Hundreds of people gathered at the luxurious Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, for the 2022 convening of the General Board of the African Methodist Episcopal Church held from June 27-29, 2022. After being called to order by Bishop Paul J. M. Kawimbe, President of the General Board, Bishop Kawimbe presented Bishop Harry Lee Seawright for the devotional time led by the 9th Episcopal District. Presiding Elder Ronald Sterling shared a message “Don’t Mind My Praise, It Just Might Be For You!” from Acts 16:25-34. Bishop Kawimbe called on Dr. Jeffrey B. Cooper, General Secretary/CIO of the AME Church, to call for the roll.
Following the roll call, Bishop Kawimbe presented Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr., the new President of the Council of Bishops. Bishop Brailsford greeted the General Board participants and offered commendations to the immediate past President of the Council of Bishops, Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, for her leadership over the last year. After Bishop James Levert Davis acknowledged all distinguished guests, Bishop Kawimbe addressed the assembled by inviting the Legal Team to give updates from the Department of Retirement Services investigation. After which, Dr. J. Edgar Boyd moved that the Board adjust Wednesday’s agenda by moving the Department of Retirement Services report up to the top of the agenda. That motion carried, and the agenda was approved. After this, the Board and the attendees were dismissed to attend the Commission meetings.
In the evening, the investiture service was held for Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Sr., as President of the Council of Bishops. The 6th Episcopal District Choir rendered several selections clothed in resplendent African-themed attire. Episcopal Supervisor Carolyn Brailsford joined the choir leading several pieces. Rev. Dr. Grainger Browning, pastor of Ebeneezer AME Church in Ft. Washington, Maryland, with the message, “Get Ready for Your Comeback “from Acts 2:1, 14.
On the second day of the General Board, Bishop Michael Leon Mitchell opened the closing plenary with the daily devotion from the 12th Episcopal District. The Reverend Marcellus Fields offered prayer, and Ms. Raveon Ward read scripture. The Devotional message was preached by Presiding Elder Tyrone Bloomfield Psalm 30:5. His sermon topic was “This Too Shall Pass”.
Following the devotion, Bishop Kawimbe called for the commission reports, noting that the Department of Retirement Services would be allotted an hour for its report. Bishop Kawimbe called for Bishop John F. White and Bishop Marvin C. Zanders II to bring forward the commission. Bishop Zanders, Commission Co-Chair, offered opening remarks on behalf of the Department. Bishop Zanders presented the Reverend Robert Shaw (5th District), the Reverend Jarrett Washington (11th District), and Presiding Elder Troy Thomas (13th District) to read the report. Following some debate on the floor, reports were heard from the other commissions. Following the reports, Presiding Elder Michele Goodloe made a special presentation on behalf of the Connectional Presiding Elders Council to Districts 14-20 for $1000 per district. An additional $1000 was given to the 19th and 20th Episcopal Districts for disaster relief. Following commendations, Bishop Kawimbe adjourned the meeting and asked Bishop Carolyn Tyler Guidry to close the session in prayer.
The General Board will convene in New Orleans, Louisiana, in June 2023.
Recommendations as approved by the General Board
- Commission on Chaplains–Bishop Jeffery N. Leath, Chair
- The Church embraces the effort to recruit chaplains for military, Veterans Administration, other federal, community and corporate chaplaincies.
- Chaplains comply with disciplinary requirements to subscribe at least to the Christian Recorder and one other periodical. The Church makes professional chaplains aware of the Henry McNeil Turner Chaplain Association and encourages participation.
- The Church takes note of the new and vital roles chaplains are fulfilling in crisis situations, e.g, providing pastoral support in Buffalo, New York following the shooting disruption of an entire community.
- The Church takes note of websites, Facebook, and other social media outlets for information and inspiration from the Chaplains.
- Commission on Christian Education–Bishop Frank Madison Reid, III, Chair
- Persons with gifts and interest in writing (particularly curriculum development) are encouraged to join the Writers Guild. Online registration is available at www.ameced.com/writers-guild
- AME members on social media, particularly church leaders, pastors, clergy, and Christian educators at each level of the church, are encouraged to connect to the Department’s Twitter (@ame_ced) and Facebook.
- AME members, particularly church leaders, pastors, clergy, and Christian educators at each level of the church, be encouraged to the purchase the 2022 Advent/Christmas Devotional Meditation Guide and the 2023 Lenten Devotional Meditation Guide produced jointly by the Christian Education Departments of the AME, AMEZ, and CME Churches.
- The prayers and strong support of the Church through attendance in-person and virtually of Church leadership, Christian educators, pastors, ministers, and most importantly youth and young adults are encouraged for the 29th Connectional Christian Education and Youth Congress, June 30-July 2, immediately following this General Board Meeting.
- Commission on Church Growth and Development, Bishop Reginald T. Jackson, Chair
- Every District Register for the 35th AME Church Growth Seminar being held January 2023 in Nashville, TN, to help reach our goal of at least 1,000 registrants
- Every church develops a website and/or presence on Social Media with which the Church Growth office will assist.
- Every member download the “AME Church Growth” App available in the Google Play or Apple App Store
- Leadership listing
- Small Group Activation
- Announcements
- Social Media Links
- Daily Bible Readings
- Event Calendars
- Giving Links
- Church Growth Corner
- Every church equip their members with technology
- Commission on Economic Development–Bishop Harry L. Seawright, Chair
- To hold an International Stewardship and Economic Empowerment Summit in 2023, in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Commission on Global Development–Bishop Silvester S. Beaman, Chair
- The Commission recommends that the FC James Centre of AME services be referred back to the Council of Bishops.
- The Commission recommends that a list be compiled of all Elementary Schools, Colleges, Universities, and Seminaries of the AME.
