An Open Letter to Districts 14-20 of the African Methodist Episcopal Church

AN OPEN LETTER TO DISTRICT 14-20 OF THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 

By Rev. Thato Mere, 19th Episcopal District

Following the disappointing, disheartening, and demoralizing outcomes of the Bishops’ elections at the sitting of the 52nd Session of General Conference of the AME Church in Ohio, Colombus, where none of the African candidates were elected we have seen an influx of numerous African members of the AME Church boldly express their frustrations on social media platforms, shedding light on the ongoing systematic oppressions within this non-existent so-called Connectional structure.

My attention was caught by the background submitted by Rev James Frederick of the Namibia Conference in the 15th Episcopal District as he was throwing his two cents worth that we must go back to the drawing board!

Stealing from his post he said: “Episcopal Districts 14,15,17,18,19 and 20 of the AME Church. I think we must go back to the ideals of the African Jurisdiction Council, the AJC was established in 1997, and at the 2004 General Conference, it already achieved one of its main goals as 3 African candidates were elected as Bishops of the AME Church. The moment we changed from AJC to Global Development Council (GDC) then we lost the momentum. I am sure if we had stuck around with the AJC we would have achieved a lot by now. The Districts 1-13 saw how militant, robust, well-drilled, powerful, and well-organized the AJC was then they persuaded us to change from AJC to GDC, that is where we lost it. 

So, we must go back to the drawing board. Africa cannot always be used as a training ground for newly elected and consecrated Bishops from America, till when will we allow this practice to continue? The late Bishop Senatle and co knew why they established the AJC but we who came afterwards betrayed them by starting the GDC. The GDC has been there for many years, what has it achieved at all? It is really saddening and painful that not even 1 candidate from Africa was elected as a Bishop for the past 20 years.” 

I adhere without prejudice or bias, proudly following the legacy of Mokone and echoing the impactful words of Rev. Fredericks. The introduction of the church to African shores during a period of severe oppression served as a beacon of hope for the oppressed. The 52nd Session of the General Conference commenced with eager anticipation from the African Districts, as they aspired to witness the election of a new Episcopal Service member from the Continent. This would signify a long-awaited achievement, not witnessed since the elections of Bishop Messiah, Kawimbe, and Daniels decades ago.

Our understanding of a Connectional church is total inclusivity in all areas of ecclesiastical developments, the right to host the General Conference in District 14-20, election, and consecration of our fellow African brothers and sisters being at the centre of it all. 

From my ‘what others would deem worthless’ observations it is clear that Americans have oppressed Africans and continue to do so without any shame. The individuals in question possess knowledge and expertise, however, they have not demonstrated a willingness to change their approach. It is important to emphasize the importance of being treated fairly and having our voices heard, rather than being subjected to deceptive practices observed during the gathering.

Fellow Africans, it is imperative that we acknowledge the wisdom and strength bestowed upon us by the divine, enabling us to govern and liberate ourselves from the spiritual subjugation imposed by Connectionalism. The endurance and struggles of our ancestors in sculpting a prosperous path for the advancement of our continent should not be in vain. Yet, we continue to subject ourselves to manipulation and control.

The ongoing disregard for the legacy of our Zion’s founder is a disheartening development. When he made the decision to break away from his former denomination, it was in response to the very same issues currently faced by Africa and its people.

The recent session of the General Conference has left me feeling disheartened. Instead of experiencing jubilation, I find myself deeply troubled. It is unrealistic to suppress our emotions. The adage that “the fish rots from the head” holds a heightened relevance in the current context. Our leadership exhibits shortcomings, and it is evident that we have been excessively influenced by American interests for an extended period. It is now imperative for the younger generation to assume responsibility and propel this institution, akin to Zion, towards progress. 

We may not be prepared to sever ties for various reasons, but we possess the authority to assert our rightful place. We cannot be perceived as mere companions when we are, in fact, legitimate participants. It seems that our representatives at the GC are primarily there for ornamental purposes. The leadership within the AME Church appears to be advanced in age and resistant to change, necessitating a shift. Why are we the ones expected to give and then have to plead to receive? The covenant was rightfully annulled, albeit at a significant cost. I will refrain from delving too deeply into this matter, reserving it for another occasion. With that said, I would like to record my submissions as follows:

• Let’s revisit our strategies and evaluate our relevance to the organization’s mission.

• Arrange a meeting to assess the Global Development Committee (GDC) with the goal of reinstating the Africa Jurisdiction Committee (AJC) and fulfilling its original objectives for the benefit of the African region.

• Convene to develop a disengagement plan from the organization.