An Historical Overview: A Global Candidate’s Call for Inclusivity
By Reverend Dr. Keith Donaldson D. Lawrence
AMEs, our time under God for intentional inclusivity is Now! As we approach the 52nd session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church to be held in Columbus, Ohio, in August 2024, we cannot overlook the recognition and election of global candidates among the field of qualified choices. Why now? Because the 52nd session will mark 52 years since a global candidate has been elected bishop from the 16th Episcopal District. 1972 Bishop Frederick H. Talbot was elected from Guyana (16th Episcopal District – Caribbean and London). Bishop Talbot was the third bishop elected from outside the continental United States. The first was Bishop Joseph Gomez, from Trinidad, elected in 1948. In 1956, Bishop Francis Herman Gow, the second global candidate, was elected from South Africa. Other global candidates elected and consecrated bishop were Bishops Vinton Anderson in 1972 (Bermuda), Donald G. K. Ming in 1976 (Bermuda), Harold Benjamin Senatle in 1984 (South Africa), Winfred J. Messiah (South Africa), Paul J. M. Kawimbe (Zambia), and David Daniels in 2004 (Liberia). These facts mean that in the 207-year history of the AME Church, 93% of the 142 elected and consecrated bishops have been born in the continental United States; this is the inverse of the membership of our Zion. The time is NOW to intentionally include and elect Global Candidates at the 52nd session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church!
What is the significance of being a global candidate? Global candidates bring a diverse, inclusive, holistic leadership perspective that can only benefit Zion’s growth and overall health. Their lived experiences as global citizens provide a worldview that will make the AME Church grow exponentially in numbers and impact. Fervent proponents of the Great Commandment, AME history records the tremendous denominational value-added of Global Candidates throughout the AME Church’s existence.
What is the global need? With the advent of the Internet and social media, injustices that were once oblivious to the local eye can now be seen everywhere around the globe, often in real-time. As one of the Global Candidates, Reverend Dr. Keith D. Lawrence is uniquely positioned as an experienced pastor and educator to blow the trumpet in Zion, giving God’s people clear warnings of spiritual perils in our time. As the unique Global Candidate, Lawrence is strategically positioned to empower the connectional Church to model the value of connectionalism in the Church and community throughout the globe. Lawrence is committed to further enhancing God’s kingdom by “Empowering the World Spiritually, Physically, and Economically through Liberation.”
Who is standing out as part of the Global Candidates running in 2024? With over 44 years of pastoral experience, educational wisdom, and academic teaching experience, God has encouraged, equipped, and empowered Reverend Dr. Keith D. Lawrence (a native of Trinidad from the 16th Episcopal District) for this moment in salvation history. As Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Payne Theological Seminary, Wilberforce, Ohio, and pastor of First AME Church, Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Lawrence expanded and shared his vision to Educate, Encourage, and Empower. During his pastoral career, Lawrence planted and served an international congregation with over thirty-five nations under one roof. As an aspired bishop, Lawrence is poised and positioned to share and, where required, enhance critical skills for preparing clergy and lay leaders, acquiring advanced professional talent while joining our current leadership in leading the AME Church into its next dimension of ministry service to the Church and community. As your potential Global Candidate of choice, prayerfully to be elected at the 52nd session of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Dr. Lawrence presents, amongst others, untapped professional and religious experience of over 47 years combined. The TIME TO ELECT A LEADER OF THIS CALIBER IS NOW!
What is Lawrence’s global platform? Lawrence’s global platform, in short, is to “Educate, Encourage, and Empower” the people of the AME Church around the globe.
Educate – Every church member/disciple must be allowed to be equipped through biblical, theological, and denominational education to live saved lives. This would ensure that members/disciples are grounded in what it means to be children of God serving the AME Church.
Encourage – Encouragement must be provided to pastors, particularly women and others living and serving, to improve the quality of life at the intersections and margins in urban, suburban, and rural communities across the Connection. The Church must focus on the size and quality of its service, not the size and quantity of its congregations. “People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt
Empower – The Church must be empowered to trust the Word of God in advancing and enhancing the kingdom of God for the people of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. All members/disciples must be empowered to use the Word of God to creatively rise to our highest possibility and be adequately equipped to advance the Kingdom of God and transform lives wherever planted.
Delegates and attendees of the 52nd session of the General Conference of the AME Church, be intentional—Get to know and vote for Reverend Dr. Keith D. Lawrence, the exceptionally gifted global candidate for Bishop of the AME Church in 2024.
For more information on Lawrence, visit www.leadingwithlawrence.com.
