The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Lett Appointed to Head
PE Council in the 1st District
By Angelena Spears, Philadelphia Conference Reporter
The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Lett, Sr. was appointed as the new head of the Presiding Elder’s Council for the First Episcopal District. The one-year appointment was made on June 15 by Bishop Gregory G.M. Ingram during the First District Planning Meeting. It makes Dr. Lett the new president of the Council that consists of 17 presiding elder districts throughout Bermuda, New York, Western New York, New England, Delaware, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. During the investiture ceremony on June 15, he was presented with a medallion by the out-going president, Presiding Elder Winton M. Hill, III, of the Newark District of the New Jersey Annual Conference.
Lett has served as a presiding elder in the Philadelphia Conference since 2004, making him the conference’s senior presiding elder. He currently serves as the elder for the West Mainline District of the Conference.
Earlier this year, on March 23, a celebration service was held to recognize his 40 years in ministry. That service was held at St. Matthew AME Church in Philadelphia and was packed with members from his former churches and pastors who had served in his presiding elder districts.
Among those who spoke was Alice Bell, a longtime member of the AME Union Church in Philadelphia. Sister Bell recalled that during the years when Elder Lett was their pastor, numerous enhancements had been made to the church. Beyond the physical improvements, Sister Bell shared what the Lett family had done for her personally.
Another former member who spoke during the service was Brother Hosea Jackson, of Bethel AME Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He talked about the improvements that were made to the church under Elder Lett’s pastorate and how the Letts had blessed his family.
Clergy who applauded Elder Lett’s skills as a presiding elder included the Rev. Jay Broadnax of Mt. Pisgah AME Church in Philadelphia, who was the worship leader for the service. “Elder Lett is truly a friend of pastors,” said the Rev. Broadnax. “He is able to take some things that may seem to be bitter and put a positive spin on it. We [always] go out of the room feeling better,” he said.
Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath, the 128thelected and consecrated bishop, also spoke. He said he had first met Elder Lett over 37 years ago. He said he hoped other preachers would be encouraged by Elder Lett’s example. “If you want to be successful, you have to be a student of the people and situations around you,” he said.
Elder Lett’s good friend and colleague, the Rev. Dr. Henrietta S. Fullard, the presiding elder of the Jamaica Long Island District of the New York Annual Conference was the preacher for the occasion. She thanked Elder and Mrs. Lett openly for their support when her own son had died as a victim of gun violence and recalled them accompanying her to the morgue.
She preached from Psalm 37:23. The sermonic theme was “The Steps of a Good Man are Ordered by the Lord.”
Elder Lett’s three children, all of whom are in the ministry, gave heartfelt remarks in admiration of their dad: Charles, Jr. (Anthea), David (Tisha), and the Rev. Tiffany Lett Martin (Bryant). The seven grandchildren were also there.
When Elder Lett was asked to come forward to give remarks, his wife, Sister Lett, stood by his side. He thanked her openly and said, “The reason I have been able to make this journey is because of the person standing next to me—my wife of 47 years—Sister Sylvia P. Lett.” He said, “Most of my success was achieved because of her standing by my side.” He then laughed and added, “I remember many churches where the members would say, ‘Elder, they can move you but leave Sister Lett.’”
