the people will stay simply because of loyalty to the brand. More than one “major house” has been emptied because of an ill-suited pastoral appointment. Once the damage is done, it is difficult to repair.
The people from Districts 14-20 have special grievances that need to be heard. One sees younger generations questioning the relevancy of the AME Church in their local context. The impact of the 2021 General Conference on areas outside the United States continues to be felt. The feeling of being willfully disenfranchised and muted has left a bitter taste in the mouths of many—even with the election of an African woman to the church’s Judicial Council. Older generations viewed an attachment to the “mother” AME Church in the United States as a symbol of pride and a beacon of hope. The younger clergy and lay leaders taking their places are more willing to voice their discontent with neocolonialism, poor episcopal oversight, and the lack of relevant training resources. We ignore these voices at our peril if we want the Connectional Church to survive.
The AME Church is composed of faithful disciples who have chosen to worship God in this space. As a denomination, we have accomplished much to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and preach liberation for all of God’s people throughout the world. While it is right to honor those who have been elected and assigned to positions of leadership within our denomination, the voices of the people are paramount. We, the people of the AME Church, demand that we be respected and be heard!