- The Commission recommends that Monrovia College be granted permission to proceed with solicitation of funds from the church and the broader community.
- The Commission recommends that we have a quarterly zoom meeting to more effectively carry out its duties.
- Commission on Global Witness and Ministry–Bishop Michael L. Mitchell, Chair
- Pray for the Department of Global Witness and Ministry and its Executive Director.
- Make a commitment to become a missions partner with your individual or church financial gifts.
- Make a commitment to become a global witness for missions. Recruit others in your circle to become a missions partner.
- Commission on the Health Commission–Bishop Francine A. Brookins, Chair
- Health Directors identified in the 5, 12, 14, and 16 Episcopal Districts
- Active engagements of Health Directors at all levels with the International Health Commission
- Actively review material on www.AMEChealth.org website, Facebook, and Twitter
- Register and engage with the Farm and Garden Ministry. The link is on www.AMEChealth.org and Facebook
- Identify liaisons for Alzheimer’s Partnership and Disaster Preparedness and Response
- Fully adhere to recommended Infection Control guidelines and presently listed as COVID protocol (it will be expanded to Communicable Disease Control).
- Commission on the Lay Organization–Bishop Stafford J. N. Wicker, Chair
- Encourage Episcopal Districts to replicate efforts of the CLO for enhanced lay ministry and effective partnerships
- Share information throughout the Episcopal Districts concerning upcoming events and encourage lay and clergy registration
- Support Disaster Relief Fund for the CLO
- Commission on Ministry and Recruitment–Bishop Ronnie E. Brailsford, Chair
- It was recommended that this commission initiate research on how clergy has been impacted on the above topic areas.
- Small groups are established to discuss/address each initiative.
- That these proposed discussions will generate the necessary programming to address these three specific initiatives.
- That further discussions will foster better validation for legislations of other forms of ministry beyond the ordained ministry and the pastoral ministry.
- Commission on Publications–Bishop David R. Daniels, Jr. Chair
- None
- Commission on Retirement Services–Bishop John F. White, Sr., Chair
- We recommend to the General Board to require each Episcopal District two district representatives to work with Wespath in the transition to the New Life Plan. Representatives will input data, will gather participants data, and will be trained by Wespath.
- The Department of Retirement Services recommends that each episcopal district, will instruct every plan participant to complete a new participant profile to have accurate information for the New Life Plan Database by July 15, 2022. The link will be provided through the CIO Office, Episcopal District and Presiding Elders, along with the Department of Retirement Services website.
- That the General Board encourages all members of the entire African Methodist Episcopal Church to seek God in prayer for the Department of Retirement Services.
- Commission On Seminaries, Universities, Colleges, & Schools–Bishop Marvin C. Zanders, II, Chair
- Ask the General Board to encourage Statistics & Finance to review the funding for schools in Districts 14th – 20th and consider increasing their funding; schools in these Districts receive less funding than schools in the United States – not fair; AME University is one of the best schools and largest and deserves more funding. Funding has not changed in many years and costs to operate the schools have increased.
- Commission On Social Action–Bishop E. Anne Henning Byfield, Chair
- Voter Mobilization: AMEV-Alert (Collatorators Partners within – Council of Bishops, Connectional Lay Organization, Christian Recorder, WMS & all component; External Partners – People for the American Way, Faith in Action, WinWithBlackWomen, When We All Vote, and Lawyers and Collars. Others to be announced
- MOBILIZE 1.5 million voters to the polls in USA and South Africa. WE NEED YOU!!!
- Climate Change/Environmental Justice:- Partners to initiate Ambassadors Program – ecoAmerica; collaborators; Collaborators within Health Commission & Women’s Missionary Society and Christian Education Department
- Criminal Justice Task Force – Invitation from the Council of Bishops to advocate for a JUST system, reduce incarceration & MINISTER to those unjustly imprisoned.
- Reproductive Justice/ Roe V. Wade Protection – Collaborators within – The Health Commission; External Partners – NAACP Legal Defense Fund, WinWithBlackWomen, and Divine 9. Mandate from the 51st session of the General Conference called for careful watch on the erosion of freedoms. The recent Supreme Court action calls your SAC to WATCH, PRAY, AND FIGHT to protect other freedoms from being eroded by the racist and biased decision makers and watch as State Legislators try to do the same. No matter what the issue is, it is the FREEDOMS that must be protected.
- Commission on Statistics and Finance–Bishop Samuel L. Green, Sr., Chair
- The Commission on Statistics and Finance awaits the report of the Retirement Services Actuary in order to determine the amount and the anticipated timing of each participant’s whole retirement balance surrender. It is the expressed intention of the Connectional Church to make all Retirement Plan participants whole. All options for funding the complete restoration of Retirement Service Plan participants account balances are on the table.
- Commission on Women in Ministry–Bishop Fred A. Wright, Chair
- The AME Church shall set aside the 3rd week of November, from Sunday to Saturday, to preach, study and provide programing around Gender-Based Violence against women. This time period is chosen in recognition of the 16 Days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international campaign held between November 25 and December 10.
- In response to the December 2016 recommendation adopted by the General Board recognizing March as International Women’s History Month, every Local Church, Christian Education Department, and Lay Organization shall affirm, study and lift in meetings, Worship, Church School and Bible Study women from scriptures and/or women who have served in the AME Church, during March. Additionally, members of the AME Church shall be intentionally engaged in learning about the historical accounts of Mother Charlotte Maxeke, Reverend Jarena Lee, and the ordination of women in the AME Church through inclusion in the Ministerial Institute, Christian Education programming, new members classes, and History of the AME Church in seminary classes alongside the four horsemen of the AME Church.
